Your trip is booked, case is packed and you are all set to go - but what about your cat? Ideally, you want a catsitter as generally, your feline is likely to be happier staying home.
After all, many pets feel secure in a familiar environment with their same routines unchanged.
"Cats don’t need constant entertainment, but they do need consistency,” says German biologist Birgit Rödder.
If you plan your pet’s care well while you’re away, you can travel with greater peace of mind.
Here are three key questions to consider while you're preparing for your trip:
Try to find someone with enough time, whether it's a friend, relative, neighbour or cat sitter.
If possible, it’s best if the person stops by a few times before the vacation so they can get to know the cat and its quirks and start bonding with it.
This helps avoid stress for the animal and ensures optimal care, says Rödder, who works for the German Pet Supplies Industry Association.
The more the person knows about your cat and its needs, the better. That’s why you should provide clear instructions on the type, frequency, and amount of food.
Tips on routines, typical behaviours, favourite toys, and favorite hiding spots are all helpful.
Don’t forget to write down the phone number of the vet’s office, and yours too of course.
When cat owners are travelling, someone should check on the animal once or twice a day. And make sure to allow enough time for playing, feeding, and cleaning the litter box and food bowls.
It’s usually even better if the cat sitter moves in. That means staying overnight and helping maintain the cat's usual routine, says Rödder.
An alternative to in-home care can be boarding at a pet hotel or in another home. One advantage of this solution is that there’s usually someone there continuously to look after the cat.
Whether this option is good for the cat depends on how sensitive it is to new environments. Owners should test this out carefully, perhaps by first boarding the cat somewhere for a few days, essentially as a trial run.
You can tell if the cat is stressed by observing its behaviour.
"Cats will withdraw and appear tense,” Rödder says. If the cat seems relaxed upon returning - perhaps curious or stretches out in a comfortable way - this is the best sign that its needs were taken seriously. That's how you can tell it was well cared for, says Rödder.
If your cat is moving to a new home for the vacation, familiar items can provide additional comfort. That might be a T-shirt that belongs to you or someone in the family, a cosy blanket, their favourite toy, plus familiar food and cat litter. – By Isabelle Modler/dpa
