Cats walk on their own - we have known this since childhood. But in fact, despite all its independence, the cat, of course, needs care and attention. In addition, cats, like people, have different personalities. Some sit on the window for hours, others follow their hostess with their tails, and at night they curl up in a ball at their feet.
But what if you need to leave? On vacation or a business trip, for example. We’ll look at what to do with your beloved pet in this article.
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Situations when it is necessary to give up a cat for a while
In addition to the problem of planned vacations and departures to warmer climes, there are other life situations when an animal needs to be moved to comfortable conditions. These include:
- major renovations in the apartment - cats do not like change and, if they find themselves in a situation of constant change, they experience enormous stress, which can negatively affect their health;
- the first days after the birth of a baby - if there is a small child in the house, parents may not have enough time for regular activities and caring for their furry pet;
- urgent business trip;
- the arrival of a large number of relatives or a noisy party.
All of the above for an animal can lead to problems with its psychological state. The cat may get sick, become aggressive, or, conversely, lethargic and boring. Then the owners should think about where to leave the cat both during the holidays and during emergency apartment changes.
Myth #5: I won't know how my pet is really being treated.
Usually, foster care specialists send a daily photo and video report. But you need to be careful: sometimes unscrupulous sitters try to take all the photos and videos on one day and then pass them off as actual ones.
Ask to send photos and videos from walks - it’s easier to understand exactly when the photo was taken based on the weather outside. Or arrange video calls with a specialist via instant messengers to see your four-legged friend in real time.
You should not call every two hours: this distracts the specialist from caring for the guests. If you are worried and doubt that your pet will be comfortable, it is better to look for another foster home.
Overexposure options
The first thing any modern person does when problems arise is to type the phrase “where to leave the cat on vacation” into the search bar of the Internet browser. There may be several options:
- domestic maintenance in an apartment or private house;
- life in a veterinary clinic;
- keeping the cat at home with periodically visiting friends or relatives for feeding and cleaning;
- keeping in specialized hotels for cats.
All types of overexposure have their advantages and disadvantages. The positive aspects of an animal's life in the house include a familiar environment, food that the owners leave, their own tray and toys.
If you give your furry to a general shelter in a private house, he will be provided with walks in the fresh air and communication with other animals, and the veterinary clinic will be able to provide immediate assistance if necessary. But you should still be prepared for multiple unpleasant situations that will await your pet.
Option one - we give the pet into its own hands
The easiest option is to ask your family or friends to take your pet with them while on vacation. A cat is not a dog; it does not need to be walked several times a day in any weather. All you need is familiar food, clean water and a litter tray.
Ask your loved ones and friends; there will probably be those among them who dream of a kitten, but are hesitant to buy one or go to a shelter for homeless animals. After spending several days with a purring, affectionate little cat who is also not too difficult to care for, the decision will be much easier to make, and your soul will be at peace, because the cat will be in good hands during your absence.
Possible problems with improper animal care
Before you decide exactly where to leave your cat during vacation and other life situations, you need to understand all the risks that may lie in wait for you or your beloved ponytail. The main ones among them are:
- problems with the gastrointestinal tract due to improper feeding - if the animal is accustomed to one particular food, but when changing, stomach or intestinal diseases may occur;
- injuries as a result of conflicts - keeping several cats in an apartment at the same time often leads to them starting to conflict;
- infection or parasites - private shelters rarely ask for a veterinary passport and pay attention to the availability of vaccinations and scheduled visits to a specialist, as a result - diseases, fleas, worms;
- stress - a cat that is accustomed to being often played with, stroked, and brushed will experience psychological shock when alone.
This is a small part of the problems you will encounter if you make the wrong choice.
If none of the options suits
In this case, you will have to take the animal with you. The rules for transporting animals by train or plane are indicated on the website of the carrier company. Read them carefully in advance. Don't leave this question until last, as you will need to get vaccinated and obtain a veterinary passport for your pet. You will need to buy a carrier in which you will transport the animal.
At the same time, you need to understand that moving (and even more so flying) is stressful for a mustachioed pet, so do this only as a last resort - if you are leaving for a long time. In other cases, it is better to use the help of loved ones or the services of a hotel for cats.
Features and benefits of hotels for cats
Pet hotels have emerged in the last decade. During this period, they managed to earn the recognition and love of the townspeople and their pets. Facilities where you can leave your cat while on vacation have been specifically designed to accommodate felines.
Both Maine Coons and spoiled Britons will live comfortably in them. The main conditions for a good stay in a hotel are:
- individual contents in transparent boxes of suitable size;
- attention to the needs of the animal;
- the guests have veterinary passports, vaccinations and a guarantee of the absence of fleas and other parasites;
- careful attention to nutrition;
- clean water, ventilation, sanitization if necessary.
In hotels, special attention is paid to staffing. A condition for being hired is necessarily a love for cats, a desire to play with them, and pet them. Surrounded by love and care, fluffies sometimes don’t even want to return to their owners.
Myth No. 6. In foster care, animals are kept in cages - this is harmful.
Many large foster homes actually have cages or closed houses. But there is nothing wrong with that if they only serve as a resting place for the pet.
Cats definitely need shelter during the first 24 hours after moving. The main thing is that it is not a transparent display container, like in a pet store: in them, animals see each other around the clock, cannot hide and become even more stressed. A closed house, carrier or cage with a blanket thrown over top will do. Bowls for food and water, a bed and a tray should be placed inside. When the cat gets used to the new environment, it needs to be let out for a walk. Even old animals should not sit in a cage 24/7.
The same applies to dogs. Constant physical and emotional stress is important to them: slow running, developmental activities with a person. Therefore, for them, the cage should only be a place to spend the night and rest. Alexander Buinov also notes that with the help of a shelter it is easy to control the time dogs play with each other. This will make both energetic and unsociable pets comfortable.
Ways to prepare a cat for keeping in a hotel
No matter how good the cat is in the new place, after the question “where to leave the cat on vacation? “ The question always arises – how to prepare the animal for the move. Recommended:
- visit the veterinarian and renew your passport;
- if necessary, give the cat a sedative;
- hand over your pet's toys and belongings to the hotel;
- Convince yourself of the good conditions of the hotel.
A properly prepared animal will tolerate the first hours or days of overexposure well.
Personal visit and instructions to staff
Before sending your cat to a temporary place of stay, you should go there yourself and evaluate the premises and staff. There should not be a strong smell of air freshener or animal feces in the place of overexposure. The enclosures or apartment must be cleaned to perfection. Fur and loose whiskers must be removed from all corners. The staff must be very attentive when communicating with you. If employees write down all your instructions and instructions, it will be even better. The owner needs to provide a paper on which all diseases, vaccinations, diet, as well as the animal’s attitude towards strangers and animals will be indicated.
Differences between the Sir Cat Hotel and home foster care
For residents of Moscow and the Moscow region, there is a wonderful option where to leave a cat during the holidays - this is the Sir Cat hotel for cats. We have been successfully keeping pets for seven years. Now we have 5 branches and this is not the limit. We are constantly developing and expanding. Now we have more than 115 cozy rooms, for which there is almost always a waiting list.
Our cats live in individual boxes that are kept perfectly clean. They play and study with them. Every day, cat owners send a photo report to their owners, or you can order video surveillance and be aware of the animal’s condition from anywhere in the world.
Paid foster care or hotel for cats
In special hotels, pets are fed, bathed, and taken for walks until their owner returns. This method will be more expensive, but it has a number of advantages:
- Specialists will take care of the cat. They will be responsible for the pet;
- At the hotel, animals are kept separately in a specially designed room. The pet will not be harmed: it will not run away, will not fall out of the window and will not eat a poisonous plant;
- If an animal is sick, it will receive immediate medical attention;
- The hotel staff will professionally take care of animals with specific needs. They will provide the necessary care and treatment;
- Possibility of 24/7 monitoring of your cat via webcam.
Visit the hotel before leaving your cat there and pay attention to the size and cleanliness of the cages, and the order in the premises. The smell of urine and fur in the premises are sure signs that the animal is in danger here. If your cat is going to walk in the yard, inspect the area. The pet can escape if it finds a gap or hole.
Our conditions and room rates
The Sir Cat Hotel, where you can leave your cat during your vacation for any length of time, offers its guests:
- three types of rooms;
- individual, habitual nutrition;
- clean air and water;
- games and affection;
But the most important thing we give to fluffy tails is boundless love. Keeping cats in our hotel is practically a cat spa. You will take the animal back refreshed, calm and peaceful.
Room rates range from 549 to 849 rubles per day. Additional charges may apply for some services.
If there are no other options, we leave the animal at home alone.
This is the most extreme option, which is still preferable to avoid. In any case, you can leave the cat at home alone for a very short period of time (two to three days).
You will need to purchase an automatic drinker and an automatic feeder so that your pet is not left without food and water. In addition, you need to think carefully about how to solve the problem with the tray. The best option would be to install several trays with a large amount of filler.
Take care of your pet's safety as well.
- Secure the doors to the toilet and bathroom so that the cat cannot lock himself in there.
- Close all windows and the balcony door.
- Make sure all heavy objects are securely secured.
- Place flower pots in such a way as to minimize the risk of falling if the cat inadvertently touches them.
- Remove all shoes and rugs.
- Don't leave anything edible in sight that your cat shouldn't eat.
