Help: Can't travel...will miss my pets too much

David · Joined: 04 Apr 2004 Posts: 162

I can now afford to travel just about anywhere in the World, but I think my wife and I have been so accustomed to seeing our cats everyday that we don't know how we could relax for more than a couple of days. I know it's crazy, but I need your advice. We recently were able to go somewhere that was 4 hours aways, and stayed there for 3 days, but we are apprehensive about longer periods and greater distances. What should we do? :shock: :?

Laura · Joined: 16 May 2004 Posts: 446 Location: San Francisco

I know how you feel. I love my cats and they start to misbehave when I've been gone. Even if my husband is still home, they'll start to do very bad cat things if I'm gone for more than about 72 hours.

However...we have a friend who my cats like, and who likes my cats. She comes over every day to feed them and hangs around for a while watching movies or listening to music. She cuddles the cats and plays with them a little, and they seem to do quite well with her looking in on them. Our friend comes every day while we're away, and sometimes twice a day. I do the same for her and her cats when she is away.

I think the best bet is to work out a "mutual cat care pact" with someone who your cats seem to like.

The longest I've been away from the kits is three weeks. They were a little bad (peed on a bean bag chair) but when I got home they seemed healthy and happy and were kind of like "oh, it's you, where's Teri?" Since every time we go away it's the same person, they don't seem to get too out of sorts. Teri is used to me sending her emails wondering how my pets are doing, and in fact has started sending me mails after about day three to let me know things are fine.

I used to have someone else house sit, but she stressed the cats out a lot. One of them would start stress shedding when Susie arrived, and would leave piles of hair under the coffee table. Switching cat-watchers has eliminated this -- you can tell who you cats like and who they don't.

Hope this helps. If you want to see what my feline housemates look like check out www.lagassa.com/cats.html . The pictures are three years old -- Cece is 15 now, and Millie is 3.

cocodrilo · Joined: 12 Apr 2004 Posts: 494 Location: Western Japan

I have a good friend who lives nearby who is responsible and looks after my cats when I am away. My husband has had a lot of business trips and in the past & was unable to do this. Now, I let him take care of the cats when I am away. My long vacations are now limited to 3-week trips, but I usually limit the long ones to once a year or so. Don't worry about cats. They sleep all day anyway 8) !!! Actually, the cats do miss me, and my little rambunctious tabby refuses to talk to me and even hisses and spits at me for up to 3 days when I have returned from a long trip. She ignored me completely for 12 hours after returning recently from a 3-day trip to Seoul.

cocodrilo · Joined: 12 Apr 2004 Posts: 494 Location: Western Japan

P.S. Incredibly cute cats, Laura! You can see my kitties on the DF members photos corner!(My scanner broke! Oh no!)

Jonathan · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 185

Hmmm, you might also be able to get some useful perspectives and input over at www.pets-forum.com too! :wink:

David · Joined: 04 Apr 2004 Posts: 162

Jonathan wrote: Hmmm, you might also be able to get some useful perspectives and input over at www.pets-forum.com too! :wink:
:lol:

squirrel · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 74 Location: Bucharest, Romania

I love your kitties too, laura! Cece looks like my female cat, TziTzica... :)

I hate leaving my pets alone... but when I travel I have no choice. My BF usually tends for them (we live together) or if we are both away my mom comes twice a day.

roxiloxi · Joined: 16 Sep 2005 Posts: 10 Location: Toronto, Canada

I have 2 dogs that are like my kids. My hubby and I were very hesitent about leaving them too the first time. We left them at my daughter's and they had a wonderful time while we were away. They missed us for only a short while and when we returned seemed reluctant to come home with us. So if you leave your animals in safe care particularly with someone you and they know you can feel relaxed about it and not need worry your whole trip. As for missing them of course you will but that will ease up as the days pass. It's no different than leaving your kids. For your sake try it!

Bryaninnj1 · Joined: 13 Oct 2005 Posts: 4 Location: NJ

David wrote: I can now afford to travel just about anywhere in the World, but I think my wife and I have been so accustomed to seeing our cats everyday that we don't know how we could relax for more than a couple of days. I know it's crazy, but I need your advice. We recently were able to go somewhere that was 4 hours aways, and stayed there for 3 days, but we are apprehensive about longer periods and greater distances. What should we do? :shock: :?

Have them stuffed and put them in your suitcase :D

sea_bird14 · Joined: 30 Sep 2005 Posts: 4 Location: Maryland

get someone reliable to watch them they dont care too much :roll: they should be happy just to eat and play or whatever animals do to have fun