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What do you do with your pet(s) when you go OOT for several days/weeks?

I plan on visiting my family this year (France). My trip would be for 2 or 3 weeks. Now that I am single, I have to figure out what is the best thing to do with my cat. Ideally, I'd love for someone to come to my house and take care of him but no one that I trust is nearby. 

 My 2nd option would be to drop him off at a friend's house. I have 2 who love him so hopefully this would work.

Otherwise, there is a luxury boarding facility in my town. It would be around $300 for 2 weeks. He would be in a condo suite (lol) with a big aquarium and a webcam for me.

 And for your viewing pleasure, here is my little guy:

image

Re: What do you do with your pet(s) when you go OOT for several days/weeks?

  • I wouldn't leave him at home unless you found someone really, really reliable to take care of him and you had at least 1-2 backups if that person fell through. How do you think he'd do in a boarding house? My cat would flip out so I would opt to drop her off at a friends house before boarding.

    I've had a friend stop by to feed her when I was out of town. She didn't check in with me so I called my back up person who took over. If she hadn't been there my poor kitty might have passed since I was out of town for close to 2 weeks. Friend #1 was in a car accident which I found out later.

  • Yeah boarding would be my last resort. Good point about a backup though. I have to think about that.
    image
  • When I go out of town I do one of two things with my dog. I either leave her at my parents house (which she visits twice per week during the day). Or, I board her with a woman who does in-home boarding. She does other dog-related services that I've used her for so she knows my dog and I'm comfortable with her.

    I am more comfortable with the in-home boarding than I am with boarding at a boarding facility. To prepare her for longer boarding stays I'll board her overnight a couple of times leading up to the trip so that she becomes reacquainted with the boarders home, routine and dogs. It's a little pricey, but it makes me feel better. 

    One of the reasons I'm leery of the boarding facilities (even the pricey ones) because every person I know whose boarded their dog at one came home to a dog with bordetella/kennel cough (even though their animals have been vaccinated) or an injury (usually minor). I would try to find someone to stay at your home, or if not that, have your cat stay with your friend. 

    someecards.com - North Carolina: Where you can marry your cousin. Just not your gay cousin.
  • I ran into the same issue! I ended up boarding her even though it was the last thing I wanted to do.  $300 for 2 weeks in a luxury suite is a great price.  I paid $200 for 10 days for a non-luxury place.  
  • I usually hire a petsitter to come by every other day.

    I go through Fetch! pet care - not sure if one's in they're town.

    If it's over a holiday, they can get pricey, and it might be pricey if you're going to be gone a long time, but I've generally found it to be worth it for a week or two. They're licensed and bonded, and will spend 30 minutes or so feeding, playing with, and cleaning up after your pets.

    The guy I used in NY even sent me pics of the cats while I was away (though I think he was one of their more exceptional employees). 

    image
    "You don't get to be all puke-face about your kid shooting your undead baby daddy when all you had to do was KEEP HIM IN THE FLUCKING HOUSE, LORI!" - doctorwho
  • I leave my dog with my parents when they are in town. If they are out of town I board her at a nice facility where she has her own sound proof area, tv, and does doggie day camp all day.

    If I had cats though I might hire someone to come and stop by one time per day to feed them and play with them. They have services that do this so it shouldn't be too hard to find one if that's what you prefer.

  • I had a great set up until December, when me and my girls had my neighbors. We live in a triplex and share a yard and they were amazing- they would let the dogs out during the day, walk them sometimes (I would pay them) and were able to watch them when I went out of town. I have had to "hire" a friend's sister to stay at my house a few months ago, and she almost backed out at the last second. 

    Dogs are clearly different than a cat- seeing as house they need to be let out and walked every day in addition to feeding. I will probably hire someone to stay at my place again in the future. I don't really have anyone who can take both of them (or really, either of them), and I'm not comfortable with boarding, as one of my dogs hates even daycare.

    When I was married, XH's nephew dog sat for us several times and it was perfect- he was in college and wanted a break from being at home. And he was cheap ;) we paid him some cash and lots of food.  

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  • My dad takes care of my cat when I am gone. He also lives 10 minutes fromt he airport, so it is a double win.

    Did you ask your friends already? I would see if you can take her to someone you know.

    image
  • At our old house we had a friend who was a vet tech and she would come by to feed the cats every day while the dog stayed at her house w her.  If you have a vet you trust you can call and see if any of the staff pet sits on the side.  Since we've moved my brother stays at our house w them.  When it was just the cats we had a friend who was supposed to watch them one weekend and never showed.  It was awful.  When we had one cat he stayed at a friends when we were in France but apparently he was horribly behaved which is embarrassing when it's in someone rlse's house.
    image "...Saving just one pet won't change the world...but, surely, the world will change for that one pet..."
  • My roommate has a dog and a cat, and when she goes out of town, I feed them and let the dog out in the morning and evening.  She hires a neighbor to take the dog for a walk mid-day and do the feeding stuff whenever I can't.

    My parents used to board their dog with the breeder that we got her from, which the breeder would only do for dogs that she had sold, and only a couple at a time.  She loved going over there because there were always other dogs to play with, and she wasn't cooped up.  We tried some traditional boarding places, and she always came home with kennel cough.

  • I usually take her to boarding at her usual vet/doggy daycare. I've never come home to kennel cough or an injury. Last time I left she stayed at my friend's house, and him and his dad and brother took really good care of her :)
  • Look up pet sitters in your area. A pet sitter will be responsible for your pet. It is a business and not just a friend who may have something come up. A good pet sitter will come for free to meet your pet and learn their routine. I have dogs. I pay the pet sitter $50.00 a day to stay at my house. I live in the Phila area. I think pets are much happier at home while you are away. 
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