Has anyone done this before?

[tigwig]

We have decided this year that we are not going to put our cat in a cattery when we go on holiday for a week but to leave him in his home and be fed and checked on twice a day by family. This is because he gets very distressed at the cattery, barely eats and is unsettled for days when he comes back.
He will be locked in the kitchen (which is large and he is used to this when we are out). He obviously has access to food and water and his basket and can come and go as he pleases through his cat flap. I am sure he will miss us but we feel he will be happier this way. I can't help but worry though what if something happens to him?! What do others think?

[Chickadee]

When my parents went on holiday I used to look after their cat.

Went round and fed, watered and cleared out tray.

She was fine although ignored Mum and Dad for a few hours when they got back!!! Eventually she would forgive them and allow them to stroke her!!!

[kjc]

I have done this. My sis-in-law came here twice a day to feed and water my cat, and as he knows her it didn't cause any problems. Only thing I did though was not let the cat out while I was away. Provide a litter tray. that way at least you know pussy is safe in his own home.

[China Doll]

Always used to do this with my two back in the day. They didn't exactly welcome me back with open arms but they had the run of the flat, were happy in the enviroment and the nice lady upstairs made sure they were fed, watered and played with. I don't like catterys particularly if there's another way round it as even a visit overnight to the vets used to stress my two out.

[tigwig]

We have never had a litter tray in the house thats all. The cat goes outside and he spends alot of time outside which is part of the reason why I don't want him locked in a cage anymore when we go away.
Your answers have reassured me a little but there is still a teeny bit of me imagining the scenario where he is run over or something and crawls back home to find no one there! Then by the time he is checked on its too late! I know I'm being dramatic as usual!

[elcee45]

I always left my two, they had the run of the house, could go in and out as they pleased and my son fed them twice a day, (he also had instructions to stay a little while and speak to them and of course to check my house for birds, mice etc. LOL)
They were a bit huffy when we came back but would have been really unhappy at the cattery.
I am sure yours will be fine.

[Nosha123]

Dont worry tigwig - this will be fine for him.... I do this with mine all the time - and never put them into a cattery.. Take the mobile no of who is feeding him and send a text if you are worried and ask for an update on how he is!

[DC50]

i am sure they will be fine my son looks after ours when we go away its so much better for them to be in their own home

[tiggerblue10]

Like everybody else I always leave my 2 when I go away and my parents or neighbour will come and do the necessary. I could never put them in a cattery as it was bad enough when I had I had to leave Tigger at the vets overnight. They hate being taken out of their comfort zone and the have the run of the house, comfy bed and a catflap.

Don't worry about it Tigwig, puss will be fine :o)

[carmy]

i think it is a better idea to leave your cat at home. when i recently got my 9yr old cat from the rspca i was advised to take her to a cattery but as shes been moved so much before & needs to settle in i decided that my mother was to come every day to feed & check on her if i go away on holiday. i do think your cat would be happier in his own home. :)

[tigwig]

Aww thanks guys I feel better now! My cat is called Tigger too! (hence my username being tigwig, its what I call him for short)
I was half expecting to get abuse for being irresponsible, I didn't realise so many other people didn't really like catteries either!

[shelby45]

My friend did this and a neighbour with a key was seeing to them except on the first day of a two week holiday, she left the house and the key was still inside. This resulted in her feeding the cat through a cat flap and the cats shat on her bed for two weeks!!!!!!

[lexie..]

I always leave my puss with someone who knows them to feed and water them twice a day. They are provided with a tray and have the run of the house. (the cats that is, not the carer). :-)
You may get ignored when you get back, but it doesn't last long.

[lankeela]

Everyone has their own views, and I used to do a pet sitting service. The cats are fine left at home, but I have to say I would rather know mine were secure in a cattery so they could not get out or if they were ill I know the owners would get vet treatment for them. They sleep most of the time anyway, and are fed and cleaned regularly and often played with by the staff who do the job because they love cats. It really depends how dependable the people are you leave to care for them. Can you trust them to go in every day and would they know if anything was wrong, if you have any doubts perhaps a cattery would be better but if you know you can rely on them then give it a go. Very few cats actually 'pine' their noses might be out of joint for a while, but they are anyway when you go on holiday. We had one that would get in the suitcase while we were packing, and as others have said, you will be well and truly ignored when you come back, whether or not they have been left at home or put in a cattery.

[originalspa]

I always put my two in a cattery as I know they get well looked after and the staff make an absolute fuss of them!

If I'm away for a weekend, I have an electronic feeder and make sure they have plenty of dry food and water!

Either way, we get ignored for a while but it doesn't last!!