We've just come home from an interstate wedding, and we were gone for 3 days. We came home to happy cats, fed their regular food, played with, clean litter, and a clean home. And while we were away, we had daily updates, some photos, and we even talked on speaker to the cats - Ava came over and licked the phone!!
LIVE-IN CAT SITTER
We've found that a trusted friend or family member is the best option as a cat sitter, so all these things can happen in the safety of Kato and Ava's own home. Hence we try and plan way in advance, and see who might like to have a cat-sitting holiday in our apartment. To help out our cat-sitter, we write a cat-care manual, specific to our situation and our cats. We have a 3 page lengthier version, which has more explanation and insight into Kato and Ava's personalities and rituals. Plus we have the 1-page summary version which is more useful for quick-reference and those who don't want to read about why and how. The important things to include: the daily ritual, where everything is kept, specific quirks to manage, and emergency contacts. This what ours currently looks like:
LIVE-IN CAT SITTER
We've found that a trusted friend or family member is the best option as a cat sitter, so all these things can happen in the safety of Kato and Ava's own home. Hence we try and plan way in advance, and see who might like to have a cat-sitting holiday in our apartment. To help out our cat-sitter, we write a cat-care manual, specific to our situation and our cats. We have a 3 page lengthier version, which has more explanation and insight into Kato and Ava's personalities and rituals. Plus we have the 1-page summary version which is more useful for quick-reference and those who don't want to read about why and how. The important things to include: the daily ritual, where everything is kept, specific quirks to manage, and emergency contacts. This what ours currently looks like:
One of the major reasons we like to be able to implement this holiday arrangement for our cats is because of their sensitive natures. Ava is pretty easy going, but if taken out of her normal loved-ones environment (like when she was spayed), she gets stressed, and gets sick. Kato is NOT easy going. He is one sensitive and smart dude. So he doesn't display his true character even in a cat-sit situation, and this time reportedly stayed mainly laid-out on our bed. Which we can understand, as this is a scent-rich place of our scents. He was also a little off his food - which was not unexpected given his sensitivity. And this sensitivity was also a key reason why we got him his Ava - so he could always have a loved one with him, even if we went away.
TRAVEL WITH YOUR CAT
In the past, we have taken Kato with us on longer trips. We have obviously done lots of ground work in getting him used to car travel - a few times a week in his cage for a car run, and then extending the time of the trips. But it is hard on him (and us), to put him on a plane, especially when something goes wrong to delay the flight. We were especially glad this time, as our outward trip was delayed by a fuel-leak and it would have meant he was in a cage for 10 hours or more. And on the way home, we could hear a dog barking in the pet cargo hold - he would have been in the next berth to the dog as they don't separate animals.
Plane flights with a pet mean a special airline-approved travel cage, 2hrs or more early check-in for the animal -usually not in the same terminal as people passengers, about $50 for their ticket, and some uncertainty at how good their experience will be - I know one vet whose dog was 'lost', and talking with some baggage handlers, some companies don't really care too much about leaving the animals out in hot sunshine. Certainly we can tell how 'rough' Kato's travel/handling has been, as we always have a water container fixed to the door of his cage, with a smidge of water and some ice cubes. You have to jostle REAL good to spill that water, and it has been spilt a couple times.
The upside to taking Kato with us, is that apart from the actual air-travel, he is otherwise very happy. We plug in a feliway when we get to our new home (a pet friendly place, or relative's house), and within 30minutes, he is just like he is at home-home. We also organise in advance, or take with us, the absolute essentials for him - like a litter tray, his normal litter, and a bit of food until we can get to the shops. The downside of this arrangement is that we spend a lot of time being with Kato and making sure he is having fun - maybe not something you want to do so much of on a holiday.
PROFESSIONAL VISITING CAT-SITTER
There are two other options for pet-care when you are absent, which we haven't tried. One is the professional cat-sitter. You pay them to visit your pets for X many minutes/hours and X many times per day. They will do litter, food, cuddles, play, and also your mail. We would probably do this if we couldn't get someone we knew, as it has some of the same benefits - namely they get to eat their own food and stay in an environment that they know, which is less stressful than the final option: pet boarding.
CAT BOARDING
Always visit and inspect a cat boarding facility first, many months in advance, if you ever think you would take this option. And choose wisely - there are wide differences. Be aware also, that you may need to book months in advance to get a spot. And you'll need up to date vaccination certificates.
The reasons we don't choose this option are specific to our cats - primarily that sensitivity thing. Kato can't abide other cats, and a boarding situation would have them in close proximity. Korats have an incredible territorial drive, which means he would constantly be on high alert, want to defend his patch and see others as enemies, as well as have him pining for his own safe home. He would also feel abandoned by us, his humans. Ava would probably deal better, so long as she was with Kato, given she can't abide being separated from her loved-ones. The other thing for our cats is the lack of room. They would be in a cage, and play times would be with other cats(!!) in a room. I don't believe this is appropriate for high-energy cats like Korats. And the last major reason is food - we feed predominantly raw food, and this is mostly unacceptable and unmanageable for a commercial cat boarding facility.
So there you have it - a few options, and a few thought processes to go through to pick what is best for your cats. Professional cat-sitters and good boarding options can usually be found through a good feline-specific vet, like The Cat Clinic in Prahran (best vet we've found, and the only feline specialists in Victoria).