holidays and cats

[Bryony84]

With our other cats, we always got a neighbour to feed them and before I moved out of my parents house we always timed it so we were never both away and there was always someone there. This time, we are living about 15 mins drive away from my parents so I can't ask them, however someone I work with recommended a very good cattery not far away and also said that if we are only going away for a weekend or something, he didn't mind feeding our cats if we would do the same in return with his cat.

[tigerbaby]

If we're going away for more than 3 days we're either going to get a trusty friend or family member to cat-sit. If not I am going to have to look up a good cattery. He might not like it though - it's our first holiday with a cat. We'll see how it goes, the main thing is knowing he is in safe hands.

[alisonandarchie]

I think it often depends on the cats. My last cat hated being confined and  was miserable at the cattery so when we went away we got a cat sitter which worked very well.

We got Archie from an animal shelter who also have a cattery. We left him there last summer for a week and he was really spoilt.

If you decide on a cattery, have a long visit to see how it feels.

Best of luck

[Millys Mum]

If it were me id keep them indoor with a sitter or board them but as im still at home theres always someone here, lucky as a cattery wouldnt do my lot any good. 

You could get a cheap timer from tesco and plug a radio or tv in so they get some noise

[blackcat]

my dog sniffs smidgens bum and he is getting used to it, but still looks indignant! lol.

sounds like you are well-sorted.

[Christina]

we will probably leave them together then if this is ok and other people have done this. i do feel bad though for leaving them! i wouldnt have left my resisent cat alone though on her own if we hadnt have got another cat. my partners parents will be reliable. they are only five mins down the road and his mum works from home so she will have more then enough time to pop round, feed cats, change litters and check all is well.. both cats go outside (though the new one hasnt been out here yet) but im not sure i will allow them to be going out while we are away.
the cats are left alone together everyday while we are at work, and there havent been any problems. they dont finght or anything like that. its just that now the resident cat stevie has gotten over her grumpyness at the new arrival, she keeps going up to the new cat and sniffing, especially the bum, which the new cat doesnt like so she hisses and swats a bit. i do hope though that the new cat will calm down a bit as its only been a week. were not going for another few weeks so theres more time for them to get to know each other more.  sometimes i wish i didnt have cats, all the worry they cause lol!!! but i wouldnt be wothout them!!!!

[Maddiesmum]

In the past the cats have stayed at home and two of my neighbours and my daughter have shared care duties.  However this year, as Charlie hasn't been here long, unfortunately he is going into a cattery as no one wants to be responsible if he wanders off. 

[blackcat]

If your OH's parents are reliable then I would go with their offer. As for leaving two cats who have only lived together for a short while, there are two possible outcomes. Either they will both hate each other by the time you get back, or more likely, they will have worked out an accommodation between them. A lot of problems between new cats and old arise from jealousy of their humans. So in your absence they can sort out their arrangements without the additional tensions of your presence. Have a great break!

[Yvonne]

I personally prefer a cat sitter.  We are going away at Easter and have a friend to stay over that period, we have done it before and it works well.

[Christina]

hello, i just wondered what everybody does with their cats when they go on holiday. i have always had cats but have never had to worry about this as i lived with my dad and brother before so whenever one of us went away there would always be someone still at home as we never went on holiday together.
now i have my own flat with my boyfriend, and we are going away for the week soon. we have two cats. i really dont know what to do with them. i really dont want to put them in the cattery, and my one doesnt travell very well, so wouldnt want to take them bk home to my parents.
my partners parents have offered to come and feed them twice a day while we are gone, but would this be ok? i got my second cat to keep my first company, as we work during the week and she was lonely. they are tollerating each other (its only been a week so early days) and my resident cat seams fine now, as she was a bit grumpy at the new arrival first! however, the new cat seams to get grumpy when my cat goes up to her. she hisses a bit etc. im not sure if this will improve, but if it doesnt then this would make leaving them alone for the week even harder as although they are fine together and tollerate each other they are not really company for each other at the moment. im hoping that this will improve a little, as like i said its only early days at the moment and weve only had the new cat for a week.
any thoughts would be appreciated. were not going away for a while yet but just wanted to arrange what im going to do in advabce. thanks.