Deciding to go away, when you have cats, isn’t always easy. I know, we didn’t go away for almost 5 years because I couldn’t bear the thought of leaving my cats. There are two choices when leaving cats – cat sitter or cat hotel? Will you leave your cats at home with a neighbour, family member or cat sitter to check on them and feed them every day? Or will you put them in a boarding cattery or cat hotel to be looked after?
Leaving your cat at home
Leaving your cat at home with a
- The cat is in their own environment
- The cat likes to be outdoors so can come and go as he pleases.
It sounds ideal, leaving your cat in its own environment. However, leaving a cat with a cat sitter doesn’t suit everyone. Some cats feel lonely and crave attention. A cat sitter or friend may visit once or twice a day, leaving your cat in an empty house for the majority of time can confuse and upset your cat. You’ve suddenly left and now they feel all alone. For indoor cats, who don’t go outside, they need the stimulation and exercise that comes with living with people. Is one or two visits a day enough to keep them happy?
That isn’t to say that all cats would feel lonely, some cats are independent and territorial, they are used to coming and going freely. In this instance, a cat sitter might be the preferred option, especially if your cat has made his presence known in the community. Temporarily removing a cat of this nature, from his habitat, could upset the balance between the local cats.
Using a Cat Hotel
Catteries often get a bad name, however, there are a lot of newer, more modern cattery’s and cat hotels opening up in recent years. If you last
All reputable catteries and cat hotels are licensed and insured, ask to see a copy if you’re not sure. We are all inspected, annually, by the local authority. Most people choose to use a cat hotel because:
- The cats are safe, the owners know where their cat is at all times.
- Cattery owners are cat lovers. We wouldn’t choose to work 7 days a week, round the clock if we didn’t love spending time with cats.
- Cats have regular attention and company.
Just like a cat sitter, a cat hotel isn’t for everyone. If you have a nervous, anxious cat (like my Lewis was) or a territorial cat then a traditional cattery with wire or glass walls between rooms may not be the best place. I myself had a bad experience with a
Is The Great Catsby Cat Hotel right for you?
The Great Catsby was built from my desire to give my own cats what they should have if they were away from me. With having my own anxious cat Lewis, who sadly passed away before we opened, I wanted to create a space where he could feel safe, relaxed. I would have wanted somebody who had the time to
Spacious rooms
The rooms were all built bigger than the recommended guidelines at the time (Animal Welfare Act 1968). Our rooms are perfect for sharing with family members. *Cats will only ever be placed together if they live in the same house*. Having indoor cats means they need more exercise, stimulation
Warm and cosy
Our rooms are all fully insulated, just like at home. There is a thermostatic electric heat panel in every room, the temperature can be adjusted to suit the cat. I have a couple of Sphynx cats who stay, so I can make sure the room is a constant 24 degrees for them. All the rooms are permanently heated, throughout the cooler months, to a minimum of 19 degrees. Luckily during the glorious summer of
Calming
I use Pet Remedy Plug-In Diffuser in every room. Pet Remedy is clinically proven to calm and de-stress animals naturally, this gentle scent fills the room. I have tried other brands over the years but this has always had the best response from my own cats.
Daily Checks
I monitor the daily feeding, toileting and
Personal Service
Cats need attention, even the most timid ones like to know that they’re not alone. Depending on the cat’s personality depends on how i spend my time with them. For some cats, just sitting in the room with them several times a day is enough. Whilst others want to curl up on my knee, just like at home, or they need the physical stimulation from playing. Whatever the personality I spend time with each and every cat to make sure they are happy and content.
Daily Updates
I know how much I miss my cats when I’m away which is why I send daily updates with pictures or videos so you can see how your cat is getting on. There’s nothing worse than arriving with a timid cat, wondering if they will hate you forever. Through the updates, you can see how much they grow in confidence and happiness every day. The only worry is they might not want to leave!
Cat sitter or Cat hotel?
Ultimately the decision is down to you, both have benefits, it’s whether the benefits suit you and your cat. A semi-feral,
Ask for recommendations, check out the website and reviews. Ask the cat sitters to come round and meet your cat, see how they interact, pick who you feel most comfortable with. Visiting the catteries and
If you want to know what to ask when visiting a cat hotel then head over to https://www.thegreatcatsbycathotel.com/considering-a-cat-hotel/.
Feel free to share your thoughts on cat sitters and