Cat Sitters

[EvianBaby]

I'm going away (probably) for a week in June and I'm not sure what to do about the cat.

I've never left him on his own for more than a few days (with brother coming in to feed him) and I can't think of anyone I know who I could get to move in to my house for a week.

Putting him in a cattery is out of the question.

What does everyone else do with their pets when they're away?

[friedgreentomato]

I have a cat sitter who is bluddy brill.

she comes in once a day for an hour - feeds the cats, does their trays etc, waters plants, picks up parcels and post, opens and closes curtains, turns lights on and off and then spends time with the cats stroking and hugging them.

Costs me £12 a day but worth every penny it would cost more to put my 4 in the cattery.

[wendilla]

Yes I can understand you not wanting your cat to be put in a cattery but there are good catteries if you could find one that someone recommends. My daughter started putting her dog in just for 1 night a month leading up to her annual holiday therefore this way he knew the place and was happy. Also there are people that go round to your house which have been looked into for any police records. But this could also be expensive. You should find them for your local area on here. As long as a cat is getting fed I think they are happy but I still underestand how you feel about catteries. Good Luck

[Baldric]

Does your Landlord allow you to keep pets desky?

[bednobs]

c\ats are pretty self-sufficient, As long as their food is filled up, they don't really care who is doing the filling

[Barmaid]

I've used an agency before and found them to be very good. Very similar experience to FGT.

I do find that when I return, the cats are all happy because they have been in their own home with their own stuff around them.

[Duncer]

We used to use an agency only we came home early one year to find she had double fed the cats early in the morning, cramming their dishes full of food, and didn't return that day to check the litter, despite being paid to do so.

We now use a cattery and, while Storm and Max might say differently, it is really good. We are secure in the knowledge that they are well looked after and can actually enjoy our holiday.

[RATTER15]

If we cant take our hounds with us, we dont go, easy as that really lol

[EvianBaby]

£12 a day seems reasonable. I'd just be worried about giving a stranger access to my house. But I suppose I'll have to really.

I'm totally pathetic when it comes to my cat. He probably wouldn't even notice I'm not there whereas I'll be sobbing on the ferry.

[coccinelle]

Could you not get a neighbour to pop in? My cat lives mainly outdoors in summer so I have a friend who comes and feeds her in the cellar.

[wolf63]

If I go away (an increasingly rare event) I put the monsters into a cattery. I used the same cattery for my previous cat too.

I have to pay for two separate cages/cells/rooms as, being siblings, they have been known to bicker and fight.

This site is usually good - http://www.fabcats.org/catteries/index.php

[bednobs]

Mine ignores me when i come home, just to prove he's upset i left him to the mercies of strangers. Then after about 5 mins he'll be all over me

[Tinkerpuss]

Have a look in the Yellow Pages of local paper for an animal sitter/dog walker.
I found one and she came 2 times a day for 1/2 hour for £5 per day.

[jd_1984]

When we had cats we used a fantastic cattery, the cats were spoiled rotten there and came back spotless and full of life. I do however appreciate peoples concerns re cattery's.
If you say you have left him with your brother calling in for "a few days" would a week really be that different??

[Tinkerpuss]

sorry - '0r' local paper.

[friedgreentomato]

Our cat sitter is registered with the vet and the police, provides reference and is insured - I spoke to the Vet and that is who they use and reccommend so I had no issues.

[EvianBaby]

I know other people like catteries but I just won't put him in one. He's a really nervous cat and I know it would ruin my holiday worrying about him in there. It just aint gonna happen.

My brother would feed him for a week but he'll literally come in, feed him and leave again. I think a week is a long time for a cat to be pretty much completely on his own.

[bednobs]

blimey, what does your cat do then?
mne is either asleep, eating or out

[jd_1984]

Just with you saying a "few days" I assumed you meant anything from 3-5 days or so. But I appreciate if the animal has a nervous disposition it may become distressed if your brother merely pops in and out once a day. Equally though, how would it take to a stranger(cat sitter)
Cats are, in my experience, easily satisfied. Providing it is fed I am unsure how much damage would be done if it had limited human contact for 7 days.