If, like me, you consider your pets to be important family members, the thought of going on holiday without them is almost unbearable. Depending on your holiday destination, and the temperament and personality of your cat, you may be able to take puss with you. However, only consider taking him/her if she is very confident and used to going out and about with you, plus you are sure she would enjoy the kind of holiday you have in mind. Most pet-friendly accommodation is geared towards dogs rather than cats, so you will need to carefully check out the facilities beforehand.
Holiday options
If you are boarding your cat, be sure to check out the options well in advance. Ask fellow cat-owners and your vet for recommendations, and make an appointment to view the facilities of any catteries you are considering. Take note of the smell, cleanliness, services on offer, attitude of the staff and whether the animals staying there appear contented and well cared for.
It may be preferable to leave your cat at home. The great thing about cats is that they are nowhere near as demanding on your time as dogs, and you don’t have to exercise them. A friend, relative or next-door neighbour could drop in twice a day to feed and check on puss. Should this not be an option, investigate the various pet-minding services on offer (many will also look after your garden and collect mail while you are away). Again, word-of-mouth recommendation either from friends or your vet is usually the best way to go here.
The secret to holiday happiness is in the planning – preferably as far in advance as possible. Make sure that you have done all of the following before setting off.
1. Book puss into a cattery or other minding service well in advance. This is particularly important if your planned vacation coincides with school holidays or other peak periods, such as Easter.
2. Your cat’s vaccination and worming schedule must be fully up-todate before you depart, especially if you are leaving her at a cattery. Many catteries prefer vaccination programs to have been completed a fortnight before puss comes to stay, and require a vaccination certificate as proof.
3. Always transport your cat in a secure cat carry cage. It’s a good idea to take your cat’s favourite blanket or cushion, to help make her feel at home in the new surroundings. If you have any special feeding requirements or if medication is needed, don’t forget to notify staff and to pack whatever is required. Leave your own and your vet’s contact details (or a trusted friend’s if you are not going to be easily contactable) with your cat’s carer. If you are going overseas, leave written authorisation for somebody to make any necessary decisions about puss on your behalf during your absence.
4. Regardless of whether your cat is staying at home, boarding or travelling with you, she should always wear a collar with an ID tag containing contact details of her principal carer in your absence. There is absolutely no use providing your home telephone number if no one is going to be there. If you take puss with you, be sure to put the phone number of the place you are staying on the tag.
Tip- On the last three nights before your holiday, wear the same old T-shirt to bed. Put it, unwashed, inpuss’s bedding, so she can smell you whileyou’re away. This will comfort her.
Travelling with your cat – most cats do not enjoy travel and removing a cat form the security of its home may cause a lot of stress and anxiety. I have met a few very outgoing cats that are not phased by loud noises, car travel and change of environment- these are the only cats I recommend taking on holidays otherwise it will be one big upset for all concerned.
I don’t recommend you ever let a cat outside in a new environment unless on a lead. Cats can frighten very easily and run off in a panic and get lost.
Over the year I have met quite a few cats who happily travel by plane or car and really seem to enjoy new environments. These are usually cats who experienced a lot of travel and socialisation when they were kittens.
Many places listed on my pet friendly accommodation listing allow cats but you are responsible for researching the kind of facilities and security on offer.