Travel with cat

The_Walker

Anybody here have experience of travelling the UK with their cat?

We're planning a holiday to Wales later this year, and rather than leave our cat we'd rather take her with us to a pet friendly hotel. I've read that some advise leaving the cat in a crate or container while the owners are out to prevent a cleaner etc letting them escape the room. Is this what you do or do you let the cat run free in a hotel room?

And do hotels require any documentation for pets?

Thanks

greenface

we have a lodge in Gwynedd and advertise it as dog friendly . there is no reason why its not cat friendly as with other dog friendly places . its your animal and youre responsible for it and any damages they cause and if it goes missing if not kept on a lead if needed . there are lots of birds / rabbits / ducks and other wildlife around and dogs on leads . a crate would be helpful . some hotels do cattarys on site

sheramber

Check with the hotel concerned as each hotel will have its own rules.

Pet friendly does not always mean cat friendly

Hutchch0920

Have you thought about a motorhome holiday? My Mum used to take her cat on motorhome holidays all the time. He was for all intents and purposes a house cat in his old age and rarely ventured out of the motorhome.

TBagpuss

Does your cat travel well? Will she actually be happier in a carrier or hotel room than with a cat sitter coming in every day, or in a cattery?

I think if you decide to take her and are staying in a hotel, rather than leaving her shut in a carrier all day I would make use of the 'do not disturb' sign and ask that the cleaners not come in.

Personally, I normally arrange to have someone come into my home every day to feed the cat - it's less stressful, as the cat has their own familiar surroundings.

unless your cat is used to spending long periods of time in a cage or crate then I think it is likely to be stressful for her.

What's your reason for wanting to take her with you?

TBagpuss

Just to add, if you do take her than consider self-catering so you have control over when/who comes in, s you can give her free range of the cottage/flat .

Consider her normal habits - is she an indoor cat, or used to going out? Is she used to weaaring a harness and lead? does she get car sick?

kathrynha

I know my cat would hate to go on holiday. She hates going in the car, and likes to play outside, therefore it would be cruel to take her on holiday.


If it's a house cat that doesn't mind cars and is used to be confined to small spaces, then it might be okay, but I'm not convinced

Carrot007

Yeah I can't see many cat's liking that! They are creatures of habbit.

I use cat sitters (usually they are also dog walkers). Who will come to the house twice a day and open/close curtains etc. Well worth the cost.

The_Walker

Thanks all! Just to address some questions... she's a house cat and very attached to my wife and I. She behaves more like a dog than a cat and hates being away from us. That's the main reason we want to take her with us. It's for her benefit, though of course we love having her around us anyway. She is not happy being left alone at all.

She is very used to confined spaces. For a while we were all forced to live in one room together, and it was actually fine. She's not super keen on car travel but is ok with it.

So my main concern is making sure she's safe when staying with us in accommodation. We don't want room service opening the door or anyone else for that matter. A sign would be essential, but we need a place that will read it!

Self catering sounds ideal, but more expensive I'm guessing. A motorhome isn't a bad idea actually, but we have no parking so we'd have to rent it. We'll have to phone around and find out which places accept cats. Once we've found the right place we plan to use it again. It's just finding it in the first place! We're heading to the Swansea area btw.

Thanks for all your replies!

phatbear

sheramber wrote: »

Pet friendly does not always mean cat friendly

or shetland pony friendly as i once found out when i took my pet pony on holiday to a hotel

sheramber

My friend took her siamese cat on holiday in their caravan.

The cat went on walks with them when walking their dogs or explored the caravan site and surrounding area.