Conference misery::feline_v1

    Diane,
    
    Where do you live?  A lot of people in this file have advertised
    pet sitting services at very reasonable prices.  Perhaps you can
    find someone to come in and take care of your kitties.  Rest assured
    they'll get plenty of love and hugs in addition to food.
    
    Good luck,
    
    /Roberta
    

    Maybe you should call the local vet.  He/she might know of some
    reliable pet sitters in your area who could come in and check things
    out one or twice a day.
    
    If not that, maybe you could cover the arms of your furniture with
    bath towels and then spray the towels with indoor cat repellent.
    Make sure the kittens have a good scratching post, a couple of litter
    boxes and a BIG bowl of dry food and water.  You may want to fill
    the bathroom or kitchen sink with water, they can't knock that over!
    
    After really thinking about all of this, now I know why I don't
    go anywhere!
    
    Jeanne, Cali and Sam
    

    We do it all the time.  Three days is about the limit, however.
    Otherwise, we get a vet tech from our vet to live in or visit daily.
    I worry every time, and they are perfectly OK every time.  You just
    have to use some common sense about things, because they get a bit
    more inquisitive (for lack of a better term) when left alone that
    long.  We leave an over abundance of food and water IN SEVERAL DISHES.
    That way, if one gets spilled, the others are still available. Of
    course, extra litter pans are the order of the day.
    
    Gary

    If you are in Nashua, or surrounding area, you can give me a call.
    I have done cat sitting for a couple of other noters, so can give
    references if necessary.  
    
    Bernice Ward, Mother_of_Trouble
    FREKE::WARD
    DTN 381-1874

    Gosh, I must be strange.  I get a cat sitter if I'm going to be
    gone even 1 night.  And they board at the vets if I'm going to be
    gone 2 or more nights.
    
    

    Me too.  One night, a neighbour comes in and feeds them (evening
    and morning).  More than one night, they go to the cattery, where
    I know they're safe.  My cats are indoor/outdoor, if that makes
    a difference.
    
    How on earth do you train cats to save food for three days???  My
    lot eat like pigs, and would finish everything in one.  (Yes, and
    then they'd probably be sick.  And then they'd catch their own (mice,
    birds, etc.), and leave portions of it everywhere ....  I won't
    go on).

    Food and water are never a concern for us.  In the WORST case, they
    probably couldn't starve or become dehydrated in 2 days. I worry
    more about getting trapped somehow, so we are very careful about
    hanging things (we have NO hanging toys for that reason), doors
    that can close on them, etc.
    
    They are indoor only, so we have a pretty good handle on quantities.
    Thgey are all snackers, so we got off easy this time.
    
    Gary

    Our cats free feed and we've found a very easy way to do it.  Some
    pet stores sell a feeder that holds several pounds of food.  Since
    Tenzing has a nasty temper if her food dish gets empty this solves
    a lot of hassle for us.  It is about a foot tall, and looks like
    a silo with a dish on the bottom.  The food lasts at least a week
    in there, so leaving them for several days is no problem.  As far
    as eating too much -- Tenzing always eats too much, but we've learned
    to live with it.  Better that she's fat then neurotic.

    We leave ours for up to 3 days without anyone coming in.  Any longer
    and a neighbor checks on them every day for hugs and fresh water
    and food.  I believe they're happier in their familiar surroundings
    than being boarded, and would only use that as a last resort.
    
    Karen, Tristan and Tenzing.

    I have done three days also - I'm not crazy about doing it - two
    days makes me feel more comfortable, but I will have to do three
    days for the next two weekend because of the location next two 
    cat shows: Canada and Montvale NJ.  I've left 13 or 14 and they
    were just fine - I was more worried than they were!
    
    E.T.

    You must have taken the words right out of my mouth.  Last nite
    on the way home from work, I stopped at Chelmsford Pet Care Center
    to pick up some food, when I saw those containers for food and water
    that hold large quantities.  It looks like that will take care of
    the quantity problem, however, I just don't know how I'll stop the
    kittens from eating the cat's food and vice versa.  The kittens
    are always into some kind of trouble and I worry about what I'll
    come home to find.  Also, I've never left Sunshine alone with Sheba
    and Samson and if I separate, I know from experience what my doors
    will look like from them trying to get in.
    
    I was considering bringing them to a boarding kennel (just the kittens)
    but I'm pretty sure they need to have had their shots before they'll
    accept.  At least that's the way it was when I lived in California.
    
    Well, I'm still debating and I'll keep you posted.
    
    d.s.
    

    Re .10 (brining the kittens to a boarding kennel)
    
    Before I started boarding at the vets, I looked into boarding at
    my local kennel.  Portia and Oscar were about 8 months old then,
    but since they were so scrawny, the vet wanted them fed 3-4 times
    a day, and had them on vitamin supplements.  Both cats had had their
    shots and Oscar had been neutered, but Portia had not been spayed
    yet since she had been sick for a while.   I called 3 kennels and
    none of them would board my cats since 1-Porty wasn't spayed yet,
    and 2-they didn't want to feed more than twice a day, or give the
    vitamins.  In addition, my cats had never eaten dry food, which
    is the only thing the kennels fed.
    
    So, if I were you, I would really look into making sure the kennel
    will 1-accept the kittens, and 2-be willing to meet any specific
    needs you may have.
    
    	-Nancy
    
    

         We're trying to decide whether to take our kitty with us on
    vacation (2 weeks) or leave her at home.  It will be a 1000 mile
    drive each way, she would be left alone in a strange place (my
    mom's) at times during our stay and might have to travel further
    to my sister's (TN) for part of the vacation.  She's never been
    out of our house, except for trips to the vet (which obviously haven't
    encouraged her to want to go anywhere).  What I'm wondering is if
    this would be more traumatic for her than leaving her at home? 
    Of course if we leave her, it will be only if we find someone to
    check on her every day and spend a little time with her.  She's
    been left for long weekends, but never for this long of a time.
    How long do they usually ignore you before forgiving you for
    "deserting" them??
    
    Bob

Bob,

I could give you a list 5 miles long on why it is not a good idea to take
your cat with you.  It would be traumatic, she could end up disoriented and
if she escaped from your destination, she would be lost for good, having no
way to get back to you.  If you cannot find a sitter, place the animal in
a good kennel, but don't take it with you on a trip....honest, it is not
fun for the inexperienced traveler pet to go on a trip....cats, especially
seem to find travel in a car unpleasant and, as they live by their sense
of smell, the change in smells as you travel is very disorienting and
frightening.  Cats are, in general, territorial by nature and don't have
any fun traveling.

If you know your pet is safe, then you can enjoy your trip without worry.
You will be forgiven for the "desertion"...especially if you act properly
guilty and heap lots of attention on the cat when you return.

Enjoy your trip.

         Thanks for the confirmation....I figured it wasn't such a good
    idea, especially if she did get loose.  Sounds like cats enjoy car
    travel almost as much as I do......maybe SHE could drive and leave
    me home??? 8*)
    
    
    Bob

    This is as good a place as any for something I don't remember seeing
    elsewhere in the conference (and I am not searching 2K note to find,
    either!).
    
    I have read recently that trauma is a leading cause of shortened
    life in felines.  They are much more susceptible than most animals.
    One of the prime sources of trauma is...you got it - travel.  I
    am led to understand that an older cat could very well succumb in
    a very stressful situation.
    
    Besides...think how much fun they'll have when they realize that
    the house is ALL THEIRS!!!
    
    Gary

    
    
    I, too, bascially agree with leaving the kids at home.  However,
    I would like to tell you about my very different kitty, Harry.
    
    You see I don't think Harry honestly realized he was a c-a-t.  He
    liked to do things that most cats wouldn't dream of.  He bascially
    had a very laid-back attitude, he'd try anything once, twice if
    he liked it.
    
    He would go with me for rides in my truck.  Yes, he voluntarily
    got into the truck.  I took him away with me on long weekends, put
    him on a dog run.  Though it was a riot watching learn that he could
    only go but so far, and it didn't take him long either. He was very
    polite in other people's homes. Never one to get on the furniture
    without being invited.  And upon returning home, no matter how far
    we went, he would always know when we were within 2 miles of home.
    He'd sit up, look out the passenger window, look at me and meow
    as if to say "I know where we are."
    
    Harry was a great companion and certainly not like most cats and
    I think liked to travel because he grew up traveling. I admit, I
    took him everywhere with me. Cat box on the floor, cat toy tied
    to the heating unit and specific understanding NO GETTING NEAR THE
    PEDALS. He never did. 
    
    When you go away consider getting a petsitter to come and stay with
    your kitties so they are at least in familiar surroundings.  And
    most of all, DON'T WORRY, they won't.  They may just give you a
    *surprise* when you get home, though.
    
    Have a goodun'      
    
    Roslyn, Esco and Brandy

    Hi,
    
    I know I put this somewhere else, but can't find it right now. 
    If you live in or around the Nashua,NH area, I do catsitting.  I
    have catsat for at least one other noter, so can get a reference
    if necessary.  If you are interested, let me know.  
    
    Bernice Ward (Mother_of_Trouble)
    FREKE::WARD

    Try Kajan In-home cat care. Call 508-898-2922.
    
    
    KBS