Whether you travel for work or leisure, it can be stressful to determine what to do with your pets while you are gone. Not every animal is cut out for joining you on your trip, and you may not have a close friend or family member available to stop by and check on them from time to time.
Benefits Of A Cat Sitter
Boarding, then? For cats, boarding can be particularly stressful; instead, consider hiring a professional pet sitter. When you leave your cat with a sitter while you travel, you can expect a variety of benefits for your cat (and yourself!).
Receives Mental Stimulation and Exercise
One of the biggest challenges for your cat while you are gone is that there is simply nothing to do. Televisions and electronics are turned off, lights are usually off and there are no people to look at. All of these things normally stimulate your cat’s brain and keep them engaged and thinking, even if it looks like they are just lying around.
And if you frequently play with your cat or they follow you back and forth throughout the house, they will not be getting too much exercise while you are gone. A professional sitter can spend dedicated play time with your cat to keep them feeling engaged and curb loneliness and boredom.
Is Sure To Have Important Needs Met
Of course, one of the biggest issues with leaving your cat when you go anywhere is that they will need access to food and water, as well as any medication that they may take. Automated food bowls can get jammed, and your cat may accidentally spill or contaminate their water, making it a challenge to leave them unsupervised.
A pet sitter for your cat will always ensure that food and water are readily available and can administer important medicines like insulin or tablets as needed even while you are gone.
Leaves You With Less Hassle Upon Return
If you choose to rely on automated feeders to sustain your cat for a few days, it can be a hassle to return home, tired after your trip, only to find that the food needs to be replaced, the water needs to be changed, the litter box is dirty and so on.
One of the benefits of leaving your cat with a sitter while you travel is that the sitter will take care of all of these minor issues such as tidying up the litter box so that you can get home, rest and spend time with your furry friend instead of launching into a whole-home cleaning project.
Is Less Stressful Than Boarding
Moving a cat can be stressful for both parties—we all know of those humans who come into work with scratched up arms after wrangling their cat into a carrier. But in addition to this hassle, boarding a cat also exposes them to an unfamiliar environment that can leave them stressed for days and even after they return home.
Many boarding locations will have them in cramped quarters on hard floors with little enrichment, and with other cats and dogs in the area, a boarder can be a hotspot for pet illness and nuisances like fleas. Even if your cat has received vaccinations, they may still pick up germs that could make them sick due to their extended exposure to other cats who are ill.
While feline upper respiratory disease is one of the most common sicknesses your cat may come home with, do not forget that feline leukemia is a virus they may be exposed to as well, alongside feline immunodeficiency virus and the highly transmittable panleukopenia (often called distemper). If you leave your cat with a sitter while you travel, you can be sure that they are not exposed to other sick animals and will remain safe and secure in your own home, where things are familiar.
Be Sure to Choose a Pet Sitter You Can Trust
If you have decided that a cat sitter may be a better choice than boarding your cat while you travel, be sure to choose sitters who are reliable and trustworthy. Showing up on time every time and completing your entire checklist of tasks are vital for a good pet sitter.
Paw Pals Pet Sitting strives to provide the very best in care for your furry friend when you are not at home. We are certified in first aid and CPR for your pets and are licensed, bonded and fully insured, so you can trust us to care for your pets as if they were our own. Reach out to discuss your schedule so that we can make a plan for your furry family member!
