Holiday Boarding

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Beth - 18 Dec 2005 20:07 GMT

My family lives three hours away and with a brother and a father who are
allergic to cats, I can't take my little Butterscotch home to mom and dad's.
So, I am boarding her at the vet's, which I have done before. I've never
left her this long there. She's been there, at most for 5 days. I've been
away for her for long periods, but had a friend actually come and house sit
so she was never alone. I love my vet and trust them with her, but my 10
day visit home has me worried! Once I took her for an overnight stay when I
was moving apartments in my building. I know it sounds nutty, but before we
left I told her it would only be for a night and told her she was a good
kitty and I'd come get her soon. I had to have her stay another night due
to my apartment still being in shambles the next afternoon. When I picked
her up, the nurse made a comment about how she was sweet the first day but
she hissed when anyone went by her cage the next day and that she must have
been told she'd only be there a day! So, now I'm nervous about leaving her.
She was fine the other times, so I'm hoping if I tell my little one it will
be a long vet stay, she'll be ok:) But, aside from a little pet-owner
telepathic communication....any suggestions on helping her be ok while gone
that long? I already know that the vet's office will be closed on Christmas
Eve and Christmas day but that a couple different people come in a few times
a day even when they're closed. They're open like normal the other days and
they have the cats in a condo or in a cage that is about 5 feet by 5 feet.
They let them out to roam with the office staff during regular hours though.
So...any suggestions? :)
Beth

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MaryL - 18 Dec 2005 20:32 GMT

> My family lives three hours away and with a brother and a father who are
> allergic to cats, I can't take my little Butterscotch home to mom and
[quoted text clipped - 21 lines]
> hours though. So...any suggestions? :)
> Beth

Is there any possibility that you could hire a pet sitter to come to your
home? Your vet may even have some recommendations (and many do keep such
references, even though the vet also has boarding facilities). I take a
two-week vacation each summer, and I have a *wonderful* pet sitter who comes
to the house twice a day. She feeds the cats, puts out fresh water, cleans
the litter boxes, brings in mail and papers, and checks for any possible
problems. But, more than just taking care of routine matters, she also
spends time playing with my furbabies, grooming them, etc. She will also
spend some time sitting at my kitchen table drinking a cup of coffee and
watching the birds at the bird feeders -- all to give my twosome the feeling
that someone is "there" with them, just as I am. This keeps my cats
comfortable in their home environment, and Susie also leaves a daily log of
behavior and eating habits. I think this is *much* better than boarding.
However, it is very important that any sitter you use should have very good
references, both for your cats and for your own safety; and it is equally
important for you to *check* those references. Susie always comes over a
few days in advance of my vacations to get to know Holly and Duffy again and
to go over all instructions. Incidentally, you should leave a complete list
of emergency phone numbers and make arrangements with your vet to care for
your cat if anything were to occur while you are gone. I still worry about
my babies, so I call Susie every few days just to check on everything.

MaryL

Photos of Duffy and Holly: >'o'<
Duffy: http://tinyurl.com/cslwf
Holly: http://tinyurl.com/9t68o
Duffy and Holly together: http://tinyurl.com/8b47e

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carola - 19 Dec 2005 05:54 GMT

: My family lives three hours away and with a brother and a father who are
: allergic to cats, I can't take my little Butterscotch home to mom and dad's.
[quoted text clipped - 20 lines]
: So...any suggestions? :)
: Beth

I wouldn't worry so much. It seems to be a place with optimal care for your
cat.
Plus: A bit of cat company would do her good for a change.
Just tell her you love her.

carola

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Beth - 20 Dec 2005 03:00 GMT

> : My family lives three hours away and with a brother and a father who are
> : allergic to cats, I can't take my little Butterscotch home to mom and
[quoted text clipped - 49 lines]
>
> carola

Ok, I'll probably just have to suck it up and go on home for Christmas with
her at the Vet's:)
Beth

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