Leaving Your Cat at Home
If you're going away, your cat will probably tolerate parting with you better than traveling along. The best-case scenario is to have someone who already knows and loves your cat move in for the duration. When this option isn't feasible, you can settle for two visits a day by a friend or sitter — one visit a day is acceptable, but only if necessary. Not only should these visits include feeding, changing the water and dealing with the litter box, but spending some quality time with your cat, playing or cuddling. Ideally this cat sitter is someone your cat knows well and trusts, such as a friend, relative or neighbor. Your next option is to ask friends or your vet for a referral. Check this person's references and call your local Better Business Bureau and animal protection agency to see if any complaints have been filed. Interview the person in your home to gauge the level of care your cat will be provided and, most importantly, to see how the cat and the sitter interact. If anything doesn't feel right, for whatever reason, find somebody else.
If you have no choice but to relocate your cat for your time away, see if any of your friends can keep him in their home. Since this isn't a permanent move, you can avoid some of the stress your cat might undergo in getting accustomed to a large new environment by having your friends confine him in a single room, particularly if they have other animals. If your cat is very confident and sociable, however, he may not need to be isolated.
As a last resort, you may have to find a kennel or a vet where you can board your cat. The same basic rules apply to finding a boarding facility as to finding a sitter: Interview thoroughly, check references and question authorities. Ask friends which places they have used and how they and their cats liked them. There is usually plenty of choice in kennels, so be choosy. Check the premises for hygiene and general upkeep, and make sure the owners demonstrate a sincere concern for the pets under their care. If they don't ask about your cat's temperament, feeding schedule and preferences, special needs or general health, try another place. Be sure your cat will receive personalized care, have space of his own large enough to move around in and away from other animals and be let out frequently into a play area to exercise. You should be asked to supply proof of vaccinations to decrease the possibility of a disease spreading from cat to cat, and there should be an isolation area for any cats that have infectious diseases.
Whichever option you choose, leave emergency contact phone numbers for yourself, your vet and a friend or family member whom you have authorized to make decisions if you can't be reached. Check in frequently with a sitter or a kennel. If you're trying out a new cat sitter in your home, have a friend or neighbor look in on your cat every few days.
