Mary Allen
Every year, cat owners are faced with the same anxious question: when we go on vacation, what are we going to do with our cat?
Preparing for a vacation can be quite stressful. Especially if the four-legged family members also need to be well taken care of when you are away. A dog might come along, but a cat? Yes, there are those who fearlessly climb into their travel baskets, enjoy the car ride and cheerfully trudge through the garden of their holiday home or across the campsite at their holiday destination.
But very few of the four-legged fur wearers are born globetrotters. That’s why the question is usually: Does the kitty stay at home or is it better accommodated in a cat hotel? Cats are territorial animals that need their own territory and a safe place to sleep and eat. This suggests that the animal is better off staying in its familiar home and being cared for there. But how to find the right cat sitter? Whom you can safely entrust with your cat and your home?
In principle, anyone can look after animals – whether uncle or aunt, best friend or a neighbor – and who could refuse the pet owner the small favor of looking after the cat for a few days? Feeding, playing, and cuddling, can’t be that difficult, some helpful people think. But what if the cat uses the sofa as a toilet in the absence of its owner? If she is afraid of loss and scratching the furniture? What if an accident happens and the vet has to operate?
The Qualified Animal Carer
It is not for nothing that there are professional cat sitters who offer their services. They usually have a lot of animal experience and usually have their own animals. So they know their way around and if in doubt, can recognize alarm signs, such as a noticeably changed behavior of the animal. Or a health problem that requires the doctor to be involved.
Nevertheless, the chemistry between the cat, the caregiver, and the owner must be right first of all: a detailed preliminary talk and getting to know each other is important for this. Can the cat sitter provide references? What experiences can he prove? Can he also administer medication to an animal? And how many times a day should the supply take place? How much time does the handler take to feed, play, and clean the litter box? Would the cat sitter possibly also water the flowers and empty the mailbox? Many a concerned pet owner installs a Cat webcam to see what their furry friend is doing in their human’s absence – of course, the pet sitter needs to know about it.
A cat boarding facility can be the better solution if an animal requires more intensive care or reliably needs medication several times a day. However, such boarding houses or hotels are often fully booked well in advance – especially during the holiday season. Early inquiry is therefore important. Because no cat hotel can accommodate unlimited animals, especially not if the cats are not particularly compatible with other animals and insist on a single room.
That is also the first and most important question that the owners should ask in advance: How do the borders live? In groups or in single rooms? Because for a diva who wants to reside alone, living with others, even for a short time, is a lot of stress. What are the rooms like, how big and clean are they? Are there windows or even the opportunity for a safe free run for die-hard outdoor fans? Are there sufficient opportunities in every room to use the height and places to lie and hide for the anxious natures?
Does the guesthouse cater to feeding requests or other special features? How qualified are the supervisors? Is there a veterinarian nearby or can one visit one’s own veterinarian in an emergency? What vaccinations do you need to show for your animals to be accepted? Not to forget: Has the pension been examined by the veterinary office?
And a few more tips for a holiday in a cat hotel: Make sure you take familiar objects with you. This can be the basket, the cuddly blanket, or your favorite toys. Some sensitive animals refuse food when they change location – then it’s good if the familiar cans and bags are in the luggage. Say goodbye as calmly and briefly as possible. Attempts to comfort you only reward the fear and stress that the new environment triggers in your animals anyway.