If your cat is used to you being around you all day then leaving them to go on holiday can be a stressful time. Especially if your cat is quite nervous. I get lots of inquiries from cat ‘pawrents’ who are worried about leaving their anxious cats. Although I know that the cats will settle after a few days it’s still a worry. I spoke to Wendy Lovatt, a Reiki Master Healer about the different ways we can reduce anxiety in cats to help them have a stress free holiday.
Meet Wendy, A Reiki Master Healer
Wendy specialises in helping and healing animals using the ancient Japanese technique of Reiki to reduce stress and energy imbalances. Reiki works well alongside veterinary care. However Reiki doesn’t rely on the animal being present, Wendy works with animals all over the world in her distance Reiki practice. This can be a huge benefit for anxious or aggressive cats and dogs, especially when they feel more comfortable in their own surroundings, as Wendy doesn’t even need to intrude on their safe space.
As a Reiki Master healer, Wendy works with many cats ” The majority of my clients are distance Reiki, which really helps cats, as many of them can be wary of strangers in a physical presence. In fact, all animals love to receive distantly because they receive it when they are at rest and usually while they are sleeping. As many of you know, the body heals better when sleeping, so my practice is to focus on when the animal is asleep or at least resting so that they gain the most from a session.”
Reiki helps to calm and relax the cat, bringing them back into balance. This can help in times of stress such as, with house moves, grooming sessions, when you’re going away, etc. It can help with pain relief, particularly to after illness, injury or an operation; as it can also help to speed up the healing process. Improves sleep, can help with depression, arthritis can help to reduce the effects of chemotherapy and general well-being, to name a few. It can also, help with palliative care and a more peaceful passing, something I know we don’t want to think about, as we want our animals with us forever.
Wendy Lovatt, Reiki Master Healer
Wendy does emphasise that “one thing a good Reiki practitioner/master will never do is diagnose your animal, tell you that they can cure your animal or that they don’t need to see a vet. This is simply not true. A vet must be seen first so a diagnosis can be made and treatment advised.”
1. Teach them to love the cat carrier
Most cats only see the cat carrier when it appears to take them to the vets. Depending on the personality of your cat it could be a battle trying to get them in the carrier. They may wail and cry in anticipation of what’s to come.
As lovely as vets are to us, a cat might disagree. The vet usually prods, pokes, grabs and stabs them with their annual booster. Your cat quickly learns to associate the carrier with a negative experience. As cat parents and guardians we need to break the cycle and reduce their anxiety associated with the carrier.
If the cat has only ever been to the vets in the cat carrier or another place with negative memories, then the cat needs to be desensitised to the carrier. This should be done slowly. Make the cat carrier a fun place to hang out and a place that doesn’t mean going somewhere not fun”. As everybody that works with cats will tell you the best way to get a cat to like a carrier is t leave it out for them. Place a blanket or treats inside and let them explore it or use it as another sleeping space.
Wendy Lovatt, Reiki Master Healer
Wendy also recommends, once your cat feels happier about the carrier, to take them out for short car rides. Get them used to being out in the carrier, but not to the vets. As soon as you get home treat them for being good. They’ll soon learn that the carrier no longer means something scary will happen.
2. Talk to your cat
I’m always talking to my cats including the ones I look after. Cats understand more than we realise. The way we communicate with our cat can either heighten or reduce anxiety levels. This works for cats who stay at home all day whilst you go to work or cats getting ready for a holiday. Whatever the reason for leaving your cat Wendy encourages you to talk to your cat. Before your cats holiday “Tell him or her what a fantastic time they are going to have. Tell them all the wonderful things they will do there and add in that you will be going to x place, but will be coming back to collect them after x number of days.”
3. Reduce your own anxiety levels
Cats pick up on our energies and stress levels and packing for a holiday can be a very stressful time. Suitcases are like cat carriers, your cat starts to associate it with you leaving them. But leaving them doesn’t have to be a bad experience, especially when they stay at The Great Catsby. Try to pack without your cat being there. Them jumping in and out of your suitcase or sleeping on your pile of holiday clothes isn’t always ideal for creating a relaxed and calm experience for you or your feline companion.
If you’re worried about leaving your cat then they will be worried too. They will sense your negative feelings and react accordingly. To help reduce your cat’s anxiety levels, “think happy thoughts, visual your cat having fun in their room with Jenny spoiling them. They will pick up those thoughts.”
4. Help your cat to be calm
Pet Remedy is a great blend or pet safe essential oils that can help cats relax. I use the plug-in diffuser in every room but I also have the spray and wipes on hand for any particularly nervous cats. Pet Remedy is recommended for all animals as they pick up on the calming scent and feel more at ease.
Another aid to reduce anxiety in cats is with a distance Reiki session. As a Riki Master healer, Wendy can help unblock the stress and anxiety to improve their well being. These sessions can be done before or during their holiday. The benefit of distance Reiki is Wendy doesn’t need to physically be with your cat.
5. Reduce anxiety levels and give your cat lots of attention
After all the preparations it is finally time to leave your cat at a cattery or cat hotel. As hard as it may feel, being happy it is the best emotion for your cat. They will sense you’re content so they don’t feel any need to worry or be scared. As mentioned above keep talking to them, they may stay in their carrier but that’s fine. Tell them when you’ll be back, how much fun and love they will have when you return. Leave a t-shirt, blanket or bed from home, the familiar scent will help them settle and remind them of home.
If your cat chooses to stay in the carrier when you arrive leave them in it. As tempting as it is to nudge them out or lift them out of the carrier it may confuse them more. Cat’s need to make sure their surroundings are safe. When they first arrive the carrier is often the safest place for them. As soon as they feel more confident and less anxious, they will come out and explore. From my experience, I’ve found that the cats who are free to leave the carrier when they choose, often settle quicker. And if your cat is hiding when you bring them in, they certainly won’t be hiding when you collect them.
Click here to grab a free copy of these handy tips
Deciding to go away is fun but the thought of leaving your cat isn’t. Who will look after them whilst I’m away? Will they miss me? Will they hate me for leaving them? These were just some of the questions I had when I first decided to go on holiday and leave my baby, Lola.
I was heartbroken. Not just because I was leaving her with a stranger but because I knew how much attention she was used to. After getting a couple of recommendations and looking online to see what was available, I found a cattery and booked her in. It wasn’t until I dropped her off that I finally saw where she was staying. I left her in her little pen and walked out in tears. I spent 10 minutes crying in the car before driving off.
When the day finally arrived to collect her I was over the moon. I’d only actually left her for 3 nights but it felt like two weeks. As soon as I saw her I knew I shouldn’t have left her. Cowering in her bed, I left her with, I had to lift out her weak shaking body. She stunk of wee, she clearly hadn’t eaten either by the look of her thin body. I was mortified. My confident little girl had been abandoned and it was all my fault.
My biggest regret for leaving Lola was not going and visiting the cattery before booking her in. If I knew where she was staying, I wouldn’t have left her. I would have done more research to find somewhere suitable for mine and Lolas needs. If only I had spoken to the owner beforehand and told her what Lola was like, she is my shadow, she craves attention and affection. Maybe she would have taken her time to help Lola adjust, and then she would have eaten. But maybe if I didn’t experience that I wouldn’t have created The Great Catsby!
I wasn’t a crazy cat lady, just a worried cat mum
After listening to other peoples worries and fears about leaving their cats I realised I wasn’t alone. I wasn’t the crazy cat lady every one thought I was, there were others who also wanted the best for their babies. When planning The Great Catsby I wanted to create somewhere I would want to leave my own cats. Somewhere I could trust that they would be looked after just like they would at home. And being house cats I wanted somewhere safe and warm, where they had space to move and play. Finally, in May 2017 The Great Catsby Cat Hotel was born.
Happy birthday to The Great Catsby!!!
This year marks our second birthday. Over the last two years, I have had the pleasure of looking after hundreds of precious babies. Each with their own special personalities. My lovely customers were all once like me, worried about leaving their cats. If you don’t believe me check out their feedback on my website, facebook page and Find Pet Boarding. I have lucky enough to have appeared in the local newspaper and a national newspaper (on the 2nd page too)!!
To celebrate our birthday I’d love to invite you to an open day. You can drop in, have a nosey and a chat about your cat…I love talking about cats!!! Normally I ask that visits are by appointment only, I have cats coming and going throughout the days plus my own family to manage. However, on Saturday 11th May 2019 12-2pm my doors will be open for visitors. Just click on the link if you’re interested in coming along. If you can’t make the open day then just drop me a message with your preferred times. I’ll check the diary and get back to you.
Don’t make the same mistakes I made. Visit a number of catteries and cat hotels before you decide where to leave your cat. Look at the websites or Facebook pages, ask for recommendations. Go and see the places for yourself, pictures don’t always show everything you need to see. If you feel happy whilst you’re there then the chances are your cat would be happy too!
Want more information? Take a look at at these posts
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.
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