Cats & Travelling

As much as you might like to have your cat join you on vacation, cats are creatures of habit and probably won't care much for the change of routine and change of scenery that a vacation offers. Before taking your cat with you on any trip, think carefully about whether it would be an enjoyable experience for him/her.

As much as you might like to have your cat join you on vacation, cats are creatures of habit and probably won't care much for the change of routine and change of scenery that a vacation offers. Before taking your cat with you on any trip, think carefully about whether it would be an enjoyable experience for him/her.

If you decide to leave your cat at home when you're travelling, ask someone to stop by every few days to check on your pet. This person could be a friend or neighbour, or even a professional pet sitter. Leave the person a list of instructions for what to do, including what kind of food and how much to serve, how much water to give, any medications your cat needs, and a phone number for the veterinarian, in case of an emergency. Also make sure they know how to get in touch with you if they have any questions or a serious problem arises.

There are other options besides leaving your cat home alone, although that might be his favourite! You can ask a friend to "kitty-sit" while you're gone, taking your cat into their home for the time you are away. If your cat is around other people (and maybe other pets) while you're away, it won't be as easy for him/her to get bored, and he/she will receive quicker attention if something goes wrong. However, a change of scenery can be very stressful for some cats. Also, if your cat somehow escapes while he/she is at a friend's house, it is unlikely that he/she will be able to find his/her way home.