llywela | (no subject)

I sat down and researched catteries today, ready for my holiday at the end of next month. I really would rather not put Poppy into a cattery - and would also rather not have to pay! - but it seems a bit much to ask someone to come into the flat twice a day for a week to put food down and clean the littery tray. Also, since I can't have a front door key cut, they would have to use the back door, and I'm nervous that Poppy would get out and then they wouldn't be able to get her back. So a cattery is better, for my peace of mind, definitely. I'm just nervous of leaving her, period!

Turns out, catteries are not that easy to research. They don't seem to have discovered the age of the internet AT ALL. Not the ones around here, at least. Not one of them has a website - I had to get numbers out of the phone book and phone around for prices and check-in times, etc. I wanted to see websites! Or at the very least brochures. With pretty pictures of happy, contented cats, and details of the love and affection they lavish upon the animals in their care... Doesn't seem so much to ask. Someone really is missing a trick, there. Also, none of them are in convenient locations - they are all out of the way. Probably better for the animals that way, but for service-users, who are all presumably going someplace like myself, it is very inconvenient.

Anyway, I eventually found one that is reasonably priced and not too big of a detour, so it shouldn't be too awkward to get Poppy there on the way to our holiday. However, their check-in time at the weekend is 9am-1pm, and there is no way we will be home by 1pm on the Saturday we get back, so she will have to stay there an extra night - and I'll have to pay for an extra night.

Nothing is easy, is it?

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I hate leaving Zelda for any length of time - She gets so distraught. :-( I'd *never* be able to bring her to a kennel (that's what they're called here) because she would be so upset being away from home it would be a health risk to her. Luckily (since I have no friends or family to do it) we have several catsitting services in town. I have to pay a bit for it but they come once a day and play with her, feed her, scoup her box, bring in my mail, etc. It's well worth the money to me for the peace of mind I get.

Good luck with that - Maybe Poppy will *love* it (she'll get a chance to play with others and they will probably pamper her. ;-)

Hopefully Poppy is young enough that she won't be too upset. It's been worrying me for ages, what to do. I don't want her left in the flat for a whole week, just with someone she barely knows popping in and out - she likes to have company. And I'd be afraid all week that she'd get out and they wouldn't be able to get her back in. Same problem with a cat-sitting service, even if there was one locally - that stupid security lock on the front door, so that I can't get a spare key cut.

But leaving her with strangers in a strange place is also worrying. What if she hates me for it?! I've never been away from her overnight before, since I brought her home. Just have to hope she forgives me once the week is over.

I do hope Poppy enjoys her holiday - at least you won't be worried about her getting out of your flat. I think it's difficult with very old cats, like mine as they don't react well to the change. So we are lucky to be able to get neighbours to feed ours and the cats know them well and are pleased to see them.
The cat-sitting service sounds interesting, though. Maybe that's a service you could offer in your area! Set up in business!
Hope you have a good holiday too!

Maybe that's a service you could offer in your area! Set up in business!
Heh! The thought had occurred to me, with the catteries so inconvenient and badly advertised! Maybe if I had transport...

I'm hoping Poppy is young enough to adapt, and it is only for a week. I know that my friend Jane next door would probably come down every day if I asked, or my friend Molly, but Poppy doesn't really know them. Twice a day is a lot to ask anyone, and the litter tray makes it essential. And I don't want her to be alone. So the cattery it is.

Isn't it funny to think of places that aren't to be found on the internet, just... almost unthinkable! And yet it wasn't that long ago... *g*

At least you've found somewhere you're happy with - I hope you all are able to enjoy your holiday, I think you deserve it!

It's 2008! Surely everyone should be on the 'net by now...LOL

I don't think I'm going to feel happy about leaving Poppy until I get home and know how she reacts to it - that wouldn't change no matter where I left her or who with. But she's young, so it should be okay.

When we have shifted, we have been able to board the cats at our Vet. Piece of mind as we knew they knew our babies.

Hope Poppy is OK.

Aww, there's a nice service for a vet to offer. I don't think mine has room! Also, she hasn't been there often enough to know them. I'm sure she'll be fine - she's young and adaptable. It's just me being a worrywort - I won't be really comfortable until I'm back home and getting her settled back in!

I'm surprised none of them have websites :S They need to discover the internet, fast! Hope you can enjoy your holiday knowing Poppy is safe... and that she enjoys her ickle holiday!

They should definitely have websites! With pretty pictures of happy cats, and smiling attendants, and full details of their service! In this day and age there is no excuse, surely. LOL

I'm sure Poppy will be fine. She is young. I'm just...a worrier. I've never left her before!

The one Minstrel goes too is lovely, its really hard to get into so you have to book early. Its a shame you can't pick her up later though. Our one you can drop off/pick up between 10-12 then 2-6. We used to drop her off the night before but the house was weird without her so we made an extra journey to take her in the morning.

Yeah, the restricted check-in/book-out time is a bit of a nuisance. I'll want her home that night! But will just have to cope with it, I suppose.