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| Home > Cat Chat > Leaving Home |
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| Leaving Home |
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You're finally headed for that dream vacation, a two-week cruise through the
Bahamas with no cares but to tone up for the bathing suit and pack your favorite
summer clothes when Tabby jumps into your suitcase! Looking up at you
with that knowing look, you realize you've forgotten to make arrangements for
her. How could you forget your favorite feline? And how will she eat while you're
gone, and who will scratch that good spot on her neck and wave Da Bird for her
to chase every evening?
Then you remember a friend told you about a "pet sitter"
who fed her cats while she was away, and spent some time for play
and affection. That's exactly what you need! Give her a call and
get the name of that person she spoke so highly of.
Some people are content with leaving a bowl of food and water
when they go away or putting their cat in a boarding kennel, but
a full service profession has grown for those of us who feel our
companions will miss us more than that and would prefer to be
in their own home. Pet sitters range in services and rates, but
any of them will stop at your home at least once a day. They will
follow your instructions for care and feeding, often providing
medical care and even providing household needs, such as collecting
the mail or turning lights off and on while you are away.
Whether you are going away for the weekend or a week, or you go on frequent
short trips, if you keep a companion animal it's a good idea to find a pet sitter
you can call when you know you are going to be away from home
for more than a day. Especially for cats, who tend to be territorial
and who don't necessarily welcome the company of other animals,
leaving them in your home and hiring a person to tend to them
helps ease their anxiety about your disappearance.
First, decide what your needs are. Will you be going away regularly,
or traveling for short vacations, and need someone you can call
on a regular basis? Does your cat have any medical conditions
that need more skilled care? Is one visit a day sufficient, or
should there be two? Will you be gone long enough that litterboxes
will need to be cleaned and the litter removed for trash pickup?
Second, look around. You are hiring a professional who will
enter your home while you are away, so it's important to choose
a service in which you will feel confident and secure. People
often take the recommendation of a friend who has used a pet sitter,
others check animal-oriented directories or online services and
find pet sitters who might actually be bonded and insured by a
company with a directory of sitters (links are below) Many sitters
work with both cats and dogs, and others work with any animal you
might keep as a companion pet. Sitters may also act as mobile veterinary
technicians, administering medicine and care while you are away.
No matter how you choose your sitter, you should always have
them visit your home before you leave so you can meet them and
see how you feel about them, and more importantly how your cat
feels about them. If your cat is naturally shy of strangers, as
many cats are, try to confine the cat for the visit. Explain any
special needs your cat or your household may have and see how
the prospective sitter reacts. Even have them feed your cat and
have a play session. It may take something special to get Tabby
to warm up to a stranger, like catnip, treats or special toys,
but it will be worth it for your cat's well-being while you are gone.
When you do leave, make sure you contract the sitter far enough
in advance to make sure they can visit when you need them. It's
not a bad idea to have another sitter on your list if the first
can't make it; if you contract a pet sitting company, you may
be able to list an alternate if your preferred sitter can't make it.
Also, leave clear instructions and make sure there is sufficient
food, litter and other supplies for the entire time you are gone.
Leave a pen and paper so that the sitter can make notes if necessary.
It's very important to leave the name of your regular veterinarian
and the nearest emergency hospital in case a medical situation
should arise, and let your veterinarian know that a pet sitter may call.
Once you've established a relationship with someone, you'll
be able to call them without all the pre-vacation checks because
they'll already know the routine.
To soften the impact of your disappearance, consider purchasing a few new
toys or some catnip. A fresh catnip cigar,
catnip mini minnow or
Da Bird wand toy will help keep your cats entertained and stimulated.
The Cat Sitter DVD or Video is an
effective way to extend their amusement for a full hour (Video) or more (DVD).
Have your pet sitter treat your cats with all natural Kitty Kaviar or
Kitty Kissers. While you're away, make sure you enjoy yourself!
You've already made arrangements for your cat's happiness.
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