What do you do with your pets when you leave?

[Laura22]

Not sure if this is the right place for this, but worth a shot.

Every time we go to Disney we have the problem of finding a person to watch our cat. He's very self sufficient - we just feed him in the morning and that's all we have to do. He lets himself in and out through the cat door and doesn't use a litter box or anything (goes outside). We don't know any of our neighbors, and from what we've seen of them all from a distance I wouldn't trust them in my house anyway. I don't know any kids or teenagers or else I'd hire one. I have just a couple acquaintances but they are all across town (about 10-15 minute drives with traffic). I can't afford to pay some sort of pet service a ridiculous amount of money to feed my cat for me, nor would I trust a stranger in my house anyway.

For shorter trips we just use those self dispensing food and water canisters, which will feed the cat for about a week and then we find an acquantance across town to feed him wet food every other day, which we hate asking them to do that for us! But this trip we'll be gone for 2 weeks and I don't want to have to have someone drive 10 minutes to our house 7 times to feed the cat.

So anyway, I'm just looking for ideas. What do you all do?

 

[Pixiedust34]

For our former dog, we paid a professional dog sitter to come 3 times/day. She would take care of the dog's needs, get our mail and newspaper, water plants, etc.

For the dog we have now, we use a kennel. She stays in an indoor/outdoor run, and we pay extra for a "fun and games" option so she gets some running around time in their fenced-in yard once/day. They do have a cat room upstairs, but I've never seen it because we don't have a cat. So far, the kennel is working out OK for both short (weekends) stays and our Disney stay (12 nights).

You might want to ask your vet if there is a cat boarding place he'd recommend. Our vet uses the same kennel we do for his pets, and that is one reason we felt comfortable with the place. They also allow drop-in visits for you to inspect the cleanliness and quality of care, which is another plus.

 

[Colinsmom]

A pet sitting service is actually pretty affordable - I usually pay $10-12 per day for one visit to check on and feed my cat. They will also pull in mail and generally keep an eye on the house. It's well worth the peace of mind to me!

 

[Mr Poohbrain]

Do you have someone that would be willing to take your cat in for 2 weeks? Of course, this probably would not be an ideal situation for the cat, since he's an outdoorsman, but it might be an alternate solution.

Also, what about one of the girls at your vet's office? When my cat was alive, one of the vet techs would watch him (he had special needs) and we would board the dogs at a kennel. Even back them I think I spent around $10/day (keep in mind that he had special food, meds, etc, so it was well worth the price for the security of knowing that he was in good hands and a quick trip to the vet if need be.)

Mrs PB

 

[iluvwesties]

I was thinking the same as Mr Poohbrain, I usually take my westie to my parents and she is spoiled royally while I am away.

It is good for them as they enjoy her company and I go away assured that my dog is on "vacation" also!!!

If you have a relative that could accomodate you, perhaps you could help them out when they go on vacation?

iluvwesties (aka Carol)

 

[WeluvDisney2]

My daughters' best friend is coming everyday to feed our bunny. Our cat is going to stay at my sisters' house for the week. She has an enclosed porch that our cat can have the run of, and we can leave the litter box out there. Good luck!

 

[ReneeQ]

We do different things, depending on the length of our trips. We have a SPOILED ROTTEN 6 lb. Pomeranian. For short trips, I board him at a daycare place. They all LOVE him and he is even more rotten when we get home, as they carry/hold him all the time!

My all time preference is for my sister to keep him, but now that she lives two hours away (used to be one) it's a pain to drop off/pick up, as it's a four hour round trip TWICE (drop off/pick up). But she LOVES him and treats him like her own child, so for longer trips, it's in his best interest to stay with her. Sometimes she'll meet me halfway to get him.

Sometimes we get someone to stay at our house, like a friend, or my husband's single sister. We just do what works best each time.

But the majority of the time husband and I travel separately for the sake of the dog!

 

[westernmom]

Our dogs go on vacation at the doggie resort (what we call the kennel).

Our cat stays home. He's an inside cat who has self feeders & drinks out of the goldfish bowl. I just ask a friend/neighbor/my parents to stop in every 3 or so days to a)make sure he's still okay (he's 15 yo) and b)make sure he hasn't drunk all the fish's water.

Could you just ask someone to come every 2 or 3 days? Then they could check the water & refill the food if necessary.

Good luck. I know the stress of trying to plan the care of your pets. We've had critters in the past who've had to be cared for at home. (And then there was the fluke October blizzard & the lady taking care of the dog couldn't get to our house...) I've been there.

 

[HillPete]

If I were you, I'd ask the across-town acquaintance to come every 3 days and refill the automatic dispenser.
My dad watches the cats while we are gone and has a tendency to overfeed them. I think he refills their dry food twice a day! This coming trip we will be boarding our female cat because the males don't let her go to the litter box unless I'm around to make sure she gets to go. We went to Philly for the weekend and found she had used our bed for her litter box while we were gone. Anyway, around here, boarding a cat is $10 a day. Good luck and enjoy your trip.

 

[kizmac]

I am dreading leaving our kitties at the end of Sept. I am glad we have the 2nd cat this time around because atleast they have each other for company. The last time we went away we just had the one cat and he was soooo traumatized. Followed us every where when we returned and meowed like crazy if he thought we were leaving.

My Grandparents live a short distance from us and will be stopping every so often to check them and make sure their food is full, and my BIL will probably stop to empty the Littermaid pan once or twice. I just feel so bad leaving them though.

Anyhow, I think since you kittie goes potty outside, just use those big Bistro food and water feeders and ask your friend to come 3-4 times through out the 2 weeks and check on him and his food situation. I would pay them some money or buy them something really nice from Disney for their help!

 

[newtowdw1]

We take them to my parents (the dog and the guinea pig).
We had cats like yours (indoor/outdoor/all purpose). We figured the occasional mouse was their 'wet' food, and only gave them dry. I HATE canned cat food. Makes me want to gag!

I think if someone came by 4/5 days he would be fine. have fun aw:

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

We do the "camp" thing as well!! Our 2 Boxers and cat go to a great camp called Gracelane Kennels about 1/2 hour upstate. They love it up there. Fresh air, their own dog runs, the works.

 

[aubriee]

Granny comes to our house to babysit my shih tzu (Maggie). Last January she stayed at my mom's house, but couldn't seem to find her favorite spot to go potty, so round up refusing to go outside and had accidents in my mom's house. She also wouldn't eat, so lost weight. I called to talk to her everyday and my mom said that after every call she would run over to the front door and whine. After a few days she would just lie and look at the phone or else lay by the door. She almost made herself sick grieving. For my May trip my mom agreed to come here to take care of her and she did fine. When I came back she still refused to let me out of her sight for about a month, but at least she ate, went potty outside while I was gone, and played with her toys. She is not well socialized and there is no way I would leave her in a kennel. I know she wouldn't do well. We leave this Saturday to go to WDW and my mom has already given me a list of groceries she wants, so I've got to buy groceries for them before I go, but at least I know someone will be keeping an eye on my house while I'm gone and that Maggie will be fine.

 

[twojo21]

we leave our boxer, dalmation & 2 ferrets with our parents or other family or we board them at our vet.

 

[LorlovesStitch]

I agree with the other posters who said that a pet sitting service is not that expensive. When we went on our last trip last year, we had 1 dog, 2 cats and 3 hermit crabs. We have since added another dog and lost 2 hermit crabs (somehow that doesn't really balance out though ). Our neighbors took the hermit crabs (which really require very little care, just water and food every 2 days). We left our cat and dog at home and had pet sitters come in. They are called "Let MEOW-t" Isn't that the greatest name? Our cats probably could care less who is there as long as they get fed. Max however, was very sad we left so the pet sitters HAND FEED him for 2 days He got over his sadness quickly and probably thought he was at some doggie spa. He even got brushed and walked way more often than usual. My neighbors even said they played over an hour at a time with him outside. He probably can't wait until we go on vacation again and has probably told the new dog, how cool the pet sitters are!

 

[dtsaos]

I am dreading leaving our kitties at the end of Sept. I am glad we have the 2nd cat this time around because atleast they have each other for company. The last time we went away we just had the one cat and he was soooo traumatized. Followed us every where when we returned and meowed like crazy if he thought we were leaving.

My Grandparents live a short distance from us and will be stopping every so often to check them and make sure their food is full, and my BIL will probably stop to empty the Littermaid pan once or twice. I just feel so bad leaving them though.

Anyhow, I think since you kittie goes potty outside, just use those big Bistro food and water feeders and ask your friend to come 3-4 times through out the 2 weeks and check on him and his food situation. I would pay them some money or buy them something really nice from Disney for their help!

We had this happen once a few years ago and ever since then I will ONLY board my cats. I am now convinced that cats need everyday lovin just like dogs do although it may be in a different way since they are obviously more independent. Especially for a 2 week vaca-I think you should board. We are very fortunate that near us there is a "kitty hotel" boarding place where the cats are in little bedrooms with furniture, scratching posts and windows. I think they are pretty content there all and all. -and our cats are indoor/outdoor too. Besides, we could never let them have access to going in and out as they please because my female cat likes to bring little friends home to play with...chipmunks are her favorite!

 

[kizmac]

We had this happen once a few years ago and ever since then I will ONLY board my cats. I am now convinced that cats need everyday lovin just like dogs do although it may be in a different way since they are obviously more independent. Especially for a 2 week vaca-I think you should board. We are very fortunate that near us there is a "kitty hotel" boarding place where the cats are in little bedrooms with furniture, scratching posts and windows. I think they are pretty content there all and all. -and our cats are indoor/outdoor too. Besides, we could never let them have access to going in and out as they please because my female cat likes to bring little friends home to play with...chipmunks are her favorite!

I am so worried about my furbabies being left now that it's getting close. I was told that cats do better being left in their own surroundings rather than boarding them elsewhere. I just know that my one kittie who even comes meowing in the night time for us is going to be so sad. He's a Ragdoll and is very dog-like. My other kittie is a Mainecoon and she will probably be fine, but she tends to get into thing. She especially likes to chew plastic bags so I will have to be very careful and kittie proof the house before I leave.

I hope by having my grandparents stop and check them once a day (if possible) they will be alright. They are only indoor cats. I still don't think I would feel any better boarding them, although that "kitty hotel" sounds pretty nice. I've only had cats for the past 3 years so this is only my second time leaving them. We had a dog before and only ever boarded her one time and she ended up real sick and passing away within 4 months of our return. Probably had nothing to do with the boarding, but I hated leaving her there too. That's why we got cats because everyone told me how easy they are to leave when you go on vacation....I guess they are compared to dogs, but it still doesn't keep you from worrying about them.

 

[dtsaos]

Kizmac,
well I have to admit that if I had someone that could come over every day and spend some time with them, I might be okay with it. ( it would depend on who it was). Also, I would have a really hard time boarding them in a regular kennel where they had to sit in a 2X2' cage all day and night-that would make me crazy. Sounds like you've got it under control pretty good.

 

[kizmac]

Kizmac,
well I have to admit that if I had someone that could come over every day and spend some time with them, I might be okay with it. ( it would depend on who it was). Also, I would have a really hard time boarding them in a regular kennel where they had to sit in a 2X2' cage all day and night-that would make me crazy. Sounds like you've got it under control pretty good.

They live real close....I know they probably won't spend as much time as I would like them too but hopefully it'll be enough human contact to help my kitties get by. Maybe I'm worrying for nothing and they'll enjoy the peace and quiet for a change. I just hope they don't get mad and pee on my bed or anything.

 

[solferino]

We used to have a terrific-pet sitter who took one of our dogs to her house with her, then came and checked in on the cats. Now she's got a cat of her own and he doesn't like other critters coming in on his territory.

This time around the pug will go to my sisters, who also has a pug and is home all day. Sending him to "camp" like the lab does would seriously give him a complex. He needs his people! I so wish the pet sitter could take him because my sister is 2hr away, but it's the best possible option for the little freak, meant in the most loving of ways. (And easier on our pocketbooks!)

The sitter will take care of our cats, feed the fish and chickens/collect eggs. More than likely will come 2x a day so the cats can be in at night. Given the weather in January they'll only want a couple of hours a day outside. I think what we could try is leaving them in when we leave and have her come the day after in the morning... if they go out she can come let them in later in the day. It's not a huge trip out of her way coming to our place because they have to go right past our road to get to town.