URGENT- need ideas

I just found out that my family has made arrangements for us to have our family vacation in California (Disneyland) for TEN DAYS!! I didn't think it'd be THAT long. I am excited to be with my family again (they are all in Utah while I live here in MD) BUT at the same time I'm not sure if I can be away from my furbabies that long!

I am going to try to see if i can go for 6 or 7 days instead of 10 days but I will still need someone to watch my cats...

I am trying to do research on petsitters and know I need to look for "bonded and insuranced" petsitters. What else do I look for? How do I know that agency provides good care/attention to cats, the fees are reasonable, etc?

I am hoping I can afford enough to pay for a petsitter since I know most of my friends can't tend my cats that long!

What about diffrent friends on diffrent days or something? Or a pet sitter on some days.. friends on others?

Most of my friends lives more than 30 min away and have families of their own with kids so it'll be hard for them AND many of them are also allergic to cats too.


I DO have 1 or 2 friends I COULD ask but I think it'd be better to have ONE person do all the visits so my cats will be used to one person. Don't u think?

Do you have a friend who is willing to move in while you are gone?? I checked with friends that were either living with family or have a room mate. Its a great way to get some alone time! I used to do it all the time while in college.

It's times like this i wish we all lived nearer to each other then we would have no problem

Originally Posted by rosiemac

It's times like this i wish we all lived nearer to each other then we would have no problem

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I agree..... I know in the past I have asked my friends to watch cats for me and it helped me a lot knowing that I know the people caring for my cats..

Unfortunately the people I used to ask in the past to petsit for me are either gone from the area, fighting cancer (very sick), or have babies and are very busy.

I hope you get something sorted.

Whilst it's only natural to worry about being away from your babies - they will be ok. We leave ours and I think it's just the fact that they go through a cycle of getting up, going to bed and getting up again and you're not there. After they've done that once, I honestly don't think they know whether that has happened 2 times or 10 times. - Obviously long, long periods wouldn't be the same - but we've regularly holidayed for 3 weeks and our kitties are fine when we get back.

The important thing is that you have somebody you trust keeping an eye on them.

Good luck

I worry sick about mine and call and check everyday that I'm away and my parents watch them.

My vet's office actually has Techs that do this on the side. I can't think of a better person to watch pets than someone at the vet's office. I would call your vet and see if anyone working there does this or if they could recommend someone.

Already called my vet but they didn't have any info.

I just wrote a long post, but it "got lost". Do you know any responsible teenagers who could move in and catsit? A friend's daughter, now 19, has been catsitting for us for the past 5 years. We pay her $25 a day, and give her a gift worth $75 to $100 for her trouble. The main attraction for her is that she temporarily has a "place of her own", with sole access to the Internet, phone, fax, TV, DVD player, stereo, VCR, and a fully stocked fridge and freezer. My mother-in-law stops by every day to check up on Jamie and dispense "cuddles". The one stipulation I make is that Jamie be locked in a bedroom with his litterbox, food, and water if there are any guests, and that the key is not taken out of the lock until the guests have left. This girl is a real treasure, and her boyfriend, who often keeps her company when she's at our place, is just as trustworthy.
Our eldest niece is now 23, and has been petsitting since she got her driver's license at 16. Once she turned 18, she opened up her own petsitting company, and employs 6 - 8 people at any given time.

I went to Scotland for a week and had a bonded petsitter come to my apt. and take care of my cats. It was great...they left little messages on how the cats were for each day the petsitter visited. It wasn't that expensive..around $15 a day.

Katie

Originally Posted by Pamela

I just found out that my family has made arrangements for us to have our family vacation in California (Disneyland) for TEN DAYS!! I didn't think it'd be THAT long. I am excited to be with my family again (they are all in Utah while I live here in MD) BUT at the same time I'm not sure if I can be away from my furbabies that long!

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Hi Pamela, Congrats for your future trip , hope you can find a good solution for your furbabies!
Hummm there`s not a Shelter of pets near to your area where you pay a rent like if was it a Hotel? have you try on internet if there`s exist a place like I said? it`s just an Idea

Sending ((((((Good Vibes)))))) for you and your furbabies too!!