Best Thing To Do....

[pussnboots]

I got two rescue cats in May last year, they had lived a pretty bad life. This coming May I have a chance to go away to Spain for a week, trouble is I am very reluctant to leave my cats. I have a good neighbour who will come in and feed them, but that doesn't look after their general safety etc. Should I put them in a cattery where I know they will be safe but distressed, or take the chance and leave them at home for a whole week.

[slinkycat]

I'd leave them at home, they will be much happier on their own territory. As for their safety, I take it you mean if they are let out? In that case ask your neighbour to keep them shut in, they might be a bit stir crazy by the end of the week, but at least you will have peace of mind and be able to enjoy your holiday.

[askyourgran]

My elderly next door neighbours were real treasures, they loved my old cat and looked after him well while we went away for a weeks holiday.

[pussnboots]

slinkycat and askyourgran, thanks for replying. I know in my heart they will be happier left at home, my problem is, is that they were such two scaredy cats when we got them and now so much better I don't want them to be unhappy by leaving them alone. I suppose it all boils down to the fact should I go away or not, if it is worrying me perhaps I should just stay home eh!!

[mrs.chappie]

Hi Puss, I think I'd go with the neighbour's kind offer too. You could always ring her each day for peace of mind.

I'm no expert but I think a cattery might well be a traumatic experience for them, and that'd be a shame, especially as they had such a bad start in life.

[mrs.chappie]

Don't feel guilty about going and leaving them, Puss (easier said than done, I know).

[AlwaysConfused]

no, you need a break. Go for it! I've had cats that love their home comforts, a stroke, a sit on the lap.....fresh fish etc every day. Did they give a damn if I wasn't there? NO! Just as long as they lived their lifestyle and someone came round to empty their litter box twice a day!

[AlwaysConfused]

Although I still go with keeping pets at home or in a family surrounding, I put my stroppy persian in a cattery a few times whilst on holiday, purely because of the amount of grooming he needed(the other cats stayed at home)....always came back home better behaved than ever.

[Sparkles62]

From march to dec we are away every weekend, Daughters come in twice a day and feed her, Change cat litter etc. She is fine. I also think Having her at home makes our house look lived in and less open to burglars, as she spends most of her time sat on the window sills, makes the house look lived in. X

[Buenchico]

I'd definitely leave them at home, with a neighbour to feed them. But I'd have a phone number and back-up plan in place as well.

That's because the only time I ever asked a neighbour to look after my cat was when I went away for a few days on Christmas Eve, leaving a key with the neighbour (who was also a drinking buddy of mine). Unbeknown to me, until I got back to find a starving cat, my neighbour was found dead on Christmas morning :(

[pussnboots]

I love the fact that you can get very reassuring and sensible answers on here. I think a week in Spain sounds good, my cats will be fine. Thanks folks. xx

[pussnboots]

Oh dear Buenchico, well if my neighbour pops her clogs whilst I'm away I would hope that her husband would overcome his grief and still feed my cats.

[mrs.chappie]

Hope you have a fab time, Puss. xxx

Crikey Chris, that was unlucky. Sorry to hear about your buddy. It was lucky you were only away for a few days or it would've been a double tragedy. :o(

[slinkycat]

Go for it Puss, our cats have been fine on their own over the years, apart from a bit of aloofness when we return.
Oh, and the time when one of them objected to being forcibly carried back into the house at "bedtime", my dad still talks about his shredded shirt!

[ruthann58]

they will be fine at home with your neighbour they are better off in their own home then the upset of a cattery , and as others said you can phone each day for your own peace of mind , when we first went away and left our son (25) in charge 5 years ago i was panic stricken but everybody survived and were all fed and watered when we returned ,i leave him a clean tray already done for each day in the greenhouse and he just changes the tray indoors every day then i clean them all when we return , have a lovely holiday

[pussnboots]

Thanks everyone for your answers, I know really that my cats will be ok for a week with my neighbour. Just one last thought, the young one of the two is a real hunter so I may come home to a house full of dead critters.