Elderly cat breathing difficulties when purring

[MadMitch]

Has anyone ever used the home/pet sitter people?

 

I need to go and visit my parents & OH's parents but I hate to put my cats in the cattery and hopefully in another week I will also have the chickens which I also won't want to leave either.

 

Just wondered if anyone had used this service before?

 

Am I getting soft in my old age because I dont like to leave my animals?

[Snowy]

I haven't used a formal service, but I do make use of trustworthy older teens to house sit for me to care for the dog (neighbour looks after the chickens still as she likes the eggs and the last girl that house sat for us was terrified of birds)

[Tessa the Duchess]

I haven't used one personally, but friend of mine uses a cat/house/plant sitter when she goes away. She finds it a very good service although rather expensive. Maybe try and get someone who is recommended?

 

Tessa

[Olly]

I haven't used an actual house-sitter, I made some enquiries last year and it was quite expensive. I have often used 'pet-sitting' services however, where someone comes into your house to feed the cats (and chickens, of course!)

 

Ask at your vets, they will probably have details of some people who offer this service; there is a sort of trade association called (I think) the National Association of Pet Sitters or something like that. I've always found this arrangement to work really well, as usually they will water plants and draw curtains/turn lights on and off if you ask them to.

 

Last year was the first time I'd had chickens to worry about, but I emailed and rang a few services, and found a lovely lady who was willing to look after the chickens as well once I'd explained about them. I didn't ask her to clean them out or anything, just top up the food and water, and she was absolutely thrilled when I said she could take any eggs. I think I paid about £8 a day, not cheap but a lot cheaper than a cattery and much nicer for the cat to stay at home.

[theherd123]

I have looked into this too and it is quite and expensive service.

 

Have you tried calling in at your local vets? Mine always have up little adds for pet sitters

 

Might work out cheaper and if they are local they may just need to pop in and out rather than actually stay?

[redhotchick]

A friend of mine was a pet sitter. She is responsible and great with animals, I'd trust her completely. I think it very much depends on the individual though, and you don't know who you would be getting.

 

Your cat probably would be happier at home. Is there someone who could pop in and out for you?

[MadMitch]

Thanks for the help. I never thought of trying the local vets.

We have only been in the area 4 months so although we have made a lot of friends, I still don't feel I know them well enough to ask or trust them to look after the animals.

We used to have a wonderful lady called Sheila who used to pop in twice a day when we lived near Bicester and she was about £8 a day. When I looked at the sites for sitters I did get a bit of a shock when I saw they were about £40 a day. Its almost the price of another holiday if you are away for a week.

We would ask DD (now 19) but she finds the whole concept of being 15 miles from a shop and no mobile phone signal impossible to bear even when she comes to vist for a weekend, so thats out of the question.

I will pop (20miles) to my vet and I might try the local Cats protection league as well as that is where we found Sheila.

Thanks again for your help.

[Olly]

the lady I used was very well prepared, and she'd thought of several things that wouldn't have occurred to me to ask! I think you have to take a view as to whether you trust someone or not, but she produced (without me asking) references from other people and a criminal records check.

 

She also had a detailed form, which asked for emergency contact numbers, where I was going and whether I'd be contactable, which vet I use, and - a difficult question, but one that has to be covered - what would I want her to do, if a pet died while I was on holiday.

 

I do hope you find someone, contacting the Cat's Protection League is a good idea.

[Guest]

We've got someone booked for our summer holiday to come twice a day and feed the cats. She said she wouldn't charge any extra for the chickens as she will be able to have all the eggs!

[The Dogmother]

I used to have a friend of mine over to house-sit - he loved time with the animals and the house was honestly cleaner when I came back than when I left! Sadly, he moved out of the area though.

 

Now, if Rosie and I are away, Phil pops down to look after the house and animals, or if we're all away, then a neighbour looks after them for me.