What do your pets do when you're on vacation?

For 1 or 2 cats, we'd leave them locked in the garage with plenty of food and water. And plenty of litter pans.

We usually have 3 cats and a pit bull. The dog goes to a kennel. But we rescued some little kitties--2 of which we didn't know were pregnant. Now we have 11 cats living in the house--waking to romp every morning at 3:00 a.m. Somethings got to give, as we're going to the Eastern Med in a month.

Our daughter is going to stay at our house and cat sit. And we're hiring her friend to daughter sit--to make sure she takes care of the animals.

Well, right now I share a house with my daughter, SIL and 4 grandkids. Also 2 dogs (Olaf and Goldberry), 1 cat (Coco), 2 guinea pigs (Pumpkin and Momo), 1 dragon lizard (Franz), and 16 chickens (nameless) that have dwindled down to none (probably coyotes). So it's easy for us.

I don't know if the UK has anything like this but in the US, there is a service called "Rover" where people come and feed your pet, take dogs for walks, keep them company; basically whatever you need. The service is usually cheaper than boarding them. ETA: Looks like they do!! https://www.rover.com/uk/

But in your case, since you have a potential cat watcher, that might work. I think generally while cats are particular and finicky, they are also adaptable. So Ronnie, especially since he can stay at home, would probably be fine while you are gone. He might ignore you for a few hours when you get home, just to show you how "hurt" he was, but once he gets hungry, he'll be fine. :-)

We have two golden retrievers. When the adult kids go on trips with us, a friend/neighbor who also has 2 Goldens also from the same breeder comes to the house multiple times a day to look after them. If it is just the two of us, we take our dogs to her house and they get to have a vacation there along with her dog. For a quick getaway, our son will come over and watch after them.

When we lived in OR we had the best kennel. This summer we went to OR, but to a rental house that did not allow dogs so the dogs road tripped with us and we dropped them at that kennel. The owner is a vet and they know us very well, so our dogs always have a spot there if we want. The trip this summer was our two dogs and our daughters, so 3 large dogs on a 4 hour road trip each way, just to stay someone that we knew they would be ok.

When our friends watch after them, we get many videos and photos. I don't think the dogs even miss us;)

I am pretty particular with my dogs--I don't want anyone messing up my SAR dog's training--it took two years and a TON of patience and time and effort to get our certification, and my dog isn't easy (she's easy as a pet, but not easy re: highly specific training). Thankfully our neighbour is amazing--doing things to specification, communicating, etc. She also takes classes with our team sometimes, so that helps. We have some good friends that can also back up in a pinch.

We have a great house sitter, who I book almost a year in advance for our three dogs. When we have an idea of when we are going, I first check with her. Her answer usually is, " I don't even have a 2025 ( or whatever year) scheduling book yet. I'm free all year." Then we watch flight prices. House sitting is her full-time job, and she's a godsend, as we have one potentially difficult dog. ( He loves her, but hates most strangers.) She also gives us peace of mind regarding water leaks- inside and out. And snakes (outdoors) don't freak her out. We are already booked for May, 2025. She is priceless!

Now we have 11 cats living in the house

Now that is a proper herd! No wonder you need a team to look after them!

2 dogs (Olaf and Goldberry), 1 cat (Coco), 2 guinea pigs (Pumpkin and Momo), 1 dragon lizard (Franz), and 16 chickens (nameless) that have dwindled down to none (probably coyotes).

That is quite a healthy menagerie too! I like guinea pigs. I had a few when I was younger. We used to keep rabbits for showing and a guinea pig makes a good companion for a lonely rabbit sometimes. Sorry to hear about your chickens. We don't have coyotes here, but the foxes are numerous. It's interesting how British foxes differ from North American. They're of very little danger to the cats, but I'm sure they would have a chicken if they got the chance. One of my neighbours down the street has chickens and I hear the rooster crow at dawn when I'm often still knocking around. I'm glad I don't live next door to it but it's funny to hear in urban London.

there is a service called "Rover" where people come and feed your pet, take dogs for walks, keep them company; basically whatever you need. The service is usually cheaper than boarding them.

I would have real reservations about boarding a cat. They're so territorial and I don't think I could relax thinking about Ronnie somewhere strange around other cats. A paid house sitter would be ideal. I wonder if they'd do a little hoovering while I'm away too :)

If it is just the two of us, we take our dogs to her house and they get to have a vacation there along with her dog. [...] I don't think the dogs even miss us;)

I'm sure the dogs love the chance to hang out with other dogs. Bit of treat for them if anything.

We make a point of choosing a vet with boarding facilities. I have heard too many horror stories about dogs slipping out the front door; a house-sitter or relative accidentally leaving a gate open... My dogs mean too much to me to risk that. I feel they are safe and cared for at the vet. And every day the staff texts me photos of my girls chasing each other in the double-fenced big yard. This vet has a separate cat clinic with boarding facilities as well.

We spend almost as much money boarding the dogs as we spend on our hotels. It's worth it for the peace of mind.

My cat Sylvie is 17. Whenever I’m away from home, she gets twice-daily visits from our cat sitter, who is also the most senior vet tech at the local cat hospital. I know she’s in great hands and will get her meals and meds on time.

When I went to Scotland this past spring, she had some extra human company in the form of my brother, who stayed at my place the entire time. I had some concerns about how she would adjust, but apparently they got along swimmingly, and she even shared the bed with him!

We found a wonderful woman on Rover who housesits for us, caring for our dogs, watering the garden, etc. She's a godsend, and I book her out a year in advance.

I have two cats (Perry and Gus - their names and personalities fit their cartoon doppelgängers). I also have a roommate, but some physical limitations means that pet care is slightly beyond her. For my recent trip to Scotland, I hired a local pet sitting service a coworker recommended. The gentlemen got to stay home and have someone new to play with and beg for treats and clean their box. I got to travel without worrying about their care and feeding. It worked very well and I got an email update every day from the sitter. When I got home I was swiftly forgiven for leaving :)

My Mom is my dog sitter. Which sounds simple enough, except that she lives in another state. When I take my 3-4 week trips, the dog and I fly to Mom and Dad's place.

I pack 1 suitcase for Europe and 1 for Colorado and the dog.

I get 2 visits with my parents and my trip to Europe. My Mom, who doesn't want her own dog, gets to love on mine. The dog gets spoiled by someone else for a while.

Everyone is happy.

You might want to try a dry run for a day or two if you can. A friend asked me to look in on her cat while she was away and the cat (likes me but...) got increasingly frantic and psycho. She told me it took over two days for the cat to get over it when she got home. I was thinking it was being alone but don't know.

my SAR dog's training - HowlinMad

I had to Google what a SAR dog is; Search And Rescue. Wow! That is really something to have trained and own a working dog like that. What breed, age, etc? That must put you both in some situations working like that. That's great you have someone who knows the drill to look after them.

I've never been around a working dog like that, but a friend up in Scotland years ago had a couple of Border Collies for his sheep. Those guys operate on a different level to other dogs when you see them around the house. The amount they think about stuff, the emotions they feel and the way they are concerned about everything. Quite hard work to have as pets.

we have one potentially difficult dog -Pat

It's tough when you have a dog with personality. My mum's dog that passed away a year or so ago, a West Highland Terrier, was fairly neurotic, if I'm being a little unkind. She had someone great her late dogs could board with that understood their quirks. They're good friends still. Margaret makes a good living boarding dogs at her home and offering walking services.

I have heard too many horror stories about dogs slipping out the front door; a house-sitter or relative accidentally leaving a gate open...

It is a worry. My mum was quite concerned about one of her cats in particular (Rocket, Ragdoll tom, 12 months) getting out while she is away in Bulgaria. He's had a little taste of outdoors accidentally and he's desperate to get out.

My cat Sylvie is 17. Whenever I’m away from home, she gets twice-daily visits from our cat sitter, who is also the most senior vet tech at the local cat hospital. I know she’s in great hands and will get her meals and meds on time.

My last cat. Simba, lived until about 17 or 18 (not sure of her birthday). I have a bit of a horror story about leaving her in my flat with another set of neighbours to look after her while I was in Barcelona (when she was a bit younger).

When I came back, as soon as I stepped in the front door all I could smell was old cat food. Maybe Simba had been a little off her food because I was away, but her dish was piled high with food. They must have just been dumping food on old wet food all week. Simba was starving. You think people would have enough sense, but maybe it's not common sense if you've never owned a cat. I know now to be much clearer with my briefing if I'm leaving Ronnie in the care of anyone.

Also, I'd cut my hair with clippers in the bedroom in a rush and left a little pile of hair on the floor. When I came back it had been cleaned up. Would you go into your neighbour's bedroom to clean up a pile of their hair? Weird... Ugh lol

We have a 9 year old coonhound mix who we adopted from the humane society when he was approximately 7 months old. He was found as a stray. He immediately bonded with my husband which was good - he didn't run away - and bad - he has separation anxiety. Chews up door frames, bays and howls incessantly, eats dry wall. We are fortunate to have a number of friends with their own dogs (some of whom also have issues - both the dogs and the humans) who will take Patrick. He's fine when left with other dogs. He just doesn't like being left alone.

Here it's Maizey the corn snake. She's nice, quiet, and well behaved. I'll feed her first thing on the morning I leave and first thing after I walk in the door when I get home. Her tank gets a good cleaning, new aspen bedding, and a timer switch set-up to operate the day/night light. A friend will stop in probably 2 times while I'm gone to make sure she has water.

A friend will stop in probably 2 times while I'm gone to make sure she has water.

A snake is probably the best choice of pet for a frequent traveller. Quite low maintenance while you're away and I imagine it's business as usual for them.

I am reading everyone's posts. All interesting

When we had cats, a neighbor or family member would visit daily and feed them: Cheerio, Russia, Maisie, Harriet, and Archie. Our previous dog, Ruby, a flat-coated retriever, would go stay with her breeder (and Ruby's mother and sometimes some of her half-siblings) --- she was an easy, well-behaved dog.

Our present dog, Hazel, is an Italian breed called Lagotto Romagnolo. When we are in Italy, we stalk and pounce on Lagotto owners out walking their dogs and discuss what they are like: smarter than we are, opinionated, very affectionate, energetic, happy, puppy-like even in old age, and (as bred to be water retrievers and truffle hunters) pretty obsessed with fetching. Hazel, at 10.5, is always mistaken for a young puppy, is appallingly intelligent, and in the last several years has become both territorial and over-protective of us. She's not an easy dog, actually, but she makes up for it by being so entertaining. We have to talk in code so that she doesn't know when we are mentioning our children, grandchildren, a ball (we say "spherical object," but she's catching on to that one), a squeaky toy, treats, etc., etc.

When we travel (for a month at a time), Hazel at first went to stay with her breeder, but now loves to go stay with a family we found on Rover.com. They embrace what they call her "big personality," they have kids to throw endless balls for her and a big fenced-in backyard (which we don't have), and she has trained them all to do her bidding (e.g. their rules against dogs sleeping on the kids' beds or being on the furniture were quickly abandoned).

Rover.com was also great for us when we needed a dog-walker for Hazel for several months after my husband's surgery. Hazel loved her, too.

We made the difficult decision to not own pets after our last dog died more than 10 years ago. However we love animals and are now happy to pet sit our granddogs when we are home and our families travel. We had a tragedy this week though. We granddog sat for a week for our son’s 2 pups. They were just picked up today. When they returned home this afternoon the family discovered that all of their outdoor tank pond fish had died during the week. They were well cared for. I’m thinking that we are going to need to do future 1+ week pupsitting at their house rather than ours to keep an eye on things like outdoor fish and several hives of bees in case they run into trouble. We are used to caring for furry animals I’m not sure how much help we’d be with birds, bees and fish.

A snake is probably the best choice of pet for a frequent traveller. Quite low maintenance while you're away and I imagine it's business as usual for them.

They're perfect. She gets fed every 10-14 days and content to hide away in one of her hides or burrowed under the aspen bedding on the heating pad. Though she has a fascinating personality and almost behaves like a puppy when I'm by the tank. Best part is there's never pet-stink.

We have always had cats, and they are pretty self-sufficient. They are indoor-outdoor usually, but seem to be content to be 100% indoor when we are not around. We have an automated feeder for dry food that works great, and is connected to wifi with an app so feedings are programmed for amount and timing, and we can see if there is an issue. We leave a few water dishes in different locations. For a long weekend, that's all that is needed. For longer trips, we have someone stop by every few days to scoop litter boxes and check food and water. If they can take some time and sit with a book or something, the cats appreciate a lap opportunity. Seems to all work out!

These stories are great. I am having fun reading them.

In the 12 and 9 years since we got our two Shelties, well, our life has changed/is changing. We are gearing up for a big move and the frequency and time in which we want to travel is greatly increasing. We love the dogs, but we will not get anymore pets. As it is, I may be using trustedhousitters to stay with them while we take an extended trip we are planning. We have already spent plenty on dog sitters and kennels. Having pets and traveling extensively just doesn’t make sense.

We use Trusted House Sitters and have for almost 9 years now. Both potential sitters and no,è owners pay an annual membership fee and then seek matchups. There is no charge by the house/pet sitter. They do this for fun, for travel, for lifestyle. Getting some one to sit in London will be easy enough, believe me. When we lived in Rome, we never wanted for sitters and even in our more common location outside of Portland, OR, we always get someone lovely to stay whether for a week or two months. You do need to build a compelling listing and I certainly interview (telephonic or via video chat) the candidates. We have never been disappointed and have made some. Lovely friends as a result.

Molly and Sven, our two 3-year-old cats, enjoy snuggles and play and their usual posh lifestyle wheel we are gone. I am pleased to say they seem happy to see us on our return, but they lack for nothing while we are gone and the sitters send updates and photos to keep us in touch, LMK if you want a referral link because it will give you a discount on you first year of membership.

After my previous dog died, I decided to foster dogs instead of adopting so that I would have more flexibility for travel. Well, I wound up adopting my third foster, Jazz.

I hire a dog sitter for shorter trips. For longer trips, I am fortunate to have friends who have been willing to let my dog stay with them. She is okay with the dog sitter, and she loves staying with my friends.

Jazz was pretty freaked out when she lived at the shelter before I adopted her. She would just sit in her kennel and tremble all day. I worry that any boarding facility, even a good one, would bring back too many unpleasant memories for her.

One of my neighbours down the street has chickens and I hear the rooster crow at dawn when I'm often still knocking around. I'm glad I don't live next door to it but it's funny to hear in urban London.

That is strange, Gerry. I doubt very much that there is anyplace in the US that would allow a rooster in the city limits, because of zoning restrictions. They are loud, and they are early birds. We had two roosters but we live outside of the city on 10 acres in a rural area so they're allowed there.

After my previous dog died, I decided to foster dogs instead of adopting so that I would have more flexibility for travel. Well, I wound up adopting my third foster, Jazz.

Hah, Marie, you sound just like my sister, except she has adopted all her fosters! She now has three dogs who were originally fosters bought after her dog died.

Mary, I agree—these stories are fun to read!

Gerry, what a great thread! I could prattle on for pages when the topic is pets, especially mine :) But, very interesting to read what works for other forum members and their beloved pets.

The short version for us: We will not be traveling again, unless we can take our much-loved dog along with us.

Background: When we adopted him (before the pandemic) , we were prepared to forego future overseas travel. When he was about a year old, we did take a short trip over the holidays. We visited (with him) a few highly-recommended kennels, settled on one, then took him out to visit (sniff around) a few times prior to the trip. He did fine. That kennel gives very personalized treatment to each dog (owner selects from various packages) and we were sent photos of him enjoying his daily play times, etc.

Then several years rolled by, and he got very accustomed to daily routines at home. Realizing life is very short, coupled with not knowing what could be around the corner for the world, we decided to celebrate multiple milestones in our lives (the list is long) with a multi-week, multi-continent trip last fall. We were on the plane en route to the tour's first destination, and the kennel came up on my phone (cringe). Then he was taken to the vet the kennel uses and the medical director called us a few hours later to update us: stress colitis .... Rx, probiotics, special food, etc....we changed his play times to extra snuggles and hugs......he got thru it. I had already felt guilty about leaving him (and, yes, he likely sensed it, as dogs can smell stress... wondering if we were giving him away). I swore right then and there we would never do that again.....never!

Fast forward, but totally unrelated, many months later he had an issue and was diagnoses with suspected PFK (Google PFK in dogs, and you can read as much or as little as you would like). I say suspected, because only DNA genetic testing can confirm.. A DNA sample was sent off with a very low likelihood of a match (only because such DNA tests are typically able to be confirmed for only the specific breeds any lab has studied). He was on IVs overnight and tests were done for all other possible suspect issues (by a specialty urgent care facility here...so good that vets often refer patients to them), follow-up blood monitoring, and PFK was the only remaining likely suspect. Staying calm, not overheating, no heavy exercise and on and on is the ONLY treatment outside of a bone marrow transplant. So, his boarding days are definitely over.....chasing the frisbee and ball (which he oh so loved) is over. I had previously (over the last several years) thought about starting an EBD (our term for an emergency back-up dog.....a second in command) puppy that I would put thru full therapy dog training........but (isn't there always a "but"?) being around other unpredictable dogs (or small kids) is not recommended for a PFK dog.....a puppy could stress him....so we will hold off on that. Our current dog went thru the canine good citizenship program, but could not seem to master the "leave it" command, but otherwise is pretty perfect.

We are hopeful that we will figure out a way to take him with us (road trip) for possibly a winter beach vacation in coming years, staying at a place that would allow a very well-trained dog of his size, especially IF we wind up moving to a more lock-it-and-leave-it situation. But, likely we would try a weekend trip closer to home first for the maiden voyage.

Question for anyone who has endured reading my answer so far and who has used a pet sitter: I have read panic posts on Nextdoor from time to time, that someone's pet sitter quit suddenly either right before or during a trip.........traveler in panic mode appealing to anyone in the public to help them...whatt????? That could be a really bad situation. What back-ups do you have for someone trusted and who could then be well-trained re: your pet's needs?

Maggie--That is why I am afraid of using a pet sitter. I just don't trust anyone with our babies. This is ironic as our daughter works from home so is a Rover sitter. She is the #1 Rover person in her town. So there are good ones, but we have not ventured into that just yet. I know our daughter will not watch a dog without doing a meet and greet first, and then having that dog come to her house to make sure the dog gets along with her dog and feels comfortable. So when our daughter is not available, our friends that look after ours I know are 100% trustworthy. It is rare to find that though, I know.

When we lived in Washington State (United States), our next door neighbors would be upset if we didn’t leave our Welsh Springer with them during a trip. They didn’t have a dog at the time and loved Abby! They didn’t want paid, but I would always give them a nice gift of items their granddaughter would like for play when she stayed with them after school each day.

Now in Idaho, we have used the Rover.com option - the choice where she goes to their home. We had an excellent one. Our English Springer would run to their front door when we let her out of the car. They were an extended family, so someone was always home with her. Unfortunately, they moved to an apartment, so that’s not an option now. I currently use another family on Rover, and she’s content to be there. Our dog is a well-behaved, very mellow 3-year old as others also comment, so she does well around new people.

Personally, I don’t want anyone inside my home house-sitting while I am on vacation. But that is an option on Rover, too.

I had to Google what a SAR dog is; Search And Rescue. Wow! That is
really something to have trained and own a working dog like that. What
breed, age, etc? That must put you both in some situations working
like that. That's great you have someone who knows the drill to look
after them.

She's actually a shelter mutt from Romania, but if you look up a Carolina Dog, then imagine that in dark colours, that's my girl. We estimate she was between 18 months and 3 years old when we got her, which would make her about 6 now. She is training some in air scenting as a supplement, but our team's primary focus is Underwater Cadaver; we take our dogs out on boats and if the boat travels near or over a scent object, the dog alerts (my girl lays down). It's a fairly uncommon type of SAR in Germany, and in all of Schleswig-Holstein and Hamburg there is only our team with its seven certified dogs for this particular skill--and one dog just medically retired, so really we are six with three more in training. As our team is still quite new, we have only had one call-out, and it was while I was unavailable. The team did find the location of the missing boater, but the weather prevented body recovery. His body was thankfully recovered later. Given our area of expertise, we are perfectly happy if we never get a call. We are with the DLRG, and of course our organisation's goal is to PREVENT drowning.

We train in waters all over Schleswig-Holstein, Hamburg, and Niedersachsen, with trips for seminars to Bocholt / Xanten (that's where we passed our certification) and Halle. Other teams in this type of SAR from around Germany will be coming up here for a meet up / exchange / mutual training in a few weeks. So we get to meet people, see rural areas, and work with volunteer teams from across the region. We also are trying to get more cooperation going with various fire departments so they know how we can support them.

I've never been around a working dog like that, but a friend up in
Scotland years ago had a couple of Border Collies for his sheep. Those
guys operate on a different level to other dogs when you see them
around the house. The amount they think about stuff, the emotions they
feel and the way they are concerned about everything. Quite hard work
to have as pets.

Our other dog is a border collie, but he is too much of a fraidy cat to be a good working dog. He isn't exactly an easy keeper outside of his normal routine and has a tendency to get nervous and make poor choices. BCs are wonderful, but they are not an everyman's dog--as you say, they are sensitive and intelligent, which makes them a bit tricky at times. But really cool, too. Our SAR dog is the level-headed one. She's always thinking, very savvy and a subtle manipulator, and easy to train if she thinks it's worth it--and totally difficult if she decides something isn't worth the effort! So yeah, we are very lucky to have a dog sitter who can respond to a neurotic and a manipulative dog without messing up the training.

Gerry, I can totally relate to your concerns about Ronnie! I retired from work last year and had not had a pet since I was in school. So I decided to adopt two young kitties from a local rescue, a brother and sister I named Queso (orange tabby) and Sushi (tortoiseshell). They're quite accustomed to me being home all the time and catered to at every turn, and yes I know cats are supposed to be "easy" pets. My new job, post retirement, is Cat Butler.

Because they are still young (1 year old in July) they are prone to getting into mischief, so I didn't feel comfortable leaving them alone for a long time. Also Mr. Q has a bit of anxiety that is expressed in unfortunate ways, so regular check ins are necessary.

I take outdoor camping trips in the summer, so I decided to test out several cat sitters for three different 3-5 day trips. The first sitter was my sister, who is off work in the summer and was willing to stay overnight with them. They know her pretty well and by day 3 were snuggled up just like they are with me. Unfortunately she's not a long term solution due to family/work commitments, but I was glad to have someone known to me for my first trip away. The second trip I used a professional sitter I found via word of mouth. Her fee was pretty steep but she did a fine job, arriving in the early evening, staying overnight, and leaving late morning after they were fed. She texted me photos every day and the kitties (and the house) seemed ok when I returned. My third trip is coming up and I am using another word of mouth reference. She will stay at my house the whole time as she does not drive. I think the cats will like a live in sitter, but we'll find out.

I did a few things to make me more comfortable with leaving my critters with a stranger. First, I met with them in person before I hired them. Both sitters insisted on this but I would have insisted if they hadn't. Second, I put together a binder that outlines all the things a sitter would need to know - feeding schedule, toys they like to play with, litter box cleaning schedule (you may not need that, my kitties are indoor only). I also included in case of emergency information (name of vet, location of cat carriers, where the water shutoff is located, emergency contact info). Both the professional cat sitters asked for this information separately but appreciated I had it all written down too.

I hope eventually to be able to have someone check in on them once a day and not need the overnight time. That will be awhile though I think. Anyway, best of luck finding someone you trust for Ronnie!

We have an automated feeder for dry food that works great, and is connected to wifi with an app so feedings are programmed for amount and timing, and we can see if there is an issue.

That looks like a fancy one! I have one that came with Ronnie from his last owner. I haven't tried it yet. It's just a simple clockwork thing though.

I doubt very much that there is anyplace in the US that would allow a rooster in the city limits, because of zoning restrictions.

Every council in the UK has a department called Environmental Health. That's who you would complain to about noise, rubbish or errant chickens. Foghorn Leghorn down the street has been around since at least spring of this year, so he has escaped their attention so far it seems.

We were on the plane en route to the tour's first destination, and the kennel came up on my phone (cringe).

My mother's dogs both had chronic medical problems, but Margaret who would look after them always kept up on their meds and they always came home healthy. It is a worry though.

She is training some in air scenting as a supplement, but our team's primary focus is Underwater Cadaver; we take our dogs out on boats and if the boat travels near or over a scent object, the dog alerts (my girl lays down). It's a fairly uncommon type of SAR in Germany,

How interesting! That's a really specific skill I've never heard of. Thank you for all the detail in your post. It's good if you can get her out working, but at the same time sad if something terrible has happened. It's a great service for you and your dog to give though.

Both sitters insisted on this but I would have insisted if they hadn't. Second, I put together a binder that outlines all the things a sitter would need to know - feeding schedule, toys they like to play with, litter box cleaning schedule (you may not need that, my kitties are indoor only). I also included in case of emergency information (name of vet, location of cat carriers, where the water shutoff is located, emergency contact info). Both the professional cat sitters asked for this information separately but appreciated I had it all written down too.

That is very organised. I would probably never have thought to be so thorough. Litter box is a bit of an issue. If I have Siraj upstairs come and visit, say, twice a day, Ronnie's still going to have to use the litter box some of the time. I'm not sure how Siraj would have to play it if Ronnie streaks out into the backyard as soon as he opens the door. I assume Ronnie would come straight back if some food is laid on for him, but it's a bit of a pain if Siraj has to try to get him in again, or risk leaving my kitchen window open all day.

Another issue I have is the neighbours' cats that come around. I've been feeding a white cat for a long time. It's banned from my flat now I have Ronnie. I feed it just once a day now in the yard. It will come into the flat still if it thinks I'm not looking. I call it "white cat", or "Fatty" when I'm shaming it for thinking about food 24/7. There's another tabby I call "Ronnie's Uncle". I don't usually feed it but I made the mistake of feeding it last week and its been back every day since. There's also a black cat I call "Batman" because it has a white nose and chin which makes it look like it's wearing a mask. Those guys can fend for themselves if I go away.

I've thoroughly enjoyed reading everyone's responses.

Laurel mentioned Trusted House Sitters which sounds promising. We have used Homelink.org for home exchanges for 30 years. They have been in business for 71 years. You can search and filter to see who is offering housesitting, pet sitting as well as an actual exchanges. You don't have to pay their reasonable annual fee unless you join and then you are able to contact potential house/pet sitters. However, I do think the majority of people listed with homelink are looking for exchanges.

We have a 3 year old yellow Lab from a lab rescue and he goes to a kennel we have used for many years. He gets lots of playtime with other dogs. I think he’s happier there than if someone came several times a day to walk and feed. He’d really be lonely I think. He’s rarely alone more than 3 hours at a time. Living with 2 retired people who love to play with him and take him on the road when we camp or boat, he’s lucked into a pretty sweet deal. We do visit kids and grandkids in Alaska, usually twice a year so he does spend some kennel time then. I’m a solo traveler when it comes to European trips so then he’s with my husband who spends time at his deer camp which Bailey really loves. One of my nieces said in her next life she wants to come back as Aunt Lynda’s dog.

While my mum and sister are in Bulgaria at the moment, their cats are being looked after.

My mum's cats (Rocket and Cosmo, Ragdoll toms, brothers, about 14 months) are staying at home. My Auntie Sadie, mum's sister, lives across the street. She's visiting in the day. Sadie's never really been an animal person. She seems to have taken to Rocket and Cosmo though. Ragdolls are so mellow and unthreatening she isn't as scared of them as she might have been with other cats in the past. Cousin Johnny is back living with mum. He's visiting the cats in the evening. He's happy to pet and play with cats, whereas Sadie might be a bit less keen.

Mum also has a cat she feeds in the yard. It's quite an elderly looking black tom, at least semi-stray. There's arrangements for it to be fed once a day while mum's away.

Another thing is mum's foxes. There's three or four foxes come to be fed every night. Probably a family group. She has to feed them from a steel skillet in the driveway because they were stealing every other dish she put out. I bet there's tens of thousands of people regularly feeding foxes in the UK. They're so ubiquitous. Largely harmless. Should you feed wild animals? Probably not.

Mys sister's cats (Loki and Odin, Ragdoll toms from different litters, about 2 years) are staying with a couple my sister is close to. They know them well from visiting and may have already visited. The have a two year old who is a bit too keen to get to know the cats sometimes, but the cats know how to stay out of his way if they feel like it. I could make a Glasgow in-joke about the attitude the cats may have when they come back from Drumchapel, but they are lovely folk :)

Maggie’s asked

Question for anyone who has endured reading my answer so far and who has used a pet sitter: I have read panic posts on Nextdoor from time to time, that someone's pet sitter quit suddenly either right before or during a trip.........traveler in panic mode appealing to anyone in the public to help them...whatt????? That could be a really bad situation. What back-ups do you have for someone trusted and who could then be well-trained re: your pet's needs?

Trusted HouseSitters has strict rules about sitters quitting once they accept a sit AND they have an optional insurance program for situations when the sitter has a legitimate emergency (illness, family) and is called away. In the case of a sitter quitting/not showing up, they are banned and THS helps you find someone else. In the case of the insurance kicking in, it is to pay for someone to take on the duties.

We have never had a problem with anyone abandoning but I have a multi-tier emergency plan just-in-case.

• Our son, who is local, can possibly step in for a few days, although he’d take the cats to his place
• I have a drop-in pet sitter who can make two house calls a day for about $20 per visit and assure clean litter boxes, feeding, and a modicum of attention
• Repost to THS for an emergency fill in. THS will help with this.
• Call on a friend who has late teen/early 20s daughters who will stay the night and insure evening and morning feedings, and other care as well as those overnight cuddles for $50 per night

We leave town with all of these back ups notified and I feel I can overcome any eventuality and the cats will be fine.

We once had a veterinary emergency while we were in an 8 week trip and the sitter, coordinating with me and me with the vet, managed relatively easily, given a 9 hour time difference. All was well.

I also leave a detailed household manual, developed over many years, so the sitter can refer back to details covering everything from pet feeding to when does the trash get picked up and where can they take a nice walk. Of course we are a mere text or phone call away when needed.

Foxes are so common that the other day one was seen and photographed in the middle of the day strolling around York railway station, on the Harrogate line platforms.
When I was on a construction site on Canary Wharf there was one I saw almost every day as I arrived on site at just before 6am, for almost a year.

So cool the range of options and hearing about people's pets (and foxes! I love foxes!)

In addition to taking our pets to trusted friends we have, in the past, used kennels, people staying at our house (also friends), and found people using services like Rover. When we had a cat we sometimes left food out for the weekend and gave a neighbour a key.

I am not a fan of kennels for the dogs--we've done it in the past, and while they were excellent, I didn't like the feeling in my gut.

The cat, however--we found an AMAZING cat kennel, and I cannot say enough good things about it. Our cat has passed on, but so has our recommendation of this place. They took photos of our cat at intake to ensure the right cat got the right daily meds (and they never gave extra pills--always the exact right amount, even when we brought extra), gave us feedback on his eating habits, the place was clean and well monitored, and it was professional and organised. We were blown away.

But my preference is still to be very picky. I think everyone on here can relate; these are our babies! Great thread!

How interesting! That's a really specific skill I've never heard of.
Thank you for all the detail in your post. It's good if you can get
her out working, but at the same time sad if something terrible has
happened. It's a great service for you and your dog to give though.

Interestingly enough, it originated in the US Navy--they discovered dogs could alert on divers, even in those closed scuba suits. The work was extended from there. In fact, the US is at the forefront of SAR work in almost all areas.

It's also amazing what dogs can do. We dropped a scent object--a handkerchief sized scrap of a hospital gown someone was wearing at the end inside a baggie and in our container--down to the bottom of a 46m deep lake (over 150 feet), and the dogs could smell it. Pretty impressive.

HowlinMad--I too am not overall a fan of kennels. The one we had on OR was/is amazing though! She is a vet herself and only has space for 10 dogs at a time. It is run only by she and her husband, with her adult kids helping out during busy times. We had one dog that was very difficult, yet she loved going there. This is why we drove 4 hours with 3 huge dogs to get there since we knew the dogs would be cared for as their own. I tried a kennel near us after we moved away, but it was just not the same and while the owner was very nice, it was not ideal for us.

I bet there's tens of thousands of people regularly feeding foxes in the UK. They're so ubiquitous. Largely harmless. Should you feed wild animals? Probably not.

A lot of people around here feed the foxes. We have inadvertently fed them by allowing our chickens to free range, so I guess they figured we were providing them a free meal. Mostly it was coyotes that got ours, but one rooster was killed by an owl and several others were grabbed by foxes.

I would be afraid that a cat that goes outdoors would wander away while I was gone. I would get him used to a litter box and keep him inside. Our daughter keeps our 2 cats when we're on trips, but we have made her life(and ours) much easier by biting the bullet(price-wise) and getting a Litter Robot. My husband says its creator deserves a Nobel Prize.

Welcome, Ronnie! My feline overlord Furgus is well cared for when I travel. My friend Y., who is also my colleague and backup at work when I am away, stays in my apartment to feed, water, and otherwise see to his needs. It is a good deal for everyone: he maintains the level of service to which he is accustomed, Y. has a much shorter commute to work than usual (her home is 90 minutes away by train, while my place is a 15 minute walk from the office), and I can enjoy my vacation knowing that someone I trust is taking care of my roommate.

(I actually think Furgus might love Y. more than he cares for me, because she occasionally texts me photos of him snuggled up next to her, which I sit and stew over in my hotel room.)

I have a 14 year-old Yorkshire terrier and I have a trusted dog sitter that I take her to that she absolutely loves. He used to breed dogs and is great with her and also making sure she gets her numerous medications on schedule

But you have to book ahead as he’s very busy. I was invited to New York for Thanksgiving with a cousin who recently had a major health issue and the dog sitter was already booked, so I’m going and my other half is staying home with the dog. we looked at lots of other options, but none of them made us comfortable

When she was younger, I would have boarded her at several places but now that she’s older I’m very particular

NYC Librarian, I'm glad you understand that it is Furgus' world and you're just living in it.

It's also amazing what dogs can do.

Yes, that level of scenting you describe is quite amazing. I'd have never thought it possible.

A lot of people around here feed the foxes.

I don't have any around the backyard at the moment but I did a few years ago. All our bins are out the front so I think the foxes tend to spend most of their time there. I'm not 100% that the foxes around here would have the wherewithal or the gumption to kill live chickens. I'm not sure of the security arrangements my neighbours have to safeguard theirs. If you overfill your bin and can't get the lid closed, expect your rubbish to be strewn all over the street in the morning however.

To paint a little London vignette for you; I was out near my home around 11:30pm a while back. There was a fox carrying a plastic bag from the chicken shop by the handles down the street. It looked for all the world like it had been shopping for some takeout wings. Kinda funny, but a bit sad and grimy. Some foxes are in OK condition, others not so much. It's a tough life out on the streets.

To continue on a fox tangent, here's a video of my last cat, Simba having a small confrontation with a fox in my kitchen. Foxes aren't usually a threat to cats and they keep themselves to themselves. This may have been a young one as they often aren't as cautious as they should be.

https://youtu.be/jsWMjSgbtc0?si=kbBFseMNvdRAqdaw

I would be afraid that a cat that goes outdoors would wander away while I was gone.

To tell you the truth, that's not something I would have even considered before you mentioned it. It's not what cats do in my experience. Of course it's possible, but something I'd class as unlikely thankfully. Ronnie has a small territory in my backyard and the neighbouring yards I think. He's neutered so wouldn't go off looking for lady cats like a full tom might. He only goes out the back door and there's no easy access to anywhere with cars. My neighbourhood is low traffic anyway.

This thread has made me think a catflap would be useful if I were away. It would mean he could go out as he pleased. It would need some entry control to stop the gang of cats in the neighbourhood from coming in though.

Cheers everyone! Good reading!

My pets go on vacation to Springfield, Ohio. They are just guinea pigs, so they will enjoy their time there.

My pets go on vacation to Springfield, Ohio.

Hahahahahaha!!!! I hope they have fun!

Jo, assuming you are still in Germany........do you fly them there as "pet cargo"? Maybe under the seat in front of you just when you travel to the States? Inquiring minds wonder.............

(Subsequent post made to admit I "was a little slow" in catching the intended humor of the post. Hilarious!)

Steering away from Ohio and back to topic, Gerry there are cat doors that have a "lock" on them that allow only a cat with a special tag on their collar (or their microchip) to open the flap. This one I believe is you can get in Europe. I have their microchip feeder for each of my cats and it works great.

[...] that allow only a cat with a special tag on their collar (or their microchip) to open the flap.

If there was one that would reliably work with his microchip that would be great. I'd hate to see him locked out because of systems failure though.

Thanks for the link. I shall have a browse on UK Amazon this evening to see if there is anything a bit more budget friendly. It's something you'd need to scour reviews for to get a sense of whether it's reliable or not on the budget end. He doesn't wear a collar at the moment.

Actually, you cannot bring any of the rodent family into the US, no bunnies, no piggies, no ratties, no hamsters or gerbils, etc. Even if you are moving there from here.

Jo, I am a little (or VERY) slow this morning...................the intended humor of your post re: Springfield JUST hit me. Hilarious!!

I'm a cat-less child lady... ;-)

I simply could not resist. Apologies to the webmaster.

Ms. Jo and SharYn for the win! LOL!

For anyone in the Middle Tennessee Region, this is the facility I mentioned in an earlier post on this thread:

https://thefarmatnatcheztrace.com/

Not inexpensive, but oh-so-professional and caring. When our dog stayed there, we arranged individual play (vs. group play), and when we picked him up, he was freshly bathed. Dogs are also leash walked multiple times a day ON GRASS, not the concrete runs that are extensions of a cage, that other local kennels had. So, our dog was able to continue "doing his business" on turf, just as he had been trained to do. The Disney channel runs softly in each kennel section (grouped so dogs have privacy but can also go to the front of their overnight suite to see the other dogs in their section (comfort seeing what's going on and the feel of a pack).

Due to (new) medical reasons, it is highly unlikely our current dog will be boarded again. But, when the time comes to add a new puppy to our household, we would not hesitate at all to use The Farm at Natchez again, even though it is a 45-minute drive from our home.

While we do not currently have a cat, the cat condos there were incredible -- three levels for each cat and window views.

If a traveler has TRUSTED back-ups on back-ups for in-home care, there is likely nothing better than allowing a dog or cat to stay in the comfort of its home. But, we have experienced texting an out-of-town neighbor when we saw their dog running loose (it ran from us, so we could not catch it) when apparently a gate was left open by the person tending the dog or (unknowingly to the sitter who was not there at that time) a lawn service. We have also experienced continuous loud outside barking when apparently the a dog sitter was not on-site and also when a sitter was scheduled to leave before dog owners returned late that night. Another time, we have no idea (not our business) if a dog sitter (thru one of the name-brand booking services) had permission to have a "friend" also stay overnight for several nights.

If traveling during ice/snow season, or even if you live where severe storms/tornadoes are not uncommon, there is always the chance of prolonged (sometimes multiple days) power outages. Have a contingency plan for that, too, if you do not have a reliable back-up generator. Where would Fido go if inside temps became extreme?

Lots to consider, as we pet parents know. They ARE family members afterall, and they rely on us.

I’m petless and horseless now but Logan loved going to summer camp and playing with his pony buddies. He wasn’t too crazy about Petunia the Pig.

I have a great trainer/friend who would have a stall ready for Logan in hours in an emergency. Having your special needs horse live in your backyard takes a lot more logistics when you’re sick/injured or plan to travel.

We have just used Rover for the first time for our elderly dog and all seemed to go very well with a sitter who stayed in our home for the duration (less than a week, bc I wouldn't leave him for any longer). I got pictures and messages every day. I did make sure that I had an emergency back up person with a key but it wasn't needed. It went so well that I would probably consider it again for a very short trip.

Previously, we have only had him cared for by parents or adult children, but this trip included all of the usual dog sitters. When my kids watch him, I either fly one of them to my house to stay here, or drive him to them - hours - it's all crazy, but we never got him used to being boarded and he's too old now. In the past, we have also booked family trips to dog friendly rentals so that we could take him, but this trip that couldn't work.

I’m so lucky to have parents close by that welcome my mini poodle.
They love her so much they got one of their own, and they enjoy each other’s company. She has the time of her life with the grandparents. No worries for me.

My friends that do boarding or in home care, yikes, it adds a lot to the travel budget.

Not that you can plan these things, but my poodle is 11 now, and I plan to retire in about 6 years….
So I anticipate there will be a big stretch of time when I’m able to travel longer, and so I’ll have to do without the company of a dog, which will be so hard……so perhaps I can foster.

Our cat is happy to stay home and look after my husband who doesn’t like to travel.
He gets a break for a few hours while so-called retired husband is sometimes working.
I receive photographic updates every couple of days .
Everyone is happy.
My friend whom I travel with has a dog and her “friend” who said they would dog sit way back in April for our trip next week has bailed ….with ten days notice., despite having reassured my friend many times since then that it would be fine.
My friend will not be coming with me unless she can find another sitter at such short notice and she won’t use kennels, it has to be someone’s home.
Her dog is very precious to her.
She’s anxious and I’m furious at the other “ friend”.

Good to continue reading about everyone's experiences.

A small update from my mother and sister since they're back from Bulgaria.

Mum's cats were looked after by Sadie in the day and Theresa in the evening. Cousin Johnny was off doing Cousin Johnny stuff I assume. Theresa was a good pet friendly substitute, but her Bichon Frise doesn't play well with cats and had to stay at home or in the car.

My sister's cats survived their sojourn in Drumchapel. One of their hosts did a small amount of moaning about their litter box and dragging cat litter around the house, but they did choose to leave it in the living room, rather than somewhere where you can sweep up and nobody much sees it. I don't think they knew it was fine in the bathroom or wherever. It's the perils of leaving cats with friends rather than with pros.

I have a small side hustle on eBay. Many sellers promise that their items come from a "smoke free, pet free home" I remember reading a description written by one seller promising us all that his boxes were packed "by the cats, while they smoke cigars"

So, after that labor intensive set up, let me say that when I am out of town, the cats are in charge of the eBay business. Oh, and a sitter comes in twice a week.

Mrs. Jo, a scientist we know once smuggled a very special lab mouse to Europe in his jacket..

We used trusted house sitters 3 times in the past 2 years, 9 days, 25 days and 13 days. Now that Barley is gone we are going to change membership from pet parent to sitter. We still keep in touch with all three sitters. If you have questions on our experience or how it works just ask.