Kennels V friends/neighbours

con1888

Already thinking ahead of when we go away for a week in the summer.

Do you think it would be better to put my cat into the kennels or to leave him at home but have family/neighbours pop in to feed him?

elsien

I'd guess it depends how reliable you consider your family/neighbours, how much time they can spend with him and whether he's happy enough on his own for large parts of the day.

con1888

The feeding they would do regularly, not sure how much time they would spend with him though, he does like company but then in kennels he would also be alone and the person feeding him would be a stranger as opposed to someone he has seen before.

Money doesn't matter, if kennels is a better option I don't mind paying. Just don't like the thought of him thinking we have given him away.

Fridaycat

There is little doubt that a cat is happier in their home environment rather than in a cattery. But that is completely reliant upon having what elsien said - someone reliable to look after them and spend time with them.

I don't have that, so mine go into a cattery. But you must choose your cattery carefully! The one I use is approved by the FAB (Feline Advisory Bureau) and it isn't cheap, but I know that they will be looked after superbly, the cattery owner is a complete cat lover and will spend a lot of time with each and every cat (she only has 12 pens so that she can do this), she will give them all the care and attention they need. Although my cats would rather not be in the cattery, I can go away in complete confidence that they are being looked after.

I have had a lot of experience of looking at different catteries over the years as I would never leave my cats anywhere without fully assessing it beforehand. Generally I have found that those that are kennels/catteries combined are not normally as focused on the cats - they tend see the dogs as coming first and the cats seem to be a bit of an add-on. People who set up catteries only tend to be cat people. Of course, I am stereotyping a little here, and it may not be true everywhere, but this is what I have seen.

There are catteries at the other end of the scale to mine that are very cheap, but in the end you get what you pay for when it comes to catteries in my view and some of the places I have looked at have been appalling and I am always shocked how people can leave their animals in them (needless to say, I didn't).

con1888

If I go for the cattery option I know where I will go as my mum has used it and when they were looking for a place they knocked back a few before choosing this.

The one she chose is nearby and it is a lady and her husband who own it, cat's are in a barn type building which has underfloor heating and mum said the cat pens were massive, plenty room to run around in and they gave the option of bringing in own toys/bowls.scratching posts or they could provide them. The pens also had a part which was outdoor accessible through a catflap so definately would use that one if i went down that road.

murphydog999

I asked the same questions last year and the consensus was to leave the cat in familiar territory as long as you knew it was going to be cared for, and if something untoward happened you could rely on the 'carer' to care enough to act as you would want.

I've left mine for a week (after not being convinced with my local cattery) knowing my neighbour has a bit of a play with her and gives her a fuss.

gettingready

I would got for a cattery rather then kennels if you must

On a serious note though... personally I would have someone stay at my place with my lot (if for longer than a week) or visit them twice per day if for up to a week.. My 4 boys like their own home comforts and I do not believe they would be happy in a cattery.

podperson

I think it probably depends on your cat, mine gets very stressed with new places and people so wouldn't leave her in a cattery as I know it would upset her. My friend leaves hers at a local one fairly regularly as she works away a bit and they know her there now, tend to give her lots of fuss and she seems fairly happy with it.

peachyprice

I leave mine at home and my parent feed them and entertain them.

It would take me a week to round all mine up and transport them to the cattery!

meritaten

you do know you can pay someone to come in and feed the cat? a petsitting service! I would always say that a cat is happier at home. provided that he is fed and the litter tray emptied. to me a cattery (even the best ones) is a last resort. It may cost almost as much as cattery - but if the cat is happy, then its worth it!
If you have reliable neighbours or family - then use them - just bring them back a fab pressie!

con1888

I would ask both my brother and my neighbours to feed him. Neighbour would do morning when my brother is in bed (taxi driver) and my brother would do rest of day, sometimes bringing my neices up who would play with him if he was up for it.