pets and travel

[mylife]

i have a dilemma.

my 8 month old cat is scared to death of anyone and everything besides me.


i'll be travelling for a month in less than 10 days.



here's the only ideas i can come up with:


a) board him for $15 a day.


pros- gets fed everyday, playtime, safety.


cons- expensive, too long to leave him there.


b) take him with me


pros- still gets to be around me

cons- flights are risky for pets. theres also 2 cats and a dog staying in my new place that are protective of their territory.


can anyone think of other options?

 

[minion]

Find a responsible friend who can care for him. Break'em off a little flow for their troubles. Say $250 would be fair.

 

[Puddles]

Also, cats don't need daily care like dogs. When we go away, we'll set our cat up with a couple big bowls of water and a big bowl of hard food, for up to 5 days. If we're gone longer, we just have a friend stop by every 5 days to change water and give new food. If you're gone for a month, someone would only have to stop by maybe 6 times. I don't know what kind of litter you use, but a big bag of Fresh Step in a big litter box could be enough for a month without changing. You could set up an extra box too. Most cats are fine when left alone.

 

[mylife]

Find a responsible friend who can care for him. Break'em off a little flow for their troubles. Say $250 would be fair.

not an option. the few people i know here are also going to be gone.

 

[BigRedCat]

With a cat you bring him on the plane with you and put him under the seat(in his carrier of course). Never check a pet into the baggage area, they die quite often. When I go on tour I will bring my cat on the bus with me. He just likes to chill and look out the window. Hey MrsPuddlesFL, I am going away for a week in Jan, do you think I should have someone come by and see my cat or will he be ok by himself if I leave out enough food? Only thing is, he doesn't drink water from a bowl, he only drinks from the faucet. I am going to get him one of those fountain things and see how that works.

 

[starfish]

Call some veternarians and get recommendations for pet sitters. They will come to your home and feed your cat. Look in the phonebook under petsitting ( but I would get a referral from a vet)

I love it and I don't have to put my cat in a kennel.

 

[mylife]

Only thing is, he doesn't drink water from a bowl, he only drinks from the faucet.

how do you know when he wants water? does he jump up on the counter whenever the water is running or something?


cats are some funny pets.

 

[mylife]

Call some veternarians and get recommendations for pet sitters. They will come to your home and feed your cat. Look in the phonebook under petsitting ( but I would get a referral from a vet)

I love it and I don't have to put my cat in a kennel.

i don't really want him alone for over a month. that's a long time.

i think im gonna bring him on the flight. ill go to the vet and he'll probably give me some valium for him to settle him down. i have a friend that will probably let me keep him at his place for a few bucks.

 

[Puddles]

Hey MrsPuddlesFL, I am going away for a week in Jan, do you think I should have someone come by and see my cat or will he be ok by himself if I leave out enough food? Only thing is, he doesn't drink water from a bowl, he only drinks from the faucet. I am going to get him one of those fountain things and see how that works.

I would say he'd be fine for a week with the food, but the water thing...LOL! Are you sure he only drinks from the faucet? Does he get into the toilet when you're not lookin? If you have someone that wouldn't mind checking in on him, then have them do one little visit mid-week, check the temperature in the house, check the water issue, pet the kitty. I usually leave my cat with about 2 gallons of water for a week, but he doesn't drink nearly that much.

My cat will dip his paw in the water, tap it a few times, drag the bowl a few inches, then drink. I'm constantly tripping over the moved bowl. He also likes to drink out of the toilet. Animals are weird!

My daughter took this picture...my kitty's 17 y.o.

MyLife...sounds like a plan you got there! Enjoy your trip.

I used to sit for my neighbor, but they finally found a pet sitter. Last time I watched the pets they had a dog, two cats, 2 fish tanks, a cockatiel, a hermit crab, and seamonkeys. The seamonkeys are now dead. Last time I was over, they added a snake that the kids brought home. LOL

 

[mylife]

My cat will dip his paw in the water, tap it a few times, drag the bowl a few inches, then drink. I'm constantly tripping over the moved bowl. He also likes to drink out of the toilet. Animals are weird!

mine does the exact same thing. i'll try and post a picture of him.

 

[starfish]

Do you have a friend who will keep it? Can you drive home?

Ask your vet and airlines about travelling with a cat. I know there are guidelines but it may be easier in the winter... Don't know.

 

[BigRedCat]

Yeah my cat sits by the sink or in the bathtub when he is thirsty, so I sometimes leave the faucet running just a teeny bit during the day for him. He is a wacko like most cats. When he eats his dry food he lays on his side and scoops it onto the floor and then scoops it into his mouth. Haha.

I am hoping he will like the water fountain thing, they are like 50 bucks. He might say "ha, no way am I drinking from that, human! I drink from the faucet only!.......stupid humans." Keep in mind he has a rediculous french accent.

The thing that will piss him off the most while I am away is that the windows will be closed, he hates that. He always wants the windows open when we are home so he can enjoy the fresh air or whatever. There is a possum outside that he really wants to beat up. I try to explain that the possum is prefectly nice and friendly but he insists he should beat him up. Silly cats.