Should my cats go in a cattery or should they stay at home?

[sue11]

Hello everyone, I would appreciate your thoughts on this please. I am going away on holiday in July for 10 days. In the last few years we have only taken shorter breaks of up to 6 or 7 days and each time my partner's parents have popped over to our house each morning to feed our cats Ozzie and Bandit, the rest of the time they have been left at our house on their own. However my partner feels that 10 days is too much to expect his parents to come over and feed the cats and wants us to put them in a cattery. I do not really know what to do for the best. I don't like the idea of putting them in a cattery and I am pretty sure they will hate it as they love their home comforts, but I can see that it may be best to put them away for the time that we are away on holiday. I want to do what is best for the cats, as I worry about them, in some way it will be nice to think that I will always know that they are safe in the cattery (I hope!) and not getting into trouble at home, but then again I am pretty sure if I asked the cats, they would much rather stay at home than be put in a strange place that they don't know. Another worry is that they are both coming up to 16 years of age and if they got ill as a result of the stress of being in a cattery, I would never forgive myself.
What should I do?
Cheers for your thoughts on this
Sue

[bensmum]

I'm probably not the best person to give advice as I work part-time for a cat-sitting service and I know that the people we deal with much prefer to leave their cats at home. There's benefits to both really. Some cats are okay with going to a cattery and there are staff keeping an eye on them. However I have an old cat and she loves being at home with her own things round her. You could arrange 2 visits per day and could keep the cats in if you are worried about them wandering off but I have looked after cats which have been left for 6 weeks and they were fine.

[jack daniels]

Are the parents too far to come over for 10 days?
Have you not got a neighbour who can pop in and feed/change water?
We ask the neighbours to come and feed the fish/water the garden and vice versa.

[DrFilth]

for the cost of putting the cats in a cattery is there no service in your area where they offer pet feeding at home. this gives you the best of both security for your property and your cats will get well looked after. you can stipulate the times they get fed and what food they have .so the cats will be happy at home and you on holiday also you can phone them up if you wish to check everthing is ok .make arrangements for the times for feeding and perhaps his parents can call round at another time on odd days to check .

[bluecatt]

Hi Sue

I know exactly how you feel! I had a 3 week holiday in 2001 and put my cats in a cattery and I would never do it again. They were absolutely fine, of course - but I fretted and worried about them the whole time I was away. I ended up calling the cattery several times to make sure they were okay.

The next long holiday I had was in 2004 and I hired a pet sitting agency to make daily visits to the cats at home. I cannot recommend this service enough. For the cats' benefit and also your own peace of mind! I used an agency called "Pet Pals" (google them) and they came a few weeks in advance to meet the cats and also to find out about them, what they like, where they hide, what to do if one gets poorly etc etc. A thorough service.

We have used them ever since, sometimes 3 or 4 times a year! Our cats know them well and are always pleased to see them.

You sound like you love your cats very much - as I love mine - and a well researched pet sitter would be the best option for you.

Good luck!

[sue11]

Hello all, many thanks for the responses, the cat sitting service sounds like a solution and I will investigate further, thank you very much! I may also ask my vet what he recommends, he may be able to give me an idea on how older cats cope with the stress of going into a cattery against the benefits/issues of being left at home.
Cheers
Sue

[bensmum]

Hi Sue
I can only add that I always go to meet the cats as bluecatt describes. We can then learn about medication, any strange habits etc (!) and of course can do other things like turn on lights, draw curtains, pick up post, water plants etc. Your vet should know of any reputable cat sitting service in your area.

[sue11]

Many thanks Bensmum, the cat-sitting service sounds like a plan. I think my only worry with that is if anything happened to my cats at night time. They have the freedom to go out at night and I suppose I will worry that they will be okay. I know that anything could happen at any time, but at least if I am at home I would know about it straight away and when they disappeared or got hurt. Then on the other hand, if they go into a cattery, I will worry about the stress levels I am putting them through and if they will get ill or worse as a result! Descisions, decisions, perhaps I should just cancel my holiday! Or better still stop worrying!!!
Thanks again
Sue

[lankeela]

Having done both, running kennels/cattery and a home pet sitting service (long before it became the latest 'fashion')
I would say for a long period (eg over a week) I would definitely use a cattery. Someone popping in once or twice a day is fine for a few days, but for a ten day period I would feel happier knowing my cats were safe and secure in a well run cattery, owned by people who do it because they love cats. They have to be inspected by vets and be licensed, and if they were not up to scratch (forgive the pun) they would soon go out of business. They will sleep most of the time, or play out in the runs, and have food provided 24/7. They will give any medication if necessary, and call in a vet at the slightest worry (this will be covered by insurance).

Go for a FAB approved cattery as they have very high requirements (google their website for an approved cattery in your area).

It is a lot to expect a friend/relative to take on, and what would happen if they had to go away themselves, say in the case of an emergency, or heaven forbid have an accident and not be able to get there.

Also check out the cost of pet sitting, I think you will find it is not as cheap as you would have thought, and two cats in together will get you a reduction in the cost of boarding.

[sue11]

Many thanks Lankeela, it is good to have an opinion of someone for the cattery as well as against. I definately would go to an approved cattery, if I go down this route, hopefully my vet will be able to advise a good one, even better if they use him themselves for any medical help if needed. Money for me (thankfully) is not an issue so I don't mind paying a bit extra for a well run good cattery.
Cheers Sue

[woofgang]

If they are sixteen and have never been away from home them maybe now is not the time to start...if they were mine and younger I would at least look at local catteries but at that age I think the petsitter sounds a better bet

[sue11]

Thanks Woofgang, they have been placed in a cattery before for a couple of weeks, but that was when they were about 5 or 6, so it was a long time ago. They were fine then, although glad to be home I think!
I think they will be okay in a cattery, but I will double check with the vet to see what he thinks regarding stress levels etc before taking a decision.
Cheers
Sue

[LoftyLottie]

I thought my cat (who follows me around like a dog all day) and loves her home comforts) would not settle in a cattery. She has now had her second stay in an excellent cattery (deluxe suite!) and has been perfectly OK. She was very glad to get home, but arrived well and happy! Choose a really good cattery though.

I personally feel much better knowing she is safe and looked after. I couldn't leave her in the house on her own and wouldn't chance her having outside access if I was away. She would probably wander off and look for someone else to be with (she is a real 'people' cat).

I depends on the cat, of course. They are all very different.

[sue11]

Thanks Loftylottie, I too feel that it will be nice to think that I will know where they are at all times. Thankfully my cats are not real people cats and view strangers with suspicion, so at least that is one more thing I don't have to worry about! I am going to google FAB as Lankeela suggested and also chat to my vet, everyone on here has come up with some very useful suggestions, it has settled my mind a lot more about what to do.
My two cats are enjoying the nice weather at the moment, one is in the garden having a snooze and the other is either lazing on the bed or making a nuisance of herself trying to get me to give her a few choice morsels from the fridge to eat!!
Cheers Sue

[frankofile]

6 years ago I adopted 2 feral kittens from Cats Protection. The following year when I went on holiday I thought they would hate to be caged again so I arranged for a neighbour to come in each day. I went off to France and phoned home each night. Badger disappearred the first night and did not return. When we got back he was still missing. Eventually he came home after 3 weeks, a very traumatised cat. I got such a telling off from cats protection. apparantly I had signed to say I would always put them in kennels.Anyway now I do because I know they are safe, even if it costs money, and I love my cats sooo much. Originally I thought I was doing the right thing as they doen't like being caged. but better to know where they are than loose them.

[sue11]

Frankofile I do agree with you and this is one of my main concerns, that one of my cats may disappear and I will not know about it straight away. Both my cats are from Cats Protection, but I do not recall ever having to sign anything, it was nearly 16 years ago so perhaps things have changed since. I think the thought that at least I will know where they are at all times is very comforting, although it is tempered with the fact that I know my cats will hate it and even may think I have abandoned them!
Many thanks Sue

[taichiperson]

My parents use a cattery, have done for years. They seem happy with the arrangement, but after reading this thread I will recommend cat sitting to them - if there is such a service in our area. Their cat, Clover, is very 'off' with them for a week or so after, as if she's in a huff - no big welcome or fuss, she does her best to ignore them!!

[chappie]

Hi Sue,

Wish I could remember the name of the site, but a year or so ago I was looking for a pet-sitting service and came across a community type of site which listed details of like-minded people in your area (people who would look after your pets, and in return you would look after their pets when required, no fees involved).

You would of course meet up beforehand and make sure you were happy with each other. Think there was also a feedback facility, where you could read about other people�s experiences with their sitters. At first I was dubious, wondered if it would be wise (I'm sure you know what I mean). But after some investigation I decided it might not be such a bad idea. I have birds and I found a girl on this site who was as passionate as me about them.

Of course, everyone has their own opinion and there is no concrete right or wrong, but my worry would be that at 16, it may be too much for the cats to have their routine changed (only my opinion though - I could be completely off the mark).

My worry with my birds, was that they would think I had left them for good - I'm too soft by half! When I returned from holiday, my parrots sulked with me for days.

Whatever you decide to do, hope you have a great holiday!

[sue11]

Thanks Chappie and Taichiperson, it does make me wonder just who is in charge here, us or our pets and I think the pets win every time!!
I think the cat sitters are a good idea, I am just trying to get my head around the worry of them being alone at night, I must admit I think I am leaning towards going for a good cattery and I will have to put up with the sulks and bad temper when I get back!!
Cheers Sue

[LoftyLottie]

They'll get over it. I think the grumpiness is done for effect anyway - a sort of "We'll show her!"

Good luck. Personally, I think you will relax much more if you know they are safe. Safety is the prime concern - the grumpiness is only short term.