pets while traveling

I use an agency that works all around the UK, its a group of girls that have worked with each other for 20+ years. One of them stays in your home while you are away. They are super reliable and sends you pictures and plays with the pets on a daily basis. It's not expensive. It's ideal. Let me know if you need a referral.

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I would love a cat but am currently renting. I would have no hesitation in putting a cat in a cattery as have used nice ones in the past and have owned one. I am now trying to get cat/house sitting work through cat in a flat agency. I have signed up to trusted house sitters as well.

When we had someone who was a notorious overfeeder looking after our tropical fish when we were on our holds we bought one of those cheap tablet organisers with the days on it and put the correct amount of fish food in for each day, worked a treat. They are ok for a few days or you could use one of the holiday blocks that slowly dissolve.x

Our dog goes with us, usually to a pet friendly cottage or hotel. Our elderly cat goes to a small comfortable cattery. I know one of our neighbours would willingly come in and feed her but I don't like to impose on her.

When I first read your post, I though you were saying you left the cat with 12 fish . One for the cat to eat each day. ?

We have a good neighbour who feeds our cat when we are away and we look after hers when she is away.

We did take the cats with us when we lived for two years on our motor boat and fortunately they settled down quite happily on board. If they had hated it the backup plan was them living with DS whom they love instead.

I don't think being a pet owner precludes the occasional holiday Aepgirl It's just a case of sorting out reliable care for them which Gr07 is asking about.
We have three dogs and a cat and they all go together to a very good kennels where they have excellent care including being given medication.
Our neighbours look after the chickens and sheep and we reciprocate when they go away.
Its all in the planning.

Like some others have said, we use www.trustedhousesitters.com
We used to use the website to get sitters for our cat (always a good experience) and now we no longer have her, we use it to find sits ourselves. We've just arrived home from a sit in Wales, but have also been as far as the Bahamas, Australia and New Zealand. No money changes hands after the initial joining fee and we have met some lovely people (and pets).

My cat goes to a cattery. He has a nice balcony to go out on, so he's not cooped up. He cried when we brought him home last time, so I think he has a nice time there. Also, if I left him at home to be fed, there could be all manner of dead animals piled up in the hall, so I can't take the chance. I think he's better off in a cattery where he sees people. They also have an aviary for the cats to look at, so that must keep him amused!

We got 2 adorable puppies this year and got them pet passports so they can come on holiday with us. The kitten (belongs to my son who still lives at home) stays home as his older cat did previously. I hope they can still come on holiday to France with us after Brexit.

Hello Gr7
We have always had cats and, when the children were younger, gerbils and guinea pigs. We used to do house swaps with my parents when they were both alive, instead of going on holiday - when my Dad was working they lived in Wales and when they retired they lived in the Yorkshire Dales, so both beautiful locations.
Now we have Rachel the Catsitter - one of my former pupils and my daughter's friend - who lives round the corner. She looks after both our elderly cats, if we are away, popping in on the way to work and again in the evening to feed them. We pay her, but she says she really enjoys it as she can't have pets in her rented flat.

Ive always looked after family dogs when any of them go on holiday....I don't holiday and have no pets... so am usually available, my sister has asked me to look after her latest dog Poppy...but I've had to say no as 'Pops' is THE most disobedient...yappy little ankle biter I've ever known.Ive looked after German Shepherds... Rottweilers .... And Dobermanns in my time , but this bijon-frise X poodle is a nightmare. My sisters dogs are infamous for thier total lack of discipline.....buts this white ball of fluff takes the biscuit...and the sausages of the table... and the cats food.... and the rabbits lettuce!!!!

After looking after my neighbours dog for almost weeks , I missed the company so much I got in touch with Westie rescue. I have had my gorgeous girl for 3 years now. Before I got her I arranged that my daughter and family would look after her if I was on holiday or if anything happened and I was not able to look after her. It is really best to think about these things before you have a pet then you don't need to worry about what to do if you take ill suddenly, or are called away in an emergency.

Our cats were utterly traumatised after 2 stays in different catteries . We never left them again. We rescuthem so our responsibility. Animals don’t know when/ if you are coming home. How can they be happy being cooped up in a small pen !!

Like schnackie, I house and pet sit on an occasional basis, in my case with TrustedHousesitters. I agree about the membership cost, but I like the fact that sitters are police checked and have references. I also like the fact that it's based on altruism and reciprocity. No money exchanges hands. The home and pet owners get someone they can trust. The sitter gets to experience a different way of life, pets, country etc. Sits are available all over the world. After a sit, both home owners and sitters provide feedback on the experience, all of which helps when making future choices. I've met some interesting people this way, had some good experiences and made some lasting friendships.

We have a cat feeding person who comes and feeds our three cats when we are away. Unless my DD is at home then she will feed them. They appear fine when we arrive home, not neglected at all. (They sleep most of the time anyway. Never known such tired cats!)

Our cat goes to a nearby cattery, our Jack Russell comes with us, usually to a pet friendly cottage. He spent his early life in a rescue centre , so he's very clingy with us and we don't want to stress him. It's only once a year so we don't mind. No chance of going abroad due to health issues.

Why do people not consider their lifestyle when deciding to have a pet? All pets need a great deal of care and attention. Leaving them alone is not kind and is irresponsible. I would dearly love to have a dog, but my lifestyle is just not suited to the attention it would need. I walk rescue dogs, and occasionally dog-sit for friends.

Come and live near me ! I am currently looking after house, garden and cats for 4 neighbours! I am sure cats prefer to be in their own home if possible rather than a cattery.

We also use www.trustedhousesitters.com, it has saved us a fortune on cattery fees, and we have had some lovely people to stay. You post your sit, with no personal details, and if people want a sit in the area they will get in touch. You can look at all their profiles and references, talk to them on the phone or online, and I like ours to be close enough that they can come over and see the house and the animals beforehand. That way we can entrust them to the house in confidence. Obviously hide any valuables for your own peace of mind, but we have never had a problem. We get daily photos and videos of the animals for reassurance, we come back to a clean and tidy house, happy animals, and sometimes even a home cooked meal or cake!

My daughter moves into my house to look after my cat if I go away. Her cat comes to mine almost daily so he can go outside as she lives in a flat on a main road so my garden is the only outside he knows. My other daughter's dog comes to stay with me if she goes away.

We never pay for pet care as someone in the family has always cared for them. Even when my parents and in laws lived 160 miles away they would take it in turn to come to mine and treat it as a holiday while pet sitting and then have some overlap time with us on our return but they are all deceased now. We used to take our dog camping with us or to visit relatives. Our animals have always been treated as equals in our family.

My neighbours have two cats, as do I. When away for a short time, my neighbours feed my cats, lock them in at night and just look out for them. I do the same for them when they are away.
When away for a longer period, I take them to a local, very good chattery.

We are so lucky! I live in a friendly cul de sac & we all look after each others animals when we go away. There are a lot of cats in the road & I also feed various fish, rabbits, guinea pigs etc & their owners feed my cats & pond fish. Plus it means the house is being looked after too & no mail sticking out of door etc. giving it away that house is empty.
When we had a dog I had a friend who boarded dogs in her own home so our lovely girl went to a house she knew with other dogs she was regularly walked with- never had to use a cattery or a kennels.
Look out for pet sitters rather than disrupt them - I'd be upset to leave them in a cattery as I would worry they thought I had abandoned them but then I am very soppy over our animals.

No, no, Scribbles. She's telling you off for leaving her in the cattery. She wouldn't want to live there permanently at all.