Going on Vacation: Pet sitter or Boarding?

[diznee25]

In the past we have done both. One trip we left our cats at the vet for boarding. On our honeymoon we used a pet sitter so our cats could stay at home.

Pet sitter: $10 per day, plus $5 charge for full litter change (once per week)
(the sitter will empty droppings from litter box every day, that's free of charge.)

Boarding: $22 per night, plus $55 for eye drops the cats need before they are boarded. (Guessing that is standard procedure.)

The boarding option is more expensive for us because we have two cats.

Which option do you use and how much do you pay?

Diznee25

 

[NC Belle]

We just came back from WDW. We boarded our over 25lb. lab for $20 a day plus $28 for full bath/grooming. Our dog recieved constant care and play time. She was monitored on her eating and well--bodily functions. She received a great report card on the end. I have no clue about cats except that most tend to do well as solitary animals. We have an excellent pet medical plan for our dog, so shots/pre-care was not a big issue for us. We are glad that she stayed in a climate control building in this summer heat.

 

[minnie56]

But prefer the pet sitter. I have 3 cats and 1 dog and they just fare better in their own home.

I have a girl that works for the local humane society and she comes to stay and charges $45 per day for everything. She walks the dog 2x daily too.

When I come home the house is **** and span and everyone is happy!

 

[oogieboogie]

Pet sitter. My cat is very skittish and would never be able to handle boarding.

My neighbor checks on the cat every day and for that we give her Disney stuff since she doesn't want to be paid. Vice versa, we pet sit for her too.

 

[Tuffcookie]

I have 2 dogs I board when I travel. It costs $10 a day for the first dog, $8 for the 2nd. I board because I want to come home to a clean house with no destruction!

TC

 

[aprilgail2]

When we go to Disney in August I am boarding our cocker spaniel. Its only 16.00 a day so its not that bad, don't think I could get a pet sitter to come to my house for less than that. t least at the boarders he's got his own run and its not a small cage like when we boarded him once at the vets.

 

[chell]

Pet sitter gets my vote. My babies get stressed out enough just by me going on vacation. I would hate to add to that by making them get used to another environment.

 

[CBRorBust]

Pet Sitter

I think it will be less stressful on your animals and probably on you!

 

[buzzlady]

Our dog went on vacation to grandma's house and our neighbor came in and fed our cat. If someone can come in and pet sit, I think that's the best.

 

[minniecarousel]

We have someone come by & check on our cat. Of course, since my Mom lives with us, usually one of my sisters stays here - but if she goes to their house, my DS will stop by and check on the cat. I appreciate it when my neighbors board their dogs, since no one stays overnight - sometimes they bark constantly when the owners are gone! The best idea is to find someone to stay at your house and pet/house sit!

 

[KatelynnsAuntie]

Pet sitter. I know my cats would much rather be in their own environment without me there than some strange place in addition to me not being there.

 

[AspiringCindy]

We board both our dogs when we vacation! The cost is anywhere from $35-45/a day! This year, we will be at WDW for 10 days soooo...that is a huge chunk of change!

 

[disney4us2002]

Wow, this is interesting. I thought one of the best things about cats is that you could leave them home. We had two siamese cats and never had any problems leaving them. They had automatic feeders and water bottles and were inside-only cats anyway. Now, the dog is another matter. I'm missing the easy days of travel. Kennels around us charge $20 and up per day and then are closed Sundays so p/u's must be Monday before 1pm. Those p/u's are a bit of a hassle for working people as well.

 

[DMickey28]

I am going through this now.....

We are going on our wedding/cruise in October. We moved to INdy not too long ago and don't really know very many people yet. I would rather not board them. If we were leaving them for a week or so I would just leave them at home but we are going to be gone for 17 days.....even with a few litter boxes set up and tons of food, I think it would be too long without someone coming in. Luckily my two kitties don't eat everything insight so I wouldn't need to be worried about them eatnig everything the first day...

anyone in the indy area want to stop by fishers a few times in October????

 

[KristiKelly]

When we go out of town, I usually get my mom to keep our puppy. Last month DD & DH went camping and DD & I went to the beach with my mom, so we boarded her for the weekend & paid additional for play time & it was $51 for 2-1/2 days - I would definitely try to get a petsitter or a relative, not only is it cheaper, but probably less stressful for your pets.

 

[goofy4tink]

My adult dd comes over daily to be with my cats when we go away. We used to board our first dog. He loved it!! But my present golden hates to go to 'puppy camp'. He doesn't even do well when dd stays at the house with him. He literally pines away when I'm not there. He doesn't eat well and doesn't play. Poor baby. So, this year he's going to visit Grammie on Cape Cod. She'll be there 24/7 for him and spoil him rotten. Dd will still come over daily to check on the cats but we're on her route to work so it's no big deal.

 

[denisenh]

We board our cat at a pet resort and spa. (We don't have to do eye drops or anything, just some info faxed from the vet is all) She does fine.
It is an additional expense and I have thought of leaving extra food, water and an additional litter box at home for her, but if, heaven forbid, she had to get out in case of fire, gas leak, flood or whatever, she wouldn't be able to.

 

[4nana]

If you have someone you can trust, I recommend the at home pet sitter and keeping them in as much as the same routine/enviroment as possible. We investigated several boarders before our family vacation and left our 2 doggies with what we felt was the best. It took us a good week to re potty train our 2 adult dogs upon return, plus cost $300.

More recent trip, we hired someone we/they knew to come let them in and out, feed and play, and it worked out much better.

Good luck!
~ Sandie

 

[Simba's Mom]

This is an interesting topic. We recently moved to an area where we don't know anyone, so we faced this dilema. We also have an indoor cat and were so afraid of him getting out. I even went to a boarding facility for a tour. We really didn't know which to do. In the end, DS (who always knows girls-everywhere, it seems!) knew someone in our neighborhood who came in every day. Only trick was, we told her we wouldn't pay her until after we got home and found our kitty was is the house and happy!

 

[Kitty 34]

My brother will be taking care of our 4 kitties starting next week for our 9-day trip. He lives down the street from us and borrows enough things out of DH's pole barn, that in the process of walking over to the barn, he can stop and feed my cats.