Should I board my cat or hire a sitter?

[Anonymous]

Your cat will be exposed to fewer other disease vectors at home compared to a boarding situation, even if they are good.

We have a reliable cat sitter we've used for years. Have never boarded our cats in 30 yrs.

[Anonymous]

In my experience cats do not like being boarded. They are not social like dogs, nor do they take well to crates or other small spaces. Better to hire a sitter and let your cat be bored in her own home instead of traumatized elsewhere. Also, the pet sitter will water plants, take in mail etc, so you won't have to stop the mail.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would never leave my cat with a stranger of any kind.

Suppose he is a pervert and interferes with her? The thought of anyone messing about with my cat in that way makes me sick to my stomach.

I would cancel my trip.

You are a very, very excellent DCUM mommy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Newish pet owner here. I'm trying to figure out how long I should reasonably leave my cat alone. We have a trip coming up where we'll be leaving on a Sunday night and returning Thursday evening. Cost is not a big concern. I worry about her being bored or lonely at home without the family and only having someone drop by for 30 minutes. But I also worry about her being nervous in a new environment or picking up a cold, which happens every time we leave her at the vet.

Most cats (I would say the vast majority) would prefer to stay in their home environment. Get someone to come over twice a day to feed/interact. Leave the radio on. That's not long at all. She'll be good with that set up.

[Anonymous]

My brats go nuts in cages and cars. They would throw a fit if I boarded them in a cage or a tiny room. Therefore, I fork over the money for a pet sitter to come to my house any time I'll be gone for more than 48 hours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My brats go nuts in cages and cars. They would throw a fit if I boarded them in a cage or a tiny room. Therefore, I fork over the money for a pet sitter to come to my house any time I'll be gone for more than 48 hours.

Our pet sitter costs a lot less than boarding ...

[Anonymous]

Pet sitter in the home, definitely. If your cat is friendly you could have them come over more than once a day, or spend the night. It sounds like it might stress your cat to have them over too often, though!

[Anonymous]

I would also add that when I was a kid our cat died while being boarded--she had a heart attack. Never again have any of us boarded a cat. (I boarded one dog once, but we have used a pet sitter since).

[Anonymous]

I would keep her at home, in her own familiar surroundings. To re locate her to another place would be very very stressful on her and could affect her immune system as well.

[Anonymous]

If you keep your cats at home, tended by a highly reliable sitter with specific instructions, there is relatively little likelihood that the kitties will not be there when you return, and in just about every case cats would prefer to remain where it is safe and familiar.