Hi all, once again I'd like to ask for some more advice. In a couple of months we have a weeks holiday booked (less than an hour away from where we live... darn credit crunch). As some of you may know we have a recently adopted 10 year old cat. The reason why we are asking now is so we can get things booked in plenty of time. Taz has never been to a cattery before to our knowledge, she had not left her previous flat before for 8 years. Thus we are concerned that going to a cattery would be overly stressful for her. We have the option to take her with us on the holiday (she is an indoor cat and it is a fairly large cottage) or I could get a friend to look after her. The only problem with getting a friend to look after her is that the friend who has very kindly offered to do so works unsociable hours so would not keep up her routine and would potentially visit her for only a few moments a day.
I'd be grateful if anyone could suggest what they think would cause the least stress to her. Sorry for the long post!

Take her with you. Just don't let her out when you are there!

Liz

Thanks for the reply, can I ask why? (I think I agree but just curious ) I think it boils down to a couple of things. Firstly which is more comforting to the cat, their familiar surroundings or us. And secondly a cattery is insured and hopefully savvy enough to call a vet if something goes wrong. I know I'd feel terrible if something happened to a friends pet if something happened to them on my watch. Any thoughts?

i'd put her in a cattery - we've always used them. You have the security of knowing that they are looked after and safe. Imagine how a neighbour would feel if she got and and then the neighbour couldn't find her. I wouldn't take a cat on holiday (personal opinion only) as my kids would be out of their routines (and they are older kids)and leave doors open and the cat might be stressed from the journey and in a strange smelling house and end up getting out and then be miles from home and you'd never see her again.

Again - i know some do take their cats on holiday with them and i admire them for this - i'd be too scared to do it. When we had a dog I always put him in kennels too. Just my two penny worth.

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I'd say it depends on what you are happy doing

We are taking the boys on an 8 hour drive up Scotland with us as we have no-one to catsit and I can't afford a cattery but my cousin would never forgive me if I miss his wedding.

If you can rely on no-one leaving doors open and it is only an hour away then taking her with you is possibly the least stressful as then she will have you for most of the time (overnnight, mornings and evenings at least) and you can keep to her routine

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Congrats on your cousins wedding We are also holidaying in Scotland (not much of a holiday, we live here haha). I can be certain no doors will be left open, it's only me and my fiance going. I guess i'm just trying to figure out which will be the least stressfull for her. Part of me thinks she needs to get used to a cattery just in case but i think two big moves to strange new people in 2.5 months might be a bit much for her.

Whenever we go away I leave our two at home, although we tend to go abroad for holidays so coming with is not an option.
My family can pop in and feed them, keep them company etc.
I think more new surroundings after an hours drive would be quite stressful for her.
It sounds like your friend can feed and check in on her.
My experience of a cattery was awful, the best one in our area wasn't good enough, and it was very expensive.

Even after a fortnight away my two never seem to have been phased by having spent a lot of time without human company, but we work full-time so we are out most of the day anyway.

New surroundings? Imagine how you would feel if she got out?

just to point out that Taz is an indoor cat, so wherever she is, outside is unfamiliar... her getting out an hour away from home is no more scary for her than if she got out at home.

If she was a cat used to going outside then I wouldn't recommend taking her on holiday at all, but for an indoor only cat they are generally more focused on their people than their surroundings in my experience... so as long as routine and people are the same they don't mind about the house being different... unlike an outdoor cat changing locations for an indoor cat only gives an average of 7 rooms to get lost in... not a whole landscape

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I meant new surroundings as in the place you are staying, I realise she is an indoor cat. My two cats are very nervous though, maybe she is more hardy.
Just from personal experience my cats have not suffered from staying at home with visitors to feed and give them a bit of attention.
However even the short trip to the vets in the car is like an ordeal!
And our "best" local cattery was a caravan at an equestrian centre.

I think you will eventually decide on the best option - as you know your cat better than any of us here. Personally, even though my 2 are indoor cats, I coudl never take them away with me for fear of losing them. Also I don't have people locally that can look after them at home, and I am not keen on a professional pets at home service coming into my house.

Therefore, I do take mine to a cattery - but I spent many hours visiting plenty of catteries withion a 30 minute drive to find the one I was most happy with - and this is where they go.

I would suggest having a look at catteries, or professional visitors (who are cheaper than catteries) who come into your home and spend the time with your cat as and when she needs it, if you are comfortable with this.

Ultimately though - you know your cat, and anything is going to be slightly stressful for her - but you will make the right decision.

Good luck in whatever it is that you decide.