Hi Guys,
I might be going away for a week and a half in Dec. I was thinking of taking my Nermal to a cattery so that she is looked after and not left alone while I'm away. I'm a bit nervous about this as I don't want her to think that I've abandoned her, as well as the fact that I don't know how good some of these catteries are. I don't want her to go missing or for her to be neglected or mistreated...has anybody had an exp with a cattery and can anybody vouch for them? If it's not a good idea, I'd rather ask a friend to pop by everyday to feed her, change her litter and check up on her...I'm confused...:confused:

:paranoid:

:) I have no idea about what the conditions of cat care are like in the facilities near you. Can you pay them a surprise visit and see? It's been my experience that kitties are happiest when they are left at their home, if you can get a person that you trust to care for Nermal. Trust what your feel is best for your cat :)

:) I have no idea about what the conditions of cat care are like in the facilities near you. Can you pay them a surprise visit and see? It's been my experience that kitties are happiest when they are left at their home, if you can get a person that you trust to care for Nermal. Trust what your feel is best for your cat :)
Right on! :clap:

Ann and I have always had a cat, usually more than one, for the very nearly 50 years we have been married. During the first 20 of those years I was career military, and we relocated almost a dozen times, and we have also relocated many times during my subsequent civilian career. We have therefore experienced this dilemma in many, many locations and visited gobs of boarding facilities. We have never, absolutely never, found a boarding facility for our babies which might be preferred to having a trusted friend stop by to feed them and give them a little TLC. I stress the word "trusted."

Good luck,

Jim

Personally I would rather have a friend come by.
Call me crazy but anytime I have to leave my cats, like at the vet I talk to them and let them know that mommy will be back :lol3:

They are fine. I don't ever go away because I have breeding cats but they are fine and don't let anyone tell you not.

actually, it's not so much that i hate them, than that i prefer to leave them in their accustomed surroundings. if i'm going to be gone for more than a week, i arrange for someone to check up on them. otherwise, i just leave plenty of food & water & clean boxes - i have the automated ones, so they'll stay pretty clean even when i'm not there to scoop. i know for a fact that Pixel takes a long time to recover from any trip - i have no idea how she'd do in a totally strange place!

I use a cattery - HOWEVER - I researched them thoroughly. I visited over a dozen before I found one I liked, I made sure of all their procedures etc.

Also, just to add many months ago we had some behavioural issues with our two boys not getting on with each other and we used an animal behaviouralist specialist. The problems seemed to be all sorted, but when we went away again recently I asked her if she thought a cattery or having someone come over was best.

Her preference was the cattery as they have interaction from the cattery owners (my cats are total people lovers!!).

They are fine. I don't ever go away because I have breeding cats but they are fine and don't let anyone tell you not.
Goodness, I hope that I have not gotten crosswise with my ol' buddy, Sam.

I didn't mean to condemn them all, Sam, and looking back at my earlier post I must admit that it can certainly be read that way. I took the question as being in the alternative, that is, if one has the option, should one board one's cat or leave it in its comfortable, clean and pest-free home, to be fed and otherwise cared for by a reliable and trustworthy friend who visits.

So says Samwise, too. :)

Luv ya', Sam,

Jim

Goodness, I hope that I have not gotten crosswise with my ol' buddy, Sam.

I didn't mean to condemn them all, Sam, and looking back at my earlier post I must admit that it can certainly be read that way. I took the question as being in the alternative, that is, if one has the option, should one board one's cat or leave it in its comfortable, clean and pest-free home, to be fed and otherwise cared for by a reliable and trustworthy friend who visits.

So says Samwise, too. :)

Luv ya', Sam,

Jim

I understand, don't worry it's alright and different things are alright for different people! :)

:heart3:

Sam

We took Chester to a Boarding place for pets, but this was like a pet hotel. Each cat had like it's own little fort with a folding chair to lounge in, plenty of blankets and toys, and tons of love and attention. I wouldn't have taken him anywhere else.

I've never left a pet anywhere but home during a vacation.

But my grandparents owned a pet store, and they did board dogs in a good way. I'm sure that there are good cat boarding places, I've just never heard of one. I'd rather pay the neighbor kids $10 to feed my cat while I'm gone than go around and look for somewhere decent and more expensive.

I've thought of both, but Miss Kitty is such a bad traveler I just won't do it to her. Someone stops in at least twice a day to check on her, play with her, etc. The TV is on a timer (actually, two) so it's on about 12 hours a day for her (same as when I go to work). She has one room that is dark and quiet, and another that has noise and light.

I still miss the hell out of her when I go. I often call her (no joke) just so she can hear my voice - but I'm sure I'm missing her more than she misses me, LOL. She definately curtails my vacation plans (happily) - I won't go anywhere for more than a week now, and then it's still a strech. Again, mostly for me, LOL.

If I had to go away for longer, I probably would look into a kitty hotel - but like others, I'd be afraid it might do her more harm than good, depending on the personality of your kitty.

MKD