Automatic feeder or cattery

Zapperzy

Looking for a few opinions on this. We're looking at going away for two nights in a few months time but we've two cats. Usually I'd leave them into the cattery, she's fantastic and completely cat mad and iv no doubt they're well looked after there. But there's the usual stress of loading them into boxes, the 20 minute drive and them settling in. Himself suggested getting two automatic feeders and an extra litter tray or two and leaving them. I'm comfortable leaving them for 24 hours but this would be for about 48-54 hours.

I'm in two minds. Weighing up the stress of booking them into a cattery versus the (probably minor) risk of something happening in those 48+ hours. Also how well do automatic feeders work?

em_cat

I’ve known cats to break into them while their humans are away, again due to the stress.

Maybe get a cat sitter to stay with them?

baby and crumble

Our cats free feed dry food from a dispenser at all times, with small portions of wet food as a treat every 2 days. We have left them for 3 nights (leaving late one night and arriving early in the morning after night) max and they’ve been fine- if a bit needy for attention when we get home. The food is not what I worry about, more so the water- our 2 go through a lot of water so we have about 6 bowls that we put down when we go away.

We put them into a cattery when we went away for 10 days last year and it was a nightmare. Shade was so unsettled and it massively stressed her out. I wouldn’t do it again, we have some friends that will pop in if we go away longer than a weekend.

aonb

I get where you're coming from re the 'trauma' of getting the cat to the cattery... my cat HATES the carrier - if bringing her to the vet or the cattery, she goes bonkers trying to get her into the carrier. Once in, she HOWLS all the way there. She invariably throws up. Then repeat on the way home :mad:

I have a second cat now - who only comes into the house when bribed to come in (working on that one). When we went away recently, I had a teen up the road come and feed the outdoor cat twice a day. Would this be an option for your two? Just to have someone come and top up their bowls?

I dont think Id worry too much about leaving indoors cat on her own - you have two, so company for each other - worth a try Id imagine? I'd leave lights and the radio on, and maybe just leave enough dry food dotted around the house, that they wouldnt be hungry?

metaoblivia

If I'm away for 48 hours, my two cats are fine on their own in the apartment. I make sure their feeder is full and that they have plenty of water. If I'm gone for a longer time, I have someone come in and check on them every other day. They give them wet food, clean their litter box, play with them, etc.
Cats don't usually adapt to new places as readily as dogs, so for that reason I've never put them in a cattery. In a cattery they'd have to adapt to a new place, new people, plus the sights, smells and sounds of other animals. I know my cats would be more comfortable at home in familiar surroundings with the only unusual thing being my absence and another person stopping by to pay attention to them (and my cats love attention, so they aren't bothered too much by this).

the beer revolu

We have two cats. We have a dry food dispenser that will dispense a measured amount up to three times a day. They have a cat flap to go in and out of the garden. We have an enclosed kind of courtyard garden from which if they wanted to get out of, it would mean jumping down from our roof or one of our neighbour's. In ten years, they have never done this.

We will happily leave them alone for a weekend - any longer and we get a friend to call every day or two to give them some attention and wet food.

This works well for us. Yes, they are a touch more needy when we come home but I hate to think of what they would go through being in a strange place.

When we had just one cat, we used to send him to my parents (who have his brother) and as a kitten he didn't mind but as he grew up, he hated every second of being away from his home.
The same happened in reverse with my parents cat. Even though he knew me and his brother, he despised evey every moment and spent his time yowling mournfully at the window until he was brought home.

OP, leave your cats at home. They have each other for company and from what I've experienced cats really, really hate being out of their home environment, no matter how well looked after they are.

miezekatze

For 48 hours I'd use an automated feeder, too much stress getting the cat to the cattery for such a short stay. I've used our automated feeder for years and it's always worked well. Do you know someone who could check on the cats once or twice while you're gone, empty the litter boxes etc? Even if you don't, I think your cats would be fine at home.

murphf

A pet sitter could be a good option .. lots of companies now offer this service (I’m in Dublin 15 and we find there is more and more demand for it ) .. a lot of cats (and other pets , we mind all sorts!) are way happier on their own at home than in a cattery