Everyone With Cats . .What Do You Do When On Vacation?

[Wish Upon A Star]

We've always have been fortunate enough to have my mom stay over our house while we were away on vacation to take care of the animals. But when we go in April 05, my parents will be on a cruise. My MIL is going to take the dog to her house so that just leaves the 2 cats. I don't know if I should have a neighbor come in and feed them or what.

What do you all do with your cats when taking a vacation? My SIL says to get an automatic feeder and water and they could manage on their own . . but what about the cat box?

 

[grinningghost]

My mom comes over to watch him. The automatic feeder and waterer is a good idea, but that cat box would be pretty yucky if nobody looks after it. Maybe you could hire a neighborhood teenager (obviously a responsible one) to come in a couple times a day to care for the kitty.

 

[KatelynnsAuntie]

How long will you be gone? Do you have a teenager neighbor that can check on them for you? I personally wouldn't have an automatic feeder and let them manage on their own for more than a couple days, as anything could happen. I'm lucky in that my parents watch them for me when I'm gone, or if they can't, I have a friend that stays at my house, or another friend from church will come over and take care of them.

 

[Boots]

Depends on how long we are going to be gone. My in laws come over and feed our outside dog and come in and feed Boots if we aren't going to be gone over four or five days. Otherwise the cat has to be boarded. She is an inny-outy and tries to run outside any longer than that. I would make myself sick with worry if she had to stay out over night.

 

[Toby'sFriend]

Our cats have always been pretty self sufficient. I usually put down a ton of food and water and have a neighbor stop by and change it every other day.

I really don't worry about the cat box unless we are gone more than a week. I've been left little surprises in places other than the cat box as a reward for this --- not pleasant.

The few times I have boarded a cat, they have been miserable.

 

[tonyswife]

My MIL takes care of the cat when we're away.

The time she came with us on vacation, we hired a cat sitting service. They have been in business for decades and are just animal lovers. The gentleman came over daily, fed the cat, checked his litter, scooped it if necessary, changed it once and took in our mail. They charged $7/day.

 

[grinningghost]

BTW, speaking of teenage help, my DD LOVES taking care of other people's cats. She won't take care of ours much, but she does an amazing job with other ones. I'm sure there's a teenager around you that would jump at the chance to help you out.

 

[Beth76]

I, too, don't like the idea of the automatic feeder. Someone should be physically doing it, like a neighbor or a friend. I would even think that every other day would be sufficient, if that makes it easier on the person doing it. We do leave my cat for 1 or 2 nights, completely alone occasionally.

 

[addicted_to_WDW]

We have a pet sitter come in twice a day to feed our kitties and scoop the litter boxes. It's worth the $$$ to know that the cats will be well cared for while we are away.

 

[Disneylvr]

We always pay a teenage friend of the family and she comes once a day to feed Simba and give him a little bit of love.

 

[Gary M]

We have a pet sitter come in twice each day to take care of our two cats needs. We have used the sitter for several years. This gives us peace of mind knowing the cats are well cared for, plus she keeps an eye on the house. Money well spent.

 

[FroggyinArk]

coco calls on her uncle russ and aunt re to come over and feed her and shadow,, she also asks our nieghbor ms donna who is an animal lover to help out too, between the 2 stopping by we ussually dont have any trouble

 

[Lachesis00]

We have our friend Rich come over. My sister is next door and pops in once in a while to make sure Rich is doing what he was paid to do (last year he didn't scoop and it was nasty)

 

[Jeanny]

I pet sit for my best friends when they go away on vacation (3 times a year for 1 week to 10 days) and a few long weekends.. They have 3 cats and 1 dog. They fill the food feeder so I just have to make sure they have fresh water and enough dry food coming out. They have one of those automatic kitty litter thingy's ...... So I only have to empty that when the tray gets filled. I take the dog out 3 times a day, morning, afternoon and night... my dog comes with me at night so they can have playgroup together.

I bring their mail in and water the plants, etc....for this I get free tanning and free hair colors, which I now need every three weeks or my skunk streak starts to show!!!! (They own a hair and tanning salon which is located in their house)

I'd do it even if I didn't get the free tanning and hair colors, that's what friends are for.

When I go away, my dog goes to my cousin's house so he can have some qualilty time with his cousin Tanner....

 

[minnie56]

As already mentioned, anything could go awry!

I have a young girl (early 20's) that works at our local humane society come and stay. Of course, she is well versed on animal care and I come home to a spotless house and 3 cats and a dog that have been lovingly taken care of. I pay her $45 per day (Canadian = $ $29 or so U.S?) and it is money well spent! I could never go away otherwise...they don't get lonely and have someone to cuddle them in my absence and I have total peace of mind.

Maybe a teenager as suggested or try your local humane society too? Never know who is working there and could use a few extra dollars!

 

[Figaro]

We have a great big 5 gallon water dish and I fill up the turkey roaster to the top with catfood. Then a friend comes in to scoop the boxes every other day. If we didn't have 5 cats, I would use the automatic scooper catbox, as friends with just two cats have said that it will work find for a week without needing to be checked as long as they put down a "back-up" box just in case.

 

[Kitty 34]

We're lucky to have family members near us that feed our kitties.

 

[Nancy]

our last vacation was 7 days. Kitties (2) stayed home with the auto feed and water dishes. The 2 Grandmas came over every other day to check the boxes. (we put 2 of them out just in case a day was skipped) My Mom still put out extra fresh water while she was over. It got very warm a few days that they were gone and MIL turned the air on for the cats. They were fine when we got home....my cats are not super cuddly...they loved having all the beds to themselves!

 

[wishuponastarforever]

If just a weekend trip, we have a neighbor come over.
If a full vacation, we have a wonderful pet sitting service that we trust very much. It's worth the money to know the animals are safe and healthy. Also it's good to have someone bring in mail or disguise any other sign you may be gone and to check the home. Water pipes have been known to burst so it is really house sitting too.
The peace of mind is worth every cent.

 

[mermaidlady]

If we are just gone for the weekend they manage on their own. If longer my neighbor will come over to watch them. We always have two litter boxes and clean them right before we go