Advice on cattery or cat sitter?

Feanor

Hello all,

I am getting married abroad in July so we will be away for 10 days. We have two cats and we currently live in a ground floor 2 bed flat with a garden. They both go out a couple of times a day for some fresh air and running etc. One is 5 years old, the other is 1 in August. This will be the first time we'll be leaving them for more than a day or two.

They get on ok, the kitten does annoy the big one (he is grumpy!), she just wants to play really. I have had a look at catteries, best price I've had is £13 per day for both of them together in one challet. I'm not sure the older would love that though, he likes his space!

We dont have any family around this area and not really any friends who we could ask to come in twice a day etc, so we need to figure out the best option really.

Does anyone have any advice about cat-sitters, especially in Surrey? How much they cost, or whether it is indeed a better option? Obviously we'd have the extra worry of a random person having the keys to our house.

I'd love some advice please! Also from a moneysaving point of view as well as things are quite tight with the wedding coming up!

Thanks
x

mrtobs

We've used catteries for years now, with the 2 sharing. I'd say that as long as they get on ok (ie don't fight), it should be fine. I always make a point of booking one that also has outside space so they don't have to be on top of each other 24/7. One thing I would strongly advise though is that you visit the cattery beforehand and look round, as loads that I've seen bear no resemblence to their description! The Feline Advisory Bureau http://www.fabcats.org/catteries/index.php has some helpful advice on choosing catteries. I'd say that £13 isn't too bad for 2, we pay slightly less, but are in a different area.
In terms of cat sitters, afraid never tried them - don't suppose you have any cat loving friends nearby that would be prepared to pop in regularly?
By the way, have a fantastic wedding!

Feanor

Thank you for replying.

I jad a look at the FAB website, there are two fairly close by that are recommended by them. One at £17.50 per day and another at £14.80.

I just realised that the one for £13 a day is excluding VAT.

They do get on ok-ish. Its more the older one, he is so grumpy...if he is lying on the bed and the little one gets on he will hiss and winge and then jump off and walk out of the room! I'm just not sure that being away from home AND being forced to share with the little one will make him very happy! lol.

Thanks again.
x

chrisaj

Hi there
there's a site called dogsit.com You'll find a list of petsiters on there. Not just for dogs, all the listed people are insured etc. You may find it more expensive than a cattery, but your cats wont have the disruption of going on their hols Have a fab wedding

Feanor

Thanks for the reply. I just tried dogsit.com, but you have to pay £19.95 to register and see the list of sitters in my area!

chrisaj

Feanor wrote: »

Thanks for the reply. I just tried dogsit.com, but you have to pay £19.95 to register and see the list of sitters in my area!

thats a rip off :eek:
They never used to do that soz

Oldernotwiser

When you say sitters, do you mean someone who comes to live in your house while you're away or someone who comes round once or twice a day to feed them and clean their tray?

Pixiechic

Hi,

I take my cat to a cattery when we go away. The one that I take my kitty to is lovely and its about £6.50 -£7.00 a day for one cat. The grounds arelovely, outdoors and heated inside, he has an outdoor run bit and the chalet style so sleeping bit is up top. My kitty loves it there he is always happy when he comes home. They also have a vet on site which sold me and are definately in it for more than just the money.

I agree with the visit the cattery first advice. I had booked late once and couldn't get my cat into this cattery above as fully booked. Most of the good ones are fully booked around usual holiday time. So I rang our vet to ask for any good catteries. We took our cat and it wasn't as beautiful as the other one but it was adequate. Heated outdoor chalet and everything else. When we came back he wasn't a happy cat. He had a fever and had lost weight and we were not happy at all with the cattery and needless to say we will never go back there!

Definately worth looking into before you book and make sure that they ask if your cat has been vaccinated, as then you know that they are asking everyone else too!

Feanor

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

When you say sitters, do you mean someone who comes to live in your house while you're away or someone who comes round once or twice a day to feed them and clean their tray?

No sorry, I meant someone who would pop in once or twice a day and possibly let them out for an hour every other day or something?

Thanks for replying.

toniq

Not sure what Part of surrey you are, Im just over the border in Crawley, I use Ifield Park kennels and cattery for my dog, never had any problems , dog had an overnight visit first before they would have him, He seems to be ok and happy as he can be whilst we go on our hols.

paulwf

Our cat sitter has saved us a couple of times when we have gone away and there has been a water leak...we are lucky to have a friend who will pop round twice a day but there are plenty of people who do it as a living. Our cats would hate going in a cattery, I can't see the point in disturbing them when someone can pop in a couple of times a day and feed them and make a bit of a fuss of them.

We never go away for longer than a week so the mogs don't miss us too much.