Leaving your cat: How Julie was finally able to enjoy her long haul holiday
Going away and leaving your cat is never easy, especially if you’ve never left them before. Whether you’re leaving them for a couple of days, a two week holiday or longer term it can be heartbreaking.
When Julie and her partner had the opportunity to visit relatives on the other side of the world they knew they needed to find someone to look after their beloved cat, Megan. Megan lived a happy life, Julie and her partner were retired and able to give her their undivided attention. Julie adopted Megan as a kitten and they had shared their lives together for almost two years.
When it came to the thought of leaving Megan, Julie was distraught. She wasn’t sure who she could trust with her precious fur baby, she didn’t know how Megan would cope being away from them. And she wasn’t sure she would be able to enjoy her once in a lifetime trip around the world knowing she couldn’t be with Megan.
Have a trial stay
Julie contacted me about 10 months prior to her big trip, upset at the thought of leaving Megan, she looked around various cat boarding facilities. She did her research, knowing what she wanted for Megan, and booked a short break at The Great Catsby for Megan. This would be the test, for her and Megan.
Having never been away from each other before, Megan arrived wary and nervous about her new surroundings. Julie was visibly upset, unsure she’d done the right thing. As soon as Julie left I went straight into Megan’s room to start building a relationship. Over the days I gradually built up trust with Megan and she grew with confidence each day. I sent Julie pictures and updates every day so she could see how Megan was getting on. By the time Megan was due to leave, she was a different cat to when she arrived. She was snuggled up in bed and in no rush to go home. Before Julie left, she made arrangements for Megan to stay at The Great Catsby during their month-long trip in 7 months time.
Longer holidays for cats
When Megan arrived for her long holiday, Julie was upset but not as much as the first visit, ‘I don’t want to leave her but I know you’ll look after her for me.’ Megan came out of her carrier immediately, there was no hiding or anxiousness. She wasn’t phased by her new surroundings, maybe she had picked up on Julie’s calmness this time or maybe she remembered her last stay and knew what to expect.
Over the month I spent lots of time with Megan. All cats physical and mental health is important, however even more so when they are staying long term. Keeping Megan happy, active and stimulated was my priority. A bored cat or one that lacks interaction can quickly deteriorate health wise.
Along with the hours spent as a companion for Megan I also regularly introduced selection activities, games and toys to keep her engaged. We had daily grooming sessions and bonded over treats left by Julie. I even weighed her on a weekly basis to make sure she wasn’t losing any weight. As usual, Julie received daily picture updates and videos through the private members area so she could see how much Megan was enjoying her holiday.
When Julie arrived back after her month long trip she said the best part of her holiday was receiving the updates, seeing Megan so happy made her feel so relaxed.
Top tips for leaving your cat for the first time
Leaving your cat can be daunting however it is possible to leave your cat and enjoy your break without feeling too guilty.
Do your research
Visit a selection of catteries and cat hotels and get a feel for them. There are huge differences in boarding facilities. All licensed boarders are inspected by the local authority and deemed fit for purpose against a set of standards but getting recommendations, reading reviews and seeing somewhere for yourself will give you a better understanding of what you and your cat need. Here’s a handy list of questions to ask when visiting catteries.
Book a short stay
If you are planning a long trip away and your cat has never been away from you before then a few days away might help. As cats are all different and take time to adjust to changes in their environment I would always recommend that a cat stays for a least four days if they’ve never been away before. Often nervous and anxious cats take longer to settle and are reluctant to eat for the first 24 hours. If they only stay for 2 days then it’s less likely that they’ve had time to adjust. The more time they have the better it is for your cat, they will get back into their usual feeding and toileting routine, they can learn to trust their new carer and they become less stressed.
Minimise stress at home
If you’re preparing and packing from a holiday then you’re probably making changes to your cats usual home environment. The suitcase is out, which to a cat looks a great new sleeping spot that doesn’t have their scent on. To us it looks like the cats in the way, getting fur on our clothes or ‘wants us to stay and pack them in our suitcase’. Either way, cats can pick up on these changes and increased stress levels so they know something isn’t right. If you are packing whilst your cat is at home do it in a separate room from them or pack after your cat has started their holiday. If they leave the house when everything is calm and normal then they won’t suspect a thing.
Get a suitable carrier
The carriers are a bit like suitcases, they only usually come out of hiding when something is about to happen. A few weeks before your cat’s holiday check your carrier is in good working order. Do they fit in? Are the doors secure? If you need to replace it then do it before your holiday. Leave the carrier out and available, the more your cat is used to it or uses it as a bed then the happier they will be when it comes to using it.
Health check
Make sure your cat is vaccinated and up to date with worming and flea treatments. As a condition of a cat boarding license, all cats must be up to date with their vaccinations and boosters. Since the introduction of the new animal licensing regulations, cats must also be up to date with their regular flea and worm treatments. On arrival at any cattery or cat hotel, they will want to see evidence and record details.
Diet
All catteries work differently in terms of the food they supply. Some won’t provide any, others will have a selection of food to give your cat. Before you arrive to check what food they will give your cat, here at The Great Catsby I prefer to stick to the cats’ usual diet in order to reduce any further stress or changes. However, most boarding facilities don’t supply vet prescribed food for medical conditions. If your cat is on a special diet or food you will need to provide enough for the duration of their stay.
