Cat Lovers ONLY :) :) :)
 

Ok, if you're NOT a cat lover, stop reading NOW because i too, vividly remember being disgusted BC (before cat) But this IS travel-related!

Any ideas for our kitty when we're on our 3+ week road trip? Daughter audry is freaking because we're leaving her home alone, as shes only 8 mths old.
And thinks shes a dog ;) VERY social, lovable, follows us everywhere, LIVES to be held and cuddled, sits up for treats AND eats from our hand.

We've read that they shouldn't be taken from place to place, but for that long, should we take her to a friends anyway?
At this point, a neighbor will feed and play with her daily, and i heard that leaving a radio is calming, but any other ideas?

Sorry if the rest of you are gagging now -- i TOLD you to stop reading, didn't i ??!!
But i KNOW other cat lovers will understand!

TIA!

Read thread under "Other Topics" regarding cats telling time when owners are away.

Really, the cat will be fine. We have find that hiring a younger person (middle or high school kid) is better than an adult or professional pet feeder - as long as the kid is very responsible, you know the parents, etc. That way the kid always spends far longer "affectionating" the cat, giving it attention than someone who just runs in and takes care of all physical necessities of the cat. The one problem with a kid is that they are usually reluctant to deal with the litter box. We are fortunate that my mother lives close by and comes over every 5 days or so to check on things, deal with the litter box, restock refrigerator with greens for the iguana, etc.

If you have someone come into your home, they can also bring in mail, make place look less vacant for 3 weeks, check to see nothing has broken, leaked, exploded in your home, pick up newspaper that the guy delivered even though you stopped delivery, etc.

Ellen, I know what you mean - I worry about my two cats when we are away. Except for short weekend trips, we have a single friend who is happy to stay at our place while we are on vacation for a week or more. I do think animals in general, and cats in particular, suffer from boredom and loneliness when their owners are away for that length of time.

I agree with Gail's suggestion.
I have both boarded for three weeks and had a person come in for three weeks, and the cat was very relaxed when I got home and we'd had the girl (college vet tech) come in.
When I boarded him, even though I had selected a place that was not cheap and they did all kinds of wonderful things for their boarders, he literally flung himself onto me and wrapped his paws around my neck.
If you'd rather find a pro at this, but don't have someone in mind, you can usually find someone at the vet's who picks up extra money that way, or you can check bulletin boards at PetSmart or any place like that.

We have always had cats and we've always made long road trips. I've always hated the idea of leaving them behind because like yours, they thought they were dogs! However, cats don't take to travel the way dogs do. On our last trip our cat Daisy (we're down to just one now) spent the whole week under the bed. We were at my parent's home and Mother doesn't care for animals. I think Daisy sensed that and nothing we could do would coax her out! I felt bad for her. I realised that we took her with us because WE were lonely for her, not she for us.

Now we have our daughter's friends take care of her while we're gone. They know Daisy and love her. One time we had my friend look after her and that didn't work out well. Daisy wasn't familiar with her and hid. So my best advice is to leave kitty behind, hard as it might be, and be ready to give her some extra loving when you get back. It will also help you to call every now and then to get kitty reports (I've been known to call home...well, I won't open myself to guffaws by saying how often).

I have 3 cats and I'd never take them with me on vacation. Get a cat sitter to come by about 4x a week to check on your cat while away so that they could clean out the litter and replenish the food and pay the cat some attention. You may want to consider a 2nd cat because really cats are so easy to take care of you will not be financially burdened by another.

This can be a tough question. I always left my cat in the charge of a neighbor who is also a cat lover and generally this worked fine. However on one occasion I had a less than great experience. My then fiance was coming in once a day to feed/water but when I came home, Zeb (my big male tabby) was clearly upset. It took me a while to figure out that he could not pee. Ofcourse this was late on a Sunday night and the emergency call to get him "unplugged" and then treated was costly. I was only away for 4 days but had I been another day gone, he probably would not have made it as I doubt very much that his caretaker would have noticed. This was not actually the reason I dumped the jerk in the end but I'm a lot more particular about who I trust to care for my cats now and for how long.
I don't honestly know if his condition would have been noticed earlier if I had boarded him but 3 weeks seems like an awful long time to leave the responsibility to non-professional. If it were me, I'd be checking with a professional animal sitter recommended by my vet.

I feel most comfortable having somebody live in and look after the cats, even if I'm just away for a night or two. I've generally been lucky in finding neighbourhood kids (late teens) who are delighted to make a few dollars, enjoy the animals, seem proud to demonstrate their competence, and have their parents nearby if anything startling happens. However, this summer I haven't been able to find anybody so I've hired a professional petsitter. She seems really pleasant - I'm hoping things will go well.

Hi ellen!
We had a little Abbyssinian cat for 18 years. He was also a "doggie" kind of cat, followed us around, went the door when someone knocked, hung out with us all the time. He was ALWAYS with one of us, sleeping, watching tv:) even eating, he ate when we did.
So I found it pretty impossible to leave him all alone, even if someone would drop by now and then, there were too many hours alone for him, counting all night.
So we had a person stay at our house.
It was good for us in all ways, the house was safe, the mail and all were taken care of and the kitten had a new bedmate!
He remained our "baby" for 18 years and the longest we ever left him alone was over a weekend. But not when he was still a kitten.
3 weeks is a loooong time in the life of a cat.
Best of luck!

Didn't SARS come from a travelin' cat?

I have a cat that I love... and we travel quite a bit. My cat never goes outside - and would be very aggitated to board in a kennel with barking dogs, etc.. We pay a neighbor to come in every day to play with her. This makes a huge difference in her personality when we return. When she is alone with no visitors, she is much more upset when we get home. She likes all people and doesn't seem to care that the neighbor (vs. her family) is giving her attention.

Get another cat to keep the cat company. I'm serious. Two cats are no more trouble than one and you will not feel guilty for leaving the cat by itself.

My two cats entertain each other and keep each other company.

The above is an excellent suggestion. When we had multiple cats, travel away from them was less worrying because they entertained each other. Our Daisy requires a lot more TLC since she is the only one left. Get a friend for your kitten!

I have a friend who used to have one person take care of the physical needs of her cat, then asked a couple of friends to stop by when they could just to hang out with the cat. My husband and I soon learned to come alone, because if we were both there, the cat spent all the visit walking back and forth across our laps in order to give us equal time.

When I was a kid and we used to leave our dog-like cat at home, we'd come back from a trip to find she'd vomited on our favorite rug and had diarrhea. If you have a cat like that, it seems like it would be worth it to make sure someone is there at least once a day. If you hire a responsible kid for a petsitter, you can request that they come at least twice a day and spend quality time with your cat. When I was a petsitting teenager, I enjoyed requests like that.

I actually have dogs, but I do like cats and watch them occasionally for my friends and neighbors. I have one family that I go over twice a day when they are out of town and check on and play with their cat. She knows me very well so she is very happy with that. I had a friend who was going to be gone for 3 months on a trip to India and I actually kept her cat at my house. My dogs knew the cat and got along well (believe it or not) with Boo (her cat). So this was better than Boo being by himself for 3 months with me just coming by. Do you know someone who would be willing to take in your cat while you are away. This is a much better set up than boarding them at a pet facility because someone is there 24/7 and it is more peaceful. Hope this helps.

I have two fat (or is it "phat?") cats, ages 10 and 19. Years ago, when I'd be out of town for just a weekend, I'd leave them at home alone, with someone to check on them once or twice. Anyway, I arrived home after a long weekend, with my older cat acting like Lassie at the front door, leading me to the laundry room. Apparently, and I have no idea how this happened, my other cat had fallen behind the washing machine and was trapped. This was a Sunday evening, and my cat-sitter hadn't been there since Saturday mid-day; so for all I know, he'd been there more than 24 hours. I learned my lesson and have boarded them since.

Secondly, five years ago, my parents went on a three-week vacation and trusted one of their closest friends to check on their cats daily. One of their cats, who happened to sometimes be shy, didn't show himself for a few days right before my parents were to arrive home. The cat-sitter logically deduced that he was hiding from her and didn't think much of it. My parents came home to find the cat dead under their bed. He had developed bladder stones while they were gone and died as a result. My parents still haven't forgiven themselves.

Call me an alarmist, but I would take the cat to a reputable kennel. I've always been able to better enjoy my vacations while not worrying about cats slipping outdoors, etc... Just my 2 cents...

Sorry that I forgot to mention:
Many kennels are becoming more progressive. Our kennel, here in St. Louis, has a special cat area, far removed from the dogs, where one can't even hear barking. Classical music plays in the background, while plenty of sunshine streams through the skylights and windows. The cats are even out much of the day, if they enjoy socializing with other cats. And it doesn't break the bank!

As a frequent traveller, and owned by some cats who expect, actually demand, first-class treatment, I'm have to suggest a professional cat sitter. Neighbors are fine, for an occasional day. But for extended periods, a pro is what you need. Someone who can spot health issues and knows what to do. Someone who will not forget or get sidetracked. It is three weeks! The cost is not insignificant, but this kitty is a member of your family, and deserves to be treated as such. Just my opinion, but cat care is another legitimate element of travel cost.

We had the exact same experience with a cat becoming ill with stones while we were gone, and the sitter not realizing it. We too arrived home on a Sunday evening and found ourselves in an emergency vet clinic at 10 PM that night! She was OK, but a few more days and she wouldn't have been. Certainly this is the more unusual experience though, and I still think having a pet sitter is better than boarding.

That kitty has passed on, but we still have the 2nd one, now 16, one-eyed after a feral we had befriended and who lived in our patio got in a couple of years ago and got her, and she's prone to stones to boot. She's so shy sending her to a vet to be boarded would be too traumatic...just taking her for a check-up she wraps her front legs around my neck, hanging on for dear life, flattens her body on mine and buries her head under my chin. Ach...How could I leave her?! I know she is happier at home, so we risk it. My husband's secy, a cat lover, comes in to feed her daily, but Hobie, shy as she is, hides under the bed or in the back of a closet and she's Burmese so dark coloring and with her eye closed she simply can't be seen. Maria calls to her each time she comes in, and now, after 6 years of this, Hobie has finally come to equate Maria's voice with getting her canned food and actually makes an appearnce downstairs when Maria calls her. Now we can leave with some peace of mind...but it has taken us 6 years to reach this point too!

Your best precaution is to let your neighbor know she will probably be fine, but to make an effort to find her each day, and be certain to leave her carrier where it can be found if necessary, and leave the name of your vet. Odds are, no one will EVER have to make use of these things, but, just in case...it's there. For another time, yes another kitty is wonderful but I sure wouldn't do it now. The adjustment period can be a real trial, but once over the hump, all is usually great and the two will be happy with just each other.

I think us cat lovers should get our own forum on this site ;)

I have four adult cats and one rescue kitten. She is about six months old and called Milkshake (don't ask - I like unusual names ;). We are off to Prague in 2.5 weeks (not that I'm counting at all :)). However, in my circumstances, because she has not had her initial jabs yet (due next week.... plus spaying... plus micro chipping - awwww bless her!) I intend to keep her in until all the above have been done and she has recovered, so that will be after our return. I have a trusted neighbour calling to feed and take care of the cats every day. She will keep our kitten in with a litter tray

However, if your kitten has had her jabs/spaying, and is used to going out (and coming home), and you are happy with that whilst you are at home, I can't see any reason why a cat sitter cannot visit and do the honours. My cats are far happier being at home than the time I dragged them off down to the cattery!! However, on the side of catteries, at least you know she is safe 24/7.. If she is going to stay with a friend, remember that kitten should not under any circumstances, be allowed out - she will not know her bearings and will get confused. Your friend could keep a littertray for the necessary and also the playtime input would be an advantage too!

VIVRE LES CATS! ((@))

We have always hired cat sitters, too, as I just don't trust a kid or a neighbor to take the responsibility seriously. The cat sitters I hire are always vet techs--I find them through local vets' offices--so I'm fairly confident they'll notice when a cat is sick. And I like the idea of someone's coming over to check on the house, too.
The main issue for me is that the sitter spend time in the house, reading or watching TV or studying and playing with the cats, as they're all indoor kitties and are addicted to human company. Although there are 4 of them, they don't seem to "entertain" or comfort each other enough.
And here's the horror story: the ONE time I hired a neighbor boy to watch them for 10 days, I returned to find them all upset, and one of them quite ill. He contracted hepatic lipidosis, most likely brought on by stress, and ultimately died of liver failure. His brother got the illness, too, but recovered after months of treatment.
3 weeks is a very long time to be away: is there any way you could find someone who would keep the cat at their home while you're away, someone who doesn't already have cats and dogs?

Very easy solution. We have a single working woman move into our house whenever my DH and I are both travelling at the same time--which is often. She allows our two golden retrievers to sleep on the bed with her (king sized bed in guestroom!)and she can come and go as she pleases. The dogs have a dog door to a huge outdoor fenced run, so our sitter needs only to feed the dogs and sleep over at night--she goes to work during the day, and our dogs sleep most of the daytime anyway. We pay her well, and remember her generously at Christmas. Plus, she takes in mail and keeps the house 'occupied'. She loves the extra cash. We would never take our dogs to 'dog prison' (boarding somewhere)because they are pack animals!

HI.


I don't think it's a good idea to leave your cat home alone. Cats get lonely and need humans to love and be there for them. Hiring a prof sitter is a great idea plus your house will be looked after too.

Ellen,

Laughed at an email I got this morning from my sister. She'll be moving next month and during that process will be boarding the cats at the "Scratching Post Inn" >>> http://www.scratchingpostinn.com/
It certainly sounds like a lovely place; heck, I wouldn't mind staying there ! Perhaps the community where you live has nice accommadations for your kitty.

I started leaving my cat "LucyFur" home alone with someone checking on her daily when she was about 3 months old. I couldn't help it - I traveled for work. She never came out from under the bed when anyone was there. When I started traveling for longer periods of time, I decided to take her over to my mom's house. In the beginning she stayed under the bed in the guestroom but as her curiousity got the better of her she slowly came out and now, after about a year of that, has the run of the house. She has even started acting more like a cat since observing my mom's cat (ahe never knew what a cat really was supposed to do - I got her at 4 weeks from the pound) and likes to play with him (although the feeling is not really mutual - he leaves her alone) and I feel bad when I take her home...I think I may have to get her her own cat!

Another vote for professional petsitter I know versus neighbors or neighbors kid. When I had two elderly cats my vets tech used to petsit, give the cats their meds and even give one of them subcue. fluids. When I got my present cats I found another pet sitter (owner of local pet food store). I once tried having a neighbor's son look after them (he was looking for a part time job) and there was a signifcant difference in their behavior when I got home.

We've always left our cat at home while we've been gone. However, my parents can come by to check on him every day. They are "cat people", and know Tiger well, so they would know if there is a problem.

Yes, I much rather leave our Tom with a pet sitter. She comes in every other day to feed him wet food, check water and litter. She gives him pets too :-) ! It is good to have someone bring in the mail and check for unwanted paper deliveries! Judy :-D

Our cat goes to stay with Grandma. She lives in the country so he gets to be both inside AND outside. Has other cats and a dog to play with. He loves going but has always gone with us when go to visit regularly.

As a college student and young adult I house-sat for friends. It was very fun to 'play' house and cook my own meals yet not have the responsibilities of paying the bills (I was never a 'partier'). I think this is also good for a cat to have someone in the house. Do you know anyone this might fit? A college student home for the summer missing some of their freedom?

There is no way I could have left my 8mo kitten on his own for a weekend, let alone 3 weeks, my house would not have been standing when I came home - but mine is unusual. As a kitten they seem to need people around more, having someone come once a day wouldn't have worked either, though we could probably get away with it for a while now. I don't see a problem having her go someplace else, as a kitten they are very adaptable (as long as they are up on shots and in good health and the place they are going is safe).

is there anyone you trust with keys to your house. Let them come over and feed and play with it for a little while everyday while your gone

Ooh wow everybody, thank you so much for your replies! Its nice to know you understand! We'd planned to have a neighbor come over daily to feed and play with her, and then also have our son's girlfriend stop over too, just to give her some extra attention and TLC.

But after reading your posts, we're going to have my 20 y/o college-student neice stay here while we're away. She LOVES our 'baby' and will also keep an eye on everything else.

This is our 8th western road-trip adventure but never thought twice about leaving our house alone (thats why we pay the big insurance bucks!)but we never had a kitty before!
I can't even BELIEVE how attached we have become and how much we'll miss her. I know we'll all feel much better with my neice here.

Thanks again!

umm, that would be NIECE.....

L O N G day.......

I'm so glad that you got it worked out... Sounds like a PERFECT solution. Have a great trip!

Don't you mean purrfect?

or simply feline!

I was told I should be repoted to the animal cruelty people for this but they don't know my cat. Ms. Kitty is 12 y/o, she runs our house. (Don't all cats run the house?) She comes and goes when SHE wants, thinks she is a dog, a queen and in charge. She has a 'cat house' outside. Would be insulted if we put a litter box in the house, that's what the garden is for! She has "her" garden for just that purpose. OK get the picture. We have a self feeder and self waterer and someone comes and checks on her outside enviroment a couple of times while we're gone. Boarded her once, she was not pleased, when she came home she pooped in every bed in the house. We got the message. She acts P.O. ed when we return, probably cause the dogs, who are boarded, also return.

That is a tough one....we just got our 2nd persian kitten recently (he is now 4 months old) and I would never leave him in the house that long because he is so wild I know he would get into something.

Our older persian would not be a problem at all. Is your kitten still a little wild? Would your neighbor possibly let kitty stay with them?

ArkansasNurse, you just made me think of our (now deceased) cats, Sally and Flurry. Years ago, before kids, we went to England for two weeks, leaving Sally and Flurry at home in the care of a neighbor. He got caught up with work and didn't pay much attention to them. By the end of the two weeks, they were fed up and started creating mischief. They jumped up on the kitchen counter tops and unrolled the paper towels. When we walked into the kitchen, the room was knee deep in towels!! what a sight. They were cats with real personality.

When we travel we always leave the 2 cats at home and send the dog to the next door neighbors. The kids love to use our house while playing witht he cats. We pay them about 20.00 a day for combination pet sitting and it works great.
If you don;t have a reliable neighbor then you may want to ask at your vets as there is usually at least one tech that pet sits. Our groomer has two people that pet sit. <ost of them enjoy the fact they get to vacation at your home