Parents house or petsitter

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stepha - 03 Jul 2006 15:39 GMT

Hello all.

I need your advice. My cat (3 yr old spayed female, very talkative) has
spent some time at my parents house over the past year - 4 months the end of
last year and 6 weeks this year - due to my being out of the country. My cat
has alway adjusted well to going and coming back home.

Since her last visit my parents have got a new kitten, I'm about to leave
for training for a week. So, my question is: Should I take her down to my
parents (and do the whole 2-3 day process of introductions) or just get a pet
sitter to come look in on her while I'm gone?

Thought?
Stephanie

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wester@laway.net - 03 Jul 2006 17:53 GMT

>Hello all.
>
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
>Thought?
>Stephanie

Dear Stephanie:

I vote for the pet sitter. Less stress all the way around.

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Barnabas Collins - 03 Jul 2006 19:40 GMT

>>Since her last visit my parents have got a new kitten, I'm about to leave
>>for training for a week. So, my question is: Should I take her down to my
>>parents (and do the whole 2-3 day process of introductions) or just get a pet
>>sitter to come look in on her while I'm gone?

I would vote for the pet sitter. The woman I use worked at my vets
for many years. It serves two purposes, keeps the cat taken care of
has someone watching the house.

I'd add that I went the pet sitter route after I tried some
pet boarders and the question that they kept asking was could
the cat go without his medication for the week? I didn't even
ask the vet, for me the answer was no and I went other routes.
The vet prescribed the medication and the cat wasn't going without
it.

Also i've heard of too many instances where a friend was supposed to
look in on a pet and never showed up.

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Randy - 03 Jul 2006 20:57 GMT

>>>Since her last visit my parents have got a new kitten, I'm about to
>>>leave
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> for many years. It serves two purposes, keeps the cat taken care of
> has someone watching the house.

Most of the pet sitters around here will also water plants, feed
fish, and collect mail & papers, in addition to giving the home a
"lived-in" appearance. Many years ago I worked for
one of these services, and we also did a security check on the
home, by walking around the buildings, checking locks and looking
for anything that just did not look normal.

Randy

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PA28-181 - 03 Jul 2006 22:30 GMT

>>>>Since her last visit my parents have got a new kitten, I'm about to
>>>>leave
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
>
> Randy

Pet sitter ... the only way to go. Less stress for the cats and you, by
staying in their own environment I noticed that when we came home, both
our cats looked happier, had ate every single day and the coats etc were
well maintained.

I noticed if boarding them, their coats looked bad, they had lost weight
and took some time to get back to normal.

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Barnabas Collins - 04 Jul 2006 17:11 GMT

>Pet sitter ... the only way to go. Less stress for the cats and you, by
>staying in their own environment I noticed that when we came home, both
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>I noticed if boarding them, their coats looked bad, they had lost weight
>and took some time to get back to normal.

Look at it from the cats point of view. Not only are you leaving them
alone for a period of time but by putting them in a shelter you're
ripping from their home. That can be frightening, they have no
idea what is happening, when (if) they/you will return.

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Barnabas Collins - 04 Jul 2006 17:08 GMT

>Most of the pet sitters around here will also water plants, feed
>fish, and collect mail & papers, in addition to giving the home a
>"lived-in" appearance. Many years ago I worked for
>one of these services, and we also did a security check on the
>home, by walking around the buildings, checking locks and looking
>for anything that just did not look normal.

Yes i would add the woman I use does that too.

I would also add that pet sitters are usually bonded and
insured.

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Randy - 03 Jul 2006 18:07 GMT

Yup, sitter or boarding, always a tough decision. I don't
like the idea of a stranger in my home, when I am not
there. Although most sitter companies say their employees
are "bonded & insured," that means nothing, they can still have
a lengthy criminal record and/or have a questionable background.
Can a trusted neighbor care for the cat in your home? Even
then, I don't like someone coming in my home. We have some
excellent *cat only* boarding facilities in my area, and the cats
come home not too bad for wear and stress.

Randy

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Beth - 03 Jul 2006 18:47 GMT

IF it weren't for the new kitten, I'd say take her to your parents' house.
Since she's spent so much time there I don't think she'd be stressed about
it. Boarding would cause more stress probably than going to your parents'
house. But, it's stressful for both your cat and the new cat to be pushed
together for a week when they'll not be seeing much of each other
afterwards. I'd say have a friend or neighbor check on her or get a pet
sitter. I always leave my cat home when I have to leave for long periods of
time. I've had a friend come and stay for three weeks when I was out of the
country and I've had the manager of my apartment building come check on her
and play with her daily for shorter times of a week or so. Get someone you
know or a reliable pet sitter.

> Hello all.
>
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
> Thought?
> Stephanie

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Kiran - 03 Jul 2006 18:51 GMT

: I need your advice. My cat (3 yr old spayed female, very talkative) has
: spent some time at my parents house over the past year - 4 months the end of
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
: parents (and do the whole 2-3 day process of introductions) or just get a pet
: sitter to come look in on her while I'm gone?

Those are different options as you surely understand. Sitter is quick
and easy. The parents option is like an investment: it will take some
effort for all involved but in future it will get easier for you leave
her their and for them to leave their kitten with you as needed.

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