Help, I'm going offshore for 3 weeks, my poor poor kitties!
Posted by SnowQueen690 on Nov 28, 2007 · Member since Jun 2005 · 1569 posts
I am leaving tomorrow and going offshore onto a big boat for 3 weeks. I live alone, don't really have any friends here, but I have two kitties that can't go with me. I found some one to come to my place twice a week to take care of them. What would you guys do? I guess I am doing the only thing I can do. Boarding is out of the question, at $30 a night, the total cost would be around $600 :o. So I have this lady who charges $20 a visit, if she visits twice a week for three weeks, that isn't so bad. But my poor kitties, I am going to miss them so very very much.
The only comforting thing I can think of is that it's harder on you than them. I hate leaving my cat, but I don't think it bothers him as much as it bothers me. My neighbor looks after my cat and I have her give him tuna (yeah, not vegan). It's his favorite thing and so he looks forward to her visits. Is there an extra special treat your kitties like that you have have the caretaker give them?
That is what I usually do. I hire a pet sitter for my babies. $20 per visit is not too bad, and it is about what I pay. I usually make a long list for her to do, she take care of the house too. She will water the plants and change lights and open different blinds. So make it appear some one still at home. Last winter while we are away and temperature drop freezing and she is able to turn off water and turn on the heater. I think per visit is 30 minutes. Other than take care of my babies and chores I asks her to do, she plays with them too. Don't worry, at least you have two kitties. They can keep company with each other. Oh! When I was away, I asked her to keep me update every day through phone. I don't know if you can be reach, or through email. I know that if I can talk to her and know my babies are fine. I feel better. I also call home everyday to leave message for them. I think they can hear me. I know it is kind of silly.
awww! i'm sure you'll miss your babies! but, like the others have said, i'm sure they'll be fine with someone stopping over. one of my kitties is cool with moving to different locales, but the other totally freaks out, so i don't even consider boarding. when i go out of town, i also have a friend who stops by every couple of days, feeds them, gives them water, plays if they'll come out of hiding, and at least turns on the telly for about half an hour so the kitties know a human is there with them for a bit.
if anything, i bet when you get back you'll get a bit of concerned meow chat and maybe some attitude - that's what i get, anyway. one talks, talks, and talks, probably telling me all about what happened while i was gone, and the other goes straight to my suitcase and scratches the heck out of it - every time!! then, of course, they'll sleep on it for a couple days (yes, i am a dork and leave it out for them).
if i had an answering machine, i'd probably leave messages on it, too... :)
You guys have some great ideas. Maybe giving them a treat is a good idea for when kitty sitter comes to visit. I have to leave out lots of food because my kitten eats a lot. I am buying cheap litter so she doesn't have to scoope out the litter, all she has to do is dump out the litter in the box and put a new bag in then take out the trash to the dumpster. And she said that she was going to play with them too, so that should help. I am going to miss them so very very much, but I think that leaving them at home is the better idea than taking them to a boarding place, they are comfortable there, it is their home. I am really bummed out because I don't want to leave them for so long, what if they forget who I am????
I am really bummed out because I don't want to leave them for so long, what if they forget who I am????
Your smell will be all over the house. I leave out dirty shirts for my cat to sleep on when I'm gone and I mess up the bed so he has cuddle places in the blankets.
I am really bummed out because I don't want to leave them for so long, what if they forget who I am????
Your smell will be all over the house. I leave out dirty shirts for my cat to sleep on when I'm gone and I mess up the bed so he has cuddle places in the blankets.
ooh yes! cuddle places! i bunch up blankies on the sofa, chairs, beds, etc. for my kitties, too! actually, good call on the dirty shirts because now i don't feel so bad for the last-minute frantic clothes tossing that inevitably takes place before i leave for any trip! ;D
SnowQueen, there's no way they'll forget you - you're their momma! :-*
I am really bummed out because I don't want to leave them for so long, what if they forget who I am????
I leave out dirty shirts for my cat to sleep on when I'm gone.
Whenever I leave dirty shirts out (even just when I'm at work for the day) I come home and my cat has dragged it into the living room or it's twisted all up (I don't know how she does that ;D). I think it's somehow comforting to them. Once when she thought I was gone I caught her running around, dragging my shirt and meowing real loud. When she saw me, she dropped it and looked at me like "what? I wasn't doing anything weird."
I am really bummed out because I don't want to leave them for so long, what if they forget who I am????
I leave out dirty shirts for my cat to sleep on when I'm gone.
Whenever I leave dirty shirts out (even just when I'm at work for the day) I come home and my cat has dragged it into the living room or it's twisted all up (I don't know how she does that ;D). I think it's somehow comforting to them. Once when she thought I was gone I caught her running around, dragging my shirt and meowing real loud. When she saw me, she dropped it and looked at me like "what? I wasn't doing anything weird."
that is hilarious ;D i love kitty-cat quirks!
I am really bummed out because I don't want to leave them for so long, what if they forget who I am????
I leave out dirty shirts for my cat to sleep on when I'm gone.
Whenever I leave dirty shirts out (even just when I'm at work for the day) I come home and my cat has dragged it into the living room or it's twisted all up (I don't know how she does that ;D). I think it's somehow comforting to them. Once when she thought I was gone I caught her running around, dragging my shirt and meowing real loud. When she saw me, she dropped it and looked at me like "what? I wasn't doing anything weird."
that is hilarious ;D i love kitty-cat quirks!
My cat (Wilma) has a bunch of quirks. Makes me want to start a "funny pet quirks" thread! ;D
My cat (Wilma) has a bunch of quirks. Makes me want to start a "funny pet quirks" thread! ;D
wait - i don't see it! you should go for it! you just know that there are many, many funny pet quirk stories out there!