Anyone Else Not Take Vacations Because Of Your Cats?

PushPurrCatPaws · Jun 14, 2019

The last vacation my husband and I had together was about 6 months before we adopted Milly. There's a place on the Olympic Peninsula we've always loved going to ever since we met: Iron Springs. They revamped their cabins half a dozen years ago or so, and it's really a great place to enjoy a weekend or even a whole week. The cabins are nice and have little kitchens and Mr. PushPurr can cook ( I don't really cook, that's why I don't feel like I can hang out in the 'What's for Dinner' threads!), and I can relax and stare at the ocean.

What bothers me about Iron Springs and about a lot of the more outdoorsy places is that they permit dogs but do not permit cats. It doesn't matter if your cat is trained to be on a harness or stay in a crate when needed -- they just don't want to risk a cat getting outside and disappearing. I understand that, sure -- but we'd be so careful with Milly! I wish we could sneak her in.
:paperbag:

I really could use some Olympic Peninsula about now...

TJW80 · Jun 14, 2019

My wife and I both have jobs where we travel weekly, so when we have time to be at home we just want to spoil the cats and relax. Even though we’re working while we’re away, it’s still like getting a couple days of vacation because the responsibility of the cats is left to someone else. Until you’ve lived it, no one knows how demanding six cats can be. Not that I’m complaining because I wouldn’t trade them for the world.

daftcat75 · Jun 14, 2019

Tobermorey said:
That’s another barrier to going away, the fact that my cats are all scared of anyone but us. Even my stellar sitter in Colorado had issues with Max, Iris, and Lily although they gradually came around and at least let her see and feed them.

But Iris and Lily are much older now and even more people averse, Lily has litter box issues, and Mocha was semi feral when I adopted her and was terrified of everyone at the place where I adopted her, even the most patient and loving of cat volunteers. I couldn’t even pet her for weeks after I brought her home. So they’d probably hide from even the best sitter in the world which would pose a real issue for anyone trying to feed and medicate them. I’d love to head over to Yachats on the coast for a few days, but I don’t see it happening.

I’ve even thought about renting a motor home and taking them, but that’s not really practical and they’d hate it. I’d worry about them bolting out of the door or something going wrong with the a/c while we were out hiking.

I should restate that. Krista doesn’t really hate anyone. She’s more dog than cat that way. She wants to answer the front door a lot more often than I do. But she didn’t sleep that weekend. At least not during the night. And she had a barf or two. The sitter was just weird and I didn’t appreciate leaving the kitchen light on. It’s a big overhead fluorescent number that’s so bright and obnoxious that I don’t even use it. And the sitter left that on at night and the cat got no sleep. And I got no sleep because I kept worrying about her and checking in on her.

I posted all of that also for the benefit of anyone else on this thread who is hesitant with sitters.

But of course, I do know how demanding a special needs kitty can be. As much as I love and trust my sitter, I doubt I’d ever ask to do a stay-over visit. And that’s why I need to figure out a timed feeder for the overnights before I can leave even for a single night again.

neely · Jun 14, 2019

It's comforting to know how many members feel the same way my husband and I do about leaving our animal family members. :greenpaw:

We usually travel once a year and that's to visit family. We have had the same pet sitter for almost 20 years. She's definitely a gem and took excellent care of our dog and cat(s). However, she is getting up in years and has been hospitalized twice recently. If she is unable to sit this year then we probably won't take a vacation. I will be visiting one of our grown kids soon but my hubby will be home with Carleton. DH said Carleton is so attached to me that he will be depressed when I'm gone but since my husband worships the ground Carleton walks on I won't have to worry.

What it comes down to is that no one knows our cats like we do.

We are with them day in and day out, know their idiosyncrasies, their eating/litter box/sleeping habits, etc. We miss them just as much as they miss us when we are gone. Unless our pet sitter's health improves I doubt we will be going on vacation in the near future.

jcat · Jun 14, 2019

We limit ourselves to one week away together per year and have a professional pet sitter come twice a day. My mother-in-law used to cat sit for us, but is now 93 and it's been too much for her for several years.

I work at a cageless animal shelter that's also licensed as a boarding facility. A surprising number of people bring their chronically ill pets to us at vacation time because they don't have family or friends that can/will medicate their pets, especially cats.

Maria Bayote · Jun 14, 2019

My husband and I work overseas, so the only vacation we MUST have is going back to our country once a year to be with our families. During these times every year my cousin, who fortunately works also here in the same country, takes over, and which I am so grateful to.

Before we had cats here in the ME we used to love spending our weekends and official work holidays in a resort, but now I do not have the heart to leave them for a day or two, as I would be worried like crazy.

I also cannot even stay out late during weekdays. I have to be home daily before 6pm for them. It is like having small kids all over again.

muffy · Jun 15, 2019

I didn't take any vacations for 18 years because I had up to 8 cats and had no one to take care of them for me. I had a friend in Vegas I wanted to visit but now she has died and I have arthritis so bad I can't travel anywhere.

les26 · Jun 15, 2019

muffy said:
I didn't take any vacations for 18 years because I had up to 8 cats and had no one to take care of them for me. I had a friend in Vegas I wanted to visit but now she has died and I have arthritis so bad I can't travel anywhere.

That is so sad, I am so sorry to read this....

CatLover49 · Jun 15, 2019

I dont take vacations..cause honestly I dont want or like to be away from my baby Snowball..I hate when I have to go to Dr....or store...or anywhere thats absolutely necessary...ya may think im crazy..NO...thats just me...

KittyCatCove · Jun 15, 2019

Can't go an vacations anymore. My 3 fur babies are too attached to me. Day trips only. I traveled extensively when I was younger, so no big deal. Plus I save a lot of money by avoiding vacations and tourist traps.

WoodstockGirl · Jun 15, 2019

My daughter moved to Portland, Oregon right after Christmas. I'm leaving Wednesday to visit her and I'll be back July 2. Then I leave again on the 8th for five days. I have a mandatory training in the state capitol and there's no chance of getting out of it.

My mom lives with us and will take care of my fur babies.

The last time I went away was for 5 days. It was like they didn't even know me. I can be gone for one night, no problem. But I'll miss them terribly.

GaryT · Jun 16, 2019

I rarely go on long trips that require me being gone for more than a day. I have friends who don't understand but, I don't trust anybody that I know to take good care of my boy. He needs combing every day and have his face washed to clean around his eyes. Most don't respect a cat enough to do these things. Just throw food at them and water if I remember.... NOPE! I am happy just the way things are. I have traveled enough in all of my years.

Rhall · Jun 17, 2019

My kittens are 7 and 9 months and with a busy household of 5 (4 of us adults) they are never alone. However it is looking like we can all go camping in July for a week which is leaving me in a dilemma. Do we take them too or leave them with someone coming in. My last cat - a raggie camped with us (we have a 30 ft trailer) and did very well, but these 2 are different. I think I would need to harness them for periods outside and get them a portable enclosure. Ugh..really don't know what to do!

Talien · Jun 17, 2019

Rhall said:
My kittens are 7 and 9 months and with a busy household of 5 (4 of us adults) they are never alone. However it is looking like we can all go camping in July for a week which is leaving me in a dilemma. Do we take them too or leave them with someone coming in. My last cat - a raggie camped with us (we have a 30 ft trailer) and did very well, but these 2 are different. I think I would need to harness them for periods outside and get them a portable enclosure. Ugh..really don't know what to do!

I wouldn't risk it with Kittens, maybe once they've grown up and you know what their personalities are like but Kittens are too unpredictable. If one or both manages to run out the door when someone is coming in or going out it may be a nightmare trying to catch them and get them back inside. Maybe if you have a large dog crate you could keep them in, but other than that I wouldn't risk it.

Minnie Mao · Jun 17, 2019

les26 said:
Since we have 9 cats and very few people that we would feel comfortable asking to come in and take care of them when we are gone Deb & I have pretty much become home bodies and haven't gone away overnight for years on vacation and I am wondering if anyone else is in the same boat? Her father passed late last year and he used to come up years ago and take care of them when we were away, her mother doesn't drive anymore, my father doesn't drive anymore and my mother at 79 is probably the only one willing and able to do it for us anymore but we hate to ask her to do it although she has offered. We just feel strange asking someone else to do it, don't know why, just do, plus if any of them would get out on them that would put us all in a terrible situation. But I think we need to get away for even just a few days in a few months so we may ask good ole' Mom to do it lol!!

Anyone else in this boat?

yes,I am. When I realized that my "baby" suffered from abandonment syndrom (She cried desperately going frantically from a room to another whenever she thought she was alone, not to mention that sometimes I surprised her crying in her sleep, perhaps dreaming the time she lived with her first owner who never hesitated to leave her locked for several days whenever he felt like it), I decided never to leave her alone again exept for short period during the day, never at night (she sleeps with me). Therefore if nobody of my family can stay with her, I absolutely prefer to spend my holidays with her. No big sacrifice: she's my family too.

KittyCatCove · Jun 17, 2019

Minnie Mao said:
yes,I am. When I realized that my "baby" suffered from abandonment syndrom (She cried desperately going frantically from a room to another whenever she thought she was alone, not to mention that sometimes I surprised her crying in her sleep, perhaps dreaming the time she lived with her first owner who never hesitated to leave her locked for several days whenever he felt like it), I decided never to leave her alone again exept for short period during the day, never at night (she sleeps with me). Therefore if nobody of my family can stay with her, I absolutely prefer to spend my holidays with her. No big sacrifice: she's my family too.

What the hell is wrong with people who treat animals like this? I'd like to lock that person is a closet for several days and see how they like it. Ignorant people like this really irk me.

Mia6 · Jun 18, 2019

Minnie Mao said:
yes,I am. When I realized that my "baby" suffered from abandonment syndrom (She cried desperately going frantically from a room to another whenever she thought she was alone, not to mention that sometimes I surprised her crying in her sleep, perhaps dreaming the time she lived with her first owner who never hesitated to leave her locked for several days whenever he felt like it), I decided never to leave her alone again exept for short period during the day, never at night (she sleeps with me). Therefore if nobody of my family can stay with her, I absolutely prefer to spend my holidays with her. No big sacrifice: she's my family too.

Oh my. Give me 5 minutes alone in a room with that guy. I'm crying now as I'm thinking of your baby crying in her sleep. She's so lucky to have you.

Mia6 · Jun 18, 2019

I would not leave my girls now, not even overnight as the Vincie girl is deaf and almost blind and would fret if I was gone. Big Cal is terrified of storms. She's had a rough week.

When I was married back in the 90s, we had an awesome pet sitter who came in twice a day to care for Lena and Nikki. She would call the hotel while she is at our condo with updates.

I am editing this. I would trust Hannah, my helper, to baby-sit for a few days as she adores them and they adore her. But only if I was not more than a few hours away by car. When Patrick and I were in in San Francisco for his job, being 3,000 miles from Lena and Nikki made me very, very anxious even though Toni loved them and took good care of them.

homoki2002 · Jun 18, 2019

les26 said:
Since we have 9 cats and very few people that we would feel comfortable asking to come in and take care of them when we are gone Deb & I have pretty much become home bodies and haven't gone away overnight for years on vacation and I am wondering if anyone else is in the same boat? Her father passed late last year and he used to come up years ago and take care of them when we were away, her mother doesn't drive anymore, my father doesn't drive anymore and my mother at 79 is probably the only one willing and able to do it for us anymore but we hate to ask her to do it although she has offered. We just feel strange asking someone else to do it, don't know why, just do, plus if any of them would get out on them that would put us all in a terrible situation. But I think we need to get away for even just a few days in a few months so we may ask good ole' Mom to do it lol!!

Anyone else in this boat?

We only have one cat. But she is an older kitty. The last time we took a short trip (4 days) we boarded her at her vet, which is a wonderful place. She's with the vet that takes care of her and they treat the animals wonderfully. BUT she was so freaked out when we got home that now (unless it's an emergency) I won't board her. I couldn't stand to see those little eyes that didn't understand why we were leaving her; she was a rescue kitty. Anyway, now she also needs subq fluids twice a week. Unless we could find someone to come in and stay with her (and I still don't know what we'd do about the fluids) we'll be staying home. Fortunately my hubby is the same way with her so we both feel alike. I'm retiring next year and would really like to take some trips, but not unless Greta can be cared for at home. We don't really have family or friends that I would be comfortable with staying with her. Our little Greta's needs come first. We love our little baby girl.
Just sign us "the staycation" family.

angels mommy · Jun 18, 2019

les26 said:
Maybe all of us on here could "cover" for each other since we all feel the same way lol!

I know! That would be great!
We'd have to see where we all live, & divide us up by towns.

. I'd do it!

Anyone Else Not Take Vacations Because Of Your Cats?

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