Choosing cat holiday care in North London
June 7, 2022
After two years of summer ‘staycations’, this year we’re expecting a lot of people to be considering longer holidays away from home. For cat owners, this raises the age-old challenge of how to look after their cat during the holidays.
As you basically have three options – live-in care, day visits, or using a cattery – we thought we’d ask the nursing team at The Vet Whetstone to offer a few tips on what to look out for, depending on the option you choose. If you’re opting for a cattery, and you don’t already know your cat’s vaccination status, call us to check.
Whichever cat holiday care option you decide on, you should make arrangements early to give yourself the best chance of finding the perfect solution for your cat. Use our cat holiday checklists below to help with your research.
Cat sitting services in Whetstone
Daily visits can be made by a neighbour or professional pet sitter. Live-in care is similar, but your cat will benefit from company and can live almost as normal. Check with the sitter to ensure they offer:
- Regular visits/interaction: Cats should be visited or played with at least twice daily so make sure this is agreed and your cat sitter is up for it
- Meals: The volume and routine should ideally be the same as if you were at home
- Water: Fresh water must always be available
- Litter: Cat litter trays should be cleaned twice daily, especially during warm weather
Choosing a responsible cat sitter in Whetstone
You’ll feel much more reassured while you’re away if you know that someone with knowledge and experience is looking after your cat. Our vet nurse, Lauren, says you should check:
- References: If it isn’t someone you know, get contact details for some of their clients
- Knowledge: Ask if they can spot signs of ill health and deal with specific issues
- Skills: If your cat needs regular medication, ensure they can administer it
- Quality time: The person should be happy to offer adequate companionship
- Insurance: If your sitter is a professional, they should be insured, so check their docs
Catteries in Whetstone
If you’re going for the cattery option, then personal recommendation and a pre-stay visit to check the place out is a must. When you visit, talk to the staff and get a feel for how they will take care of your cat. They should be welcoming, ask plenty of questions about your cat, and allow you to have a good look around the cattery. When viewing the facilities, you should check:
- The general cleanliness of the units, litter trays, and feeding bowls
- Ask yourself if the cats look happy, content, and adequately stimulated
- Check indoor and secure outdoor areas for your cat to exercise (if they need both)
- Look for adequate ventilation and ensure the accommodation has a working smoke alarm
- Check for any obvious escape routes and raise them with the staff
Finally, properly run and licensed catteries should insist on seeing an up-to-date vaccination card, showing recent vaccinations against cat flu and enteritis. If they do not, go somewhere else.