Cat sitters or cat vacation?

Question

I have two fairly shy cats. On a few occasions, my fiance and I have hired cat sitters to visit with our cats daily while we are on vacation. However, the cat sitters tell us that our cats hide from them and refuse to accept any kind of love from them. My fiance and I will be wed at my parents' house in two months. We will therefore be staying with my parents (about six hours drive away) for about three weeks. I'm worried my cats would be really freaked out by a temporary move to my parents house with us, but that they will also be really stressed and lonely with cat sitters for such a long period. Would it be more stressful for our cats to come with us to my parents house or to stay at home with cat sitters whom they fear?

Answer 1

how about a pet hotel? or find someone the cats are familiar with and ask them to cat sit

Answer 2

I think that's clear from what you say that your cats are very attached to you, rather than your home. That's why they freak out with a stranger there. Have you tried another sitter? How about someone they know already and trust, like a friend, or a neighbour? Maybe get the sitter to come round when you and your partner are there, so the cats see that you trust this person, and might warm up to them.

Are your cats all right with your friends or visiting people when you are around?

The alternative is maybe the best, but that depends on how quiet is your parents' home. If there's a lot of noise it might be better to do the above. Another thing that you MUST do if you take them with is to leave them in a spare bedroom for at least one, but I'd say better 2 weeks. See how they take to coming out of there, and go visit them often, or leave them in your bedroom where they will be with you all night long.

They should not be allowed to go out in the garden at all. This is to avoid the cats being spooked and running off, then never finding the way back because they don't know the area. Cats get lost in new surrounding very easily.

So if at your parents there are children, living there or visiting, or a lot of movement then it might not be a good idea to take them along. If you have a spare bedroom, and the home is quiet and everyone living there can be trusted to never let the cats out then it could be worth trying.

Otherwise, consider a good cattery. Maybe the cats are freaked out by a stranger coming into their own home, but in a totally neutral environment they could adapt. I'm not saying they will, but it's a possibility. Also, often catteries have runs that face bird-dense areas, for entertainment, and definitely a hiding place for when they feel nervous.

It's up to you to choose the right thing, only you know all the info to decide the right thing.

Answer 3

I think they should stay put. Cats, especially shy ones, HATE to be uprooted and moved to a strange house, especially temporarily.

Talk to your sitter and have them go only every 2 or 3 days. When they go, they should take a movie or something and sit around ignoring the cats. They'll be like moths to a flame if the sitter ignores them, but has a few cat treats in their pockets for the brave and curious ;)

You can have an auto feeder and watering machine for the days between sitter visits. Just make sure they don't require batteries or electricity. The kind that are like a silo and use gravity to dispense are the best. The cats may do a bit of comfort eating while you're gone, but they can take that weight off after you're home again.

Answer 4

I had 23 cats at one time and some where shy. I although had a vet that they new and felt good about. Also, a friend that knows he family was helpful too. The cats do not need human contact while your gone. They have their home and they can sense that you will return. Stress is removing them from their home. Have the sitters stay long enough to check on their health and needs. Have them not approach them. Cats know what is what. Do not get upset though when they have an attitude towards you for leaving. They may wet your bed or when you get home wet on you. This is their way. They will perhaps ignore you to show you that they are the boss and your in trouble. Animals can not tell time. They go by the sun and moon rising and setting.

Answer 5

I don't think the cats will be stressed at home so much as they would be if caught, crated and taken in a car for six hours and then released into a new home. I would say if they eat and drink and sleep while the cat sitter is there, go for that. It doesn't sound as though they suffer while the sitter is there.
With all the comings and goings, noise and music, people and things of the wedding, they may become quite frightened and bolt out the door. Leave them home and bring them a small piece of cake and a nice wedding picture.
Congratulations and good luck!

Answer 6

Yes with your cats already being shy taking them to a place they haven't been too before is stress for even sociable cats. Then all the new people and smells will cause them stress as well. The safest bet I can think of instead of hiring a cat sitter. Get someone close like a friend that has been to your house before. Your cats will probably be more open to them than a stranger. A pet hotel can be useful as well since normally they can get their own room with just those two. I hope this helps and Congrats.

Answer 7

I have one scaredy cat too, and we are going camping tomorrow for a week. I worried about this too, but we got a neighbor friend of my daughters to cat sit while we are away. She has been in our home often so her scent is here and the cats have all met her. I'm thinking that's the key is that your cats need to know the person or people who will be pet sitting for you. And three weeks, well thats enough time for the cats to get lonely enough to want any human contact. ;)

Maybe you can try a scent exchange before hand. I had just seen this on animal planet...to introduce a new cat or animal to other family pets, take a dampened towel and wipe it all over the existing pets and then rub it all over the new pet and visa versa in order to exchange smells. Maybe you can do the same of your pet sitter. Rub your cats smells on the sitters clothing or some such and let them get to know each other in advance.

Good Luck

Answer 8

I have had the same experience with my cat and have tried each way. I have found that if at all possible it is easier to take the cat with me. Either way they will hide and alter their eating/sleeping patterns for a short time, but your presence will shorten that time. I have also found that it lessens my (and my husbands) anxiety as well as we have had a bad experience with a "friend" who watched our cat and are always worrying about him.
If you do have to leave the cat at home it is important that you leave something with your scent on it (clothing/blanket) available for the cat to be comforted by. Also it will help if you can find someone who is able to do more than just stop by to feed the cat. The longer they can stay the more comfortable the cat will be with their presence. It is also a good idea to have the person come to your house with you there to see how your cat will respond to them.
The one thing I would not recommend is sending the cat to a boarding house etc. It is a very new environment, new people and many other new animals all at once. Any one of these is enough to raise the animals anxiety level, but all three together could create a permanent effect on their behavior.
Good luck!

Answer 9

I always either get a trusted friend the cats already know to cat-sit and/or have my cat-sitter pay several visits to my place while I'm around--I have the sitter over to watch a movie with me or whatever. This helps one of my cats very much--she adjusts very well to the sitter now--but the other one still hides. However, he's happier and less stressed-out at home than he is at a kennel.

Answer 10

My family and I went on a vacation for two weeks and left our one cat alone at the house. We had some sitters to watch her too, and she was very confused and scared as well. However, through out the weeks- we didn't find this out until we returned- our sitter said that our kitty learned to adjust okay with the sitter and started to flex well with us being gone and sencing that our sitter was going to be the only one to take care of her.

So i think that if you gave you two kitties some time, they may learn to adjust with the sitter. Taking them to a place would be just as confusing and scary to them as it would be leaving them at the house where they know is home. If the kitties find out that the only people taking care of them are sitters, trust me, they'll love you like they never did before once you get back home. But this is just a thought. if you want to take the kitties with you, that'd work too just as well as a sitter.

Good Luck!

Answer 11

Have you ever taken your cats on a road trip? if not do not take them they will be miserable and make your life miserable. (been there and done that) Do you have any friends over that the cats like? If so ask one of them to do the sitting. also accept that you being gone is fairly traumatic for cats they are most Conservative of people and will punish you when you get home by ignoring you for 2 maybe 3 days. They will survive and come around so go with it and be loving when they want.