Wondering where you can leave your cat when you go on holiday? – you’re not alone. There are more than 3.8 million domesticated pet cats living in Australia.
Some cats can be particular about their environment and daily routine and can experience stress if they undergo too much change in daily care routine.
What care options are available for Cats?
There are four holiday care services for Cats:
- Daily Home Visits by a Police checked, insured Cat Sitter with a key you provided them
- A House Sitter who comes to stay in a room in your home
- A Home-based Cat Sitter where your cat goes to stay at their home
- A Cattery facility that boards your cats overnight, typically in a cage.
How do I know which type of service is best for my cat?
Ask yourself these questions:
- How long am I going away for?
- Which options are available to me right now?
- What can I afford to spend?
- Is my cat desexed?
- Is my cat a male?
- Do they drink enough water?
- Do my cats get easily stressed?
- Do I have multiple cats?
- Do my cats travel well on short car trips to a care facility?
- Do I have a guest bed for a House Sitter to sleep overnight in my home while I’m away?
- Am I okay with a Cat Sitter dropping into my home with a key?
- Do I have plants that need watering, mail that needs collecting, or a pool that needs daily chlorine?
Longer Trips Away will require daily Human Presence and Affection
Cats can get lonely, depressed and anxious on their own. Each cat is different and will respond according to their personality and habits. If you have to leave your cat alone regularly for longer periods of time, a House Sitter who stays in your home or a Cat Sitter who offers cat boarding in their home is recommended over a Cat Sitter who just drops in daily.
Male Cats who don’t drink much water require more supervision
Cats that don’t drink enough water and are male are more prone to urethral obstruction, which can be fatal. Urethral obstruction requires immediate Veterinary attention. Any breed of cat is at risk for urethral obstruction, but males are more susceptible than females because they have a much narrower urethra. These cats will require closer supervision. So booking an RSPCA Accredited Cat Sitter for your Cat to go and stay with, or a House Sitter might be a good option.
Kittens, Older Cats or Cats with behavioural problems require more supervision
House soiling, scratching and aggression doesn’t necessarily mean intentional bad behaviour. Feline cognitive dysfunction, or FCD—affects more than 55% of cats aged 11 – 15 years and more than 80% of cats aged 16 – 20 years. This deterioration can cause disturbances in sleeping patterns, disorientation or reduced activity. It can make cats forget previously learned habits they once knew well, such as the location of the litter box or their food bowls. It can increase their anxiety and tendency to react aggressively. So booking an RSPCA Accredited House Sitter who has empathy and recognises this cognitive decline to go and stay in your home might be a good option.
Most cats prefer being in a homely peaceful environment
Cats are creatures of routine, and really love the familiarity of home. When cats rub against objects, they are transferring their scent and pheromones. These pheromones are reassuring signals to your cat that all is well in the world. So it can be a bit anxiety-producing for many cats to stay overnight in a cattery.
A police checked and insured trained Cat sitter can drop into your home with a key you provided to them during your meet and greet prior to the booking starting. They will maintain your cat’s routine, including feeding and changing their kitty litter. Your cat can enjoy napping in their usual spot in the sun, and might only slightly notice that things are different.
House Sitters deter burglars and provide additional services
If you are away for more than a few days, you can always ask your House Sitter to water your plants when the weather is hot. Likewise, your cat sitter can bring in the mail, and take out the bins on bin night. Your home will look lived in with lights on at night and be much more secure than if it were empty.
Plus, your House Sitter can provide any extra cat-related services you might need. This could include administering medication, grooming or any other pampering your cat might enjoy. And unlike a cattery, you can converse directly with your cat sitter and enjoy daily updates and pictures of your furbaby living the good life.
House Sitters and Cat sitters are more flexible than a cattery
Every cat has a unique routine, which is why it’s important to have flexible cat care options. Your cat might wish to relax alone until dinner time. Or maybe they need a few sessions of play each day and are independent enough to stay alone overnight. Or perhaps they need overnight supervision and cuddles on the couch before bed time at the end of the bed.
You can discuss your cat’s usual routine with your House Sitter or Sitter and specify exactly what service you would like them to provide. This way, it will be the least disruptive experience for your cat.
More security is required for Undesexed Cats
The RSPCA recommends that most pets being minded should be desexed. Pets that are not desexed are more likely to try to escape a house to mate so additional security will be required. Cat Sitters should discuss detailed security requirements with the Pet Owner before accepting duty of care for a booking. Cat enclosures may assist in preventing cats from escaping backyards. Guest Cats must be kept securely indoors with kitty litter trays, food and water, and adequate ventilation and not let out to toilet in backyards – even if they toilet outdoors at home.
If Pet Owners provide the Cat Sitter with a cat leash and harness, they may be able to walk around safely in the backyard to toilet and sniff.
Boarding at a cattery requires transport which can be stressful for cats
Most cat owners have experienced the drama of coaxing their cat into their carrier before driving to the vet. Some cats might not mind this, but many find it very unpleasant being in their carrier or being transported in a car. At worse, cats can experience motion sickness and might even get car sick! Whilst some car trips are unavoidable, having a House Sitter come to you means one less ordeal with the cat carrier!
More volume of Cats at Catteries can increase the chance of contracting Cat Flu
Cat flu is an airborne virus (much like a human cold) cats can become infected wherever they gather, such as catteries, shows, or the vets. The more cats that they are sharing the same airspace with (such as in a cattery), the higher the likelihood of them catching it. Cats may also become infected if they are exposed to the viruses on contaminated food bowls and other equipment.
The cat flu presents much like the human flu, with coughing, sneezing, weepy eyes and lethargy. Infection happens via close contact between cats and sharing facilities such as water bowls or litter trays.
Kittens and older cats are particularly vulnerable to cat flu because of their weaker immune systems. Notably, there is no cure for cat flu. As such, getting your cat vaccinated is absolutely essential. Unfortunately, some cats never shake the virus once infected and can become cat flu carriers. They can live long healthy lives and only get sick on occasion. However, symptoms can flare up in times of stress, such as during a house move or visiting a cattery.
However, a low volume cat sitter is the safest bet if you worry about your cat getting sick or passing on cat flu. If your cat is at home, you won’t need to be concerned at all about this. Tip: Always choose a Cat Sitter who has a hazard-free and escape proof property, who has security screens on all windows and doors. It’s bonus is if the Cat Sitter has a secure outdoor cat enclosure.
Need a Cat sitter? If a cattery isn’t for you, visit PetCloud and find a House Sitter or Cat sitter today.
