We are going to Sydney for a couple of weeks at the end of the month. Due to our cat’s higher needs now we have decided to put him in a Cattery for the duration. I will be visiting them on Friday to check them out, but talking to them over the phone and looking at their website they seem to be well equipped to pamper cats at all levels of care. In the past we have had someone drop in to feed them but feel that Alex requires that little bit extra now. We still have to have someone come and feed the rest of the menagerie though. What do you do with your pets when you are away?

Smoosh, the cat, is very shy, so if its only a couple of days there’s little point in someone coming in to spend time with her, ‘cause they’d never see her. She’s a grazer, so we just put out extra food, and fill up the kitchen sink with water (she actually doesn’t like still water, prefers to drink out of a running tap).

The piggles and chooks need someone to check on them. If we’re going overnight or at a stretch two nights, we just put out extra food and water. Any longer and we need someone to check on them. In the past we’ve had a close enough relationship with our neighbours for them to hop over the fence and check them. Our trade off has been that they get to keep the eggs. But our neighbours have changed (its sort of a boarding house now) and our chooks aren’t laying yet.

We’re away for two weeks in September and I’m hoping to get one of the youth from church to house sit.

I can’t help you with any tips BG.

My dog Max has seperation anxiety if I so much as go to the loo and shut the door on him! He cries pitifully and claws at the doors if I do , theres heaps of scratched doors here.
I won’t be travelling whilst I have him , that includes cancelling a trip to europe next year , and it’s not a matter of putting him in a crate to take with me, he has to be able to see me. I can’t bear to be away from him too long either and I wouldn’t sedate him.
It’s a boat, and accomodation that accepts dogs, or nothing.

Haven’t been on a dog-free holiday since we got her :) We’re lucky we have access to a holiday house where she can come with us, provided she never goes outside off-lead. But we wouldn’t have gotten a dog if we hadn’t built up a network of friends and family who could ook after her for us. We did have family lined up to house and dog sit for our Indonesian holiday before that went pear-shaped.

Next year should be interesting – we’re off to England and OH’s family will all be going too – I’m yet to line up someone but if my fly-in-fly-out friend can’t do it then I will sweet talk my mum into it :D

Mum’s off for four weeks in September, and both my brothers who live at home will be working very late, so I’m having to go over there after work every day to check on the dog and let her out (she is locked in when everyone is out). Bit of extra free time lost from my day but I don’t mind doing it, it’s nice to see my old dog :)

We board them at huge expence (because I’m picky) if we go for more than a couple days. If it’s only a short time a friend feeds them.

I’m a bit worried about future boarding if Timmy still has health issues. He’s such a timid cat that having a stranger treat him would stress him no end.

Does your vet board?

One thing the vet told me to check for was that there was no nose to nose cantact between cages. In other words, solid walls not wire.

bon008 said:

Haven’t been on a dog-free holiday since we got her :) We’re lucky we have access to a holiday house where she can come with us, provided she never goes outside off-lead. But we wouldn’t have gotten a dog if we hadn’t built up a network of friends and family who could ook after her for us. We did have family lined up to house and dog sit for our Indonesian holiday before that went pear-shaped.

Next year should be interesting – we’re off to England and OH’s family will all be going too – I’m yet to line up someone but if my fly-in-fly-out friend can’t do it then I will sweet talk my mum into it :D

Mum’s off for four weeks in September, and both my brothers who live at home will be working very late, so I’m having to go over there after work every day to check on the dog and let her out (she is locked in when everyone is out). Bit of extra free time lost from my day but I don’t mind doing it, it’s nice to see my old dog :)

We don’t have a dog but if we did i’d be looking to use a service we have over here called Don’t Fret Pet. It’s a group you can join who take dogs into their homes while the owners are away.

You meet first so you can see if you/them and your/their dog like each other.

Some people who don’t even own dogs are in it because they enjoy having them for a while without the long term commitment.

bubba louie said:

I’m a bit worried about future boarding if Timmy still has health issues. He’s such a timid cat that having a stranger treat him would stress him no end.

Just from the ones I have looked at, the catteries are very up to the mark on caring for a cat’s special needs. Some have special suites set up as bed rooms or whatever and provide TVs and anything to help your cat feel at home, and have gardens for them to explore as well. The one I am checking out has special rooms for elderly or those with health issues, complete with heat lamps for the arthritic! I suspect Alex is going to be housed better than us on this holiday! Most of them provide a range of food including the vet prescribed varieties or will get them in if they don’t already have them. Being a timid cat would have its drawbacks but I expect that they would have experience in dealing with all sorts.

one site I looked up even had webcams so you can check up on how your cat is while you are away :D

bluegreen said:

bubba louie said:

I’m a bit worried about future boarding if Timmy still has health issues. He’s such a timid cat that having a stranger treat him would stress him no end.

Just from the ones I have looked at, the catteries are very up to the mark on caring for a cat’s special needs. Some have special suites set up as bed rooms or whatever and provide TVs and anything to help your cat feel at home, and have gardens for them to explore as well. The one I am checking out has special rooms for elderly or those with health issues, complete with heat lamps for the arthritic! I suspect Alex is going to be housed better than us on this holiday! Most of them provide a range of food including the vet prescribed varieties or will get them in if they don’t already have them. Being a timid cat would have its drawbacks but I expect that they would have experience in dealing with all sorts.

There are good ones but you pay for what you get. i’m already paying about 16 a day for the normal boarders.

bluegreen said:

one site I looked up even had webcams so you can check up on how your cat is while you are away :D

One of the nurses at my cat vet left to set up here own cattery and she was going to have that as well, but $20+ a day makes it a very expensive holiday. Especialy as i have two cats.

it does add to the cost, we are looking at $18.50 a day. But I feel much easier about leaving him knowing he will be well looked after, rather than having someone just drop in each day.

bluegreen said:

it does add to the cost, we are looking at $18.50 a day. But I feel much easier about leaving him knowing he will be well looked after, rather than having someone just drop in each day.

That’s cheaper than here. I’d gladly pay it if I could.

This is the one we’ve been using lately.
http://www.pawsandwhiskers.com.au/cattery.htm

bubba louie said:

We don’t have a dog but if we did i’d be looking to use a service we have over here called Don’t Fret Pet. It’s a group you can join who take dogs into their homes while the owners are away.

You meet first so you can see if you/them and your/their dog like each other.

Some people who don’t even own dogs are in it because they enjoy having them for a while without the long term commitment.

We met a guy at the local shops who had set up a very informal group doing this. It’s an awesome idea, but I wouldn’t feel happy leaving my dog with someone else’s all day unsupervised, so it’s the sort of thing I wouldn’t consider compatible with full time work.

I’m just spoilt having my retired parents so nearby :)

Abicat

bubba louie said:

We don’t have a dog but if we did i’d be looking to use a service we have over here called Don’t Fret Pet. It’s a group you can join who take dogs into their homes while the owners are away.

What a great business! The owner provides all the food, drops off and picks up the animal, and pays $28 day for a minder. The minder gets a “small daily allowance”. And the company pays for insurance and has no huge overheads like you would have with kennels.

Still, its an idea I’ll run past the family. We would all like a dog (all have conflicting thoughts about the type and size), but the reality is – we’re not a dog family. We’re a lazy bunch of so-and-so and would never walk it. And we’re considering going overseas for an extended period at some point. A dog would just complicate that. Smoosh is a big enough worry. With something like this we could have a dog every now and then without any ongoing commitment.

It’s great they theres really caring places so you can have a holiday and not worry. I may get to France yet.

But even the thought of leaving Max behind…the parting scene would befit a hollywood movie love story goodbye ending.

Happy Potter said:

But even the thought of leaving Max behind…the parting scene would befit a hollywood movie love story goodbye ending.

Coming back is awesome though :) I think I got into a little bit of trouble when OH and the pup picked me up from the airport after the Indonesia debacle – apparently I was supposed to greet OH first! oops :)

Mum’s dog used to have pretty bad separation anxiety, but now she manages because of the routines – her alpha male (my brother) works away a lot now, and boy does she get excited about going to the airport.. she knows what it means!! She starts to sulk when she sees the packing process start though.

That’s one reason I hesitate about having a dog now. There’s no-one to care for it if we go away, and I worry about kennel costs. Years ago we had a German Shepherd who went to kennels and the cost was hard to cope with. Now it’s more expensive and we’re pensioners. It’s hard enough getting the budgie minded now!

orchid40 said:

That’s one reason I hesitate about having a dog now. There’s no-one to care for it if we go away, and I worry about kennel costs. Years ago we had a German Shepherd who went to kennels and the cost was hard to cope with. Now it’s more expensive and we’re pensioners. It’s hard enough getting the budgie minded now!

One of the reasons I love having rats so much – pretty easy for friends to look after them! Not that I have any right now :(

bon008 said:

Mum’s dog used to have pretty bad separation anxiety, but now she manages because of the routines – her alpha male (my brother) works away a lot now, and boy does she get excited about going to the airport.. she knows what it means!! She starts to sulk when she sees the packing process start though.

Now that reminds me of our childhood dog. When she saw the packing happening she would go hide under the house where it was impossible to get her out again.

bluegreen said:

Now that reminds me of our childhood dog. When she saw the packing happening she would go hide under the house where it was impossible to get her out again.

Awwwww. This one will stay by the door so you can’t go without her. Once we had her at the holiday place – tied up on the porch so she could supervise the packing – and the ratbag did a Houdini and wiggled out of her harness. I got a bit panicky thinking she had taken off after a kangaroo and wouldn’t be found for ages (and being offlead at this place is a big no no). Shouldn’t have worried – there she was sitting in the car waiting :)

bon008 said:

bluegreen said:

Now that reminds me of our childhood dog. When she saw the packing happening she would go hide under the house where it was impossible to get her out again.

Awwwww. This one will stay by the door so you can’t go without her. Once we had her at the holiday place – tied up on the porch so she could supervise the packing – and the ratbag did a Houdini and wiggled out of her harness. I got a bit panicky thinking she had taken off after a kangaroo and wouldn’t be found for ages (and being offlead at this place is a big no no). Shouldn’t have worried – there she was sitting in the car waiting :)

lol! love it :D

SueBk said:

bubba louie said:

We don’t have a dog but if we did i’d be looking to use a service we have over here called Don’t Fret Pet. It’s a group you can join who take dogs into their homes while the owners are away.

What a great business! The owner provides all the food, drops off and picks up the animal, and pays $28 day for a minder. The minder gets a “small daily allowance”. And the company pays for insurance and has no huge overheads like you would have with kennels.

Still, its an idea I’ll run past the family. We would all like a dog (all have conflicting thoughts about the type and size), but the reality is – we’re not a dog family. We’re a lazy bunch of so-and-so and would never walk it. And we’re considering going overseas for an extended period at some point. A dog would just complicate that. Smoosh is a big enough worry. With something like this we could have a dog every now and then without any ongoing commitment.

I didn’t realise it was so expensive. I think ideally it would be good to network with other dog owners for a reciprical service.

orchid40 said:

That’s one reason I hesitate about having a dog now. There’s no-one to care for it if we go away, and I worry about kennel costs. Years ago we had a German Shepherd who went to kennels and the cost was hard to cope with. Now it’s more expensive and we’re pensioners. It’s hard enough getting the budgie minded now!

That’s why there probably wont be any more pets for us after these two.

Bimbo cares for them and I miss them……… seems a good deal in my books:)

Bimbo has been known to house sit houses and their animals:) She loves the idea of doing this.

Lucky1 said:

Bimbo has been known to house sit houses and their animals:) She loves the idea of doing this.

would she like to spend some time in Melbourne?

bluegreen said:

Lucky1 said:

Bimbo has been known to house sit houses and their animals:) She loves the idea of doing this.

would she like to spend some time in Melbourne?

Oh she’d love too….. think she’ll be stuck at work though.