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We found our best sitters ever at WallyWorld. A sheet of information with tear off phone numbers taped to a shelf at pet supplies. Sisters in nursing school. They moved in for the duration of our trips, took extremely good care of TwoStep, had peace and quiet to study, a full fridge/bar and hot tub.
We found a good pet sitter who is also a vet tech. She will text me to let me know everything is fine, or quickly answer my text if I need an update (common for me).
If it bothers you that much to have people in your home when you're not there, there's always the nanny cam option.
I'm actually considering buying an RV just so I can get out of the house and travel in my retirement. Not many hotels are cat-friendly, even my own friends and relatives don't want them staying in their houses, and my two don't walk on leashes. I would NEVER board them (they would die a thousand deaths), and I'm not fortunate enough to have anyone I can trust with if left at home. One needs daily medication, and both have health issues, at around 12 years of age, that involve poop and vomit. I've asked at all the vets' offices, and no tech wants the job. It's a problem! Eventually I'll transition to just a single small dog I can easily travel with, but I might briefly go pet-free in between just to see what it's like to get on a plane and go somewhere and not worry about my pets. It's been a long time!
I do not want to put my cat into a small confined kennel. It is very hard to find someone who will care for him in their home. I do not want anyone coming into my home while I am away. Any ideas?
If you are in the Baltimore area I can recommend a reputable pet sitter, which is the best option I think, depending how long you will be gone.
I wish we had someone. My husband and I have not had a vacation (even overnight in over 15-16 years) due to not wanting to board or leave our animals. So one of us always stays home to care for the animals.
I wish we had someone. My husband and I have not had a vacation (even overnight in over 15-16 years) due to not wanting to board or leave our animals. So one of us always stays home to care for the animals.
That is so sad.
But, it is sort of surprising that you could not find even one person that you could trust in 15 to 16 years. I would think that between all of your friends, co-workers, neighbors, fellow church members and people who already know that you trust with your pets (veterinary office, groomer, etc). you could find someone who would treat your animals well. That is a real shame.
I guess you could say it's more of us not wanting to leave them. Even when one of us has to go out of town we see how the animals react...circling the house, sleeping by the front door (when they usually sleep in bed with us) waiting for the one to come home etc. So we couldn't imagine boarding them or leaving them in an empty house and having someone just come by a few times a day.
We knew having animals we would be like this so it really is on us. But I sure would love a a little getaway with my husband :-) Luckily our youngest just graduated college and lives close to us so I am hopeful that one day soon we can at least go for an overnight somewhere. But we have two large 110 lb dogs that she would not be able to handle walking and have lots of cats, some with Cerebellar Hypoplasia and one that is now having seizures. So our household is a lot for someone else to take care of.
Quote:
Originally Posted by germaine2626
That is so sad.
But, it is sort of surprising that you could not find even one person that you could trust in 15 to 16 years. I would think that between all of your friends, co-workers, neighbors, fellow church members and people who already know that you trust with your pets (veterinary office, groomer, etc). you could find someone who would treat your animals well. That is a real shame.
Every year at the same time, my two Sons and I go away for 4-5 days. Rather than stress our 5 cats out, we prefer to leave them in the homes they know, so we put down many bowls of food, tons of water, and a bunch more litter boxes. We have done this for 30 years, with various fur buddies.
They do fine, and I think they actually love it because they have all that food sitting there at their disposal.......no dieting that week ! We put down more food and water than they could consume in 2 weeks or more.
We also do not want a cat sitter coming in for fear one of them would escape out the door. It is far safer to have them securely locked in the home they share with us. My ex wife could come over, but there is no need and then there is that risk of them getting out.
I'm quite lucky in that I have a number of good friends who live relatively close and who are happy to feed my cats when I am going away. One friend asks her neighbour to feed hers, and in turn she feeds her neighbour's cat when she goes on trips. I know that you said that you don't want anyone in your home but it would seem to be a better option than a kennel. Is there anyone that you are comfortable with who you could ask? I can't imagine asking a friend to take mine in - they can be quite destructive, plus cats aren't great with change of homes anyway.
We get a trusted family friend to drop in once or sometimes twice a day to feed water and do the kitty litter been a convenient arrangement for years. Last year when we returned from a 6 week trip for the cat it was like we never left,when we came in the door he didnt move from his favorite resting area,the only reception we got was he opened one eye then went back to sleep.
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We put down more food and water than they could consume in 2 weeks or more.
