board my cat or leave her at home?

I'm going on a trip for 1 week next month, and I was originally planning on boarding my cat. The other day my friend,, who lives about half an hour away, offered to come to my apt once a day every day to feed her, play with her for a bit, clean her litterbox, etc. because she doesn't want me wasting 150 bucks to board her. I think that would be a good idea, seeing as how it would save me $150, I'm just worried about leaving her alone for so much at a time..do cats really care if they're alone or not? And would once a day be good enough for her to come by? Or would it be better just to board her? Any advice will be greatly appreciated:)

We have a boarding facility at my practice so I know first hand what cats are like when they have to board. 90% of them aren't too happy about it. Just like others have mentioned, it's very stressful for them to be in a new situation. Cats do not do well with change. Have you ever moved with your kitty and seen how she reacted throughout that transition? Or like when you take her to the vet. Most cats calm down after about a day or so of being there, but I still think they are confused. It's not like someone can tell them that their owner just went on vacation and will return in a few weeks. They have no idea why they are there in those cages away from all of their things and people. Now, I also cat sit and see cats in a situation where they are left alone for a period of time with someone to come and feed them, change their water and just hang out with them daily. I think these cats overall are much happier. Who wouldn't be? What do cats do all day anyway? Sleep in their favorite window, go snack on some food, stretch out on the corner of the bed. They are of course super excited to get some affection and attention when I come see them but they are not deprived of anything while no one is there.
You also mentioned that you don't want her to be alone. While there obviously will be employees at the boarding facility, I don't know how much contact she will actually have with them. I have seen other cat boarding places and the cats are just in their cages all day with no contact from humans until maybe it's time to feed them or change their litter. So basically your cat will either be alone at home, comfortable in her surroundings or alone stuck in a cage in some unfamiliar place. I'd rather have her home comfortable with someone I know and trust keeping an eye on her. And once a day is perfectly fine, as long as she doesn't need any special care like medication or insulin, and your friend wouldn't mind hanging out with her for a little while. I think the most important part of cat sitting is to have contact with the cat, not just do the food, water & litter.
Hope you feel better about leaving her at home.
Oh, and I think someone mentioned already, but make sure if where you live is going to be HOT the week you are gone you provide some heat relief for your kitty.

Cat Care At Home

Should we have a rescue cat or a kitten?

I have just lost my beloved cat of nearly 18 years. My two children aged 7 and were brilliant with my old cat and miss her terribly. We want to get a new cat or maybe 2 cats. I am trying to decide whether to get a pair of rescue cats from a charity or two kittens. I have a friend whose cat is due to litter in the next few weeks. She has promised three already to family members. Do I wait and have a look at her kittens (or someone elses kittens) and hope I like them or adopt some rescue cats? My 7 year old said she would like to give an older cat a home but I also know she would adore a kitten.

We will wait to the Summer school holiday to have kittens so we can be at home to care for them. I know of two rescue cats, used to children one of whom adores them, that need a home together. (I haven't seen the cats yet) Can you still bond with a rescue cat in the same way as one you have from a kitten and would the children be happy to have either as a pet? What should we do?

First of all, my sincere condolences...how wonderful, though, to have had your precious cat for 18 years!

And bless your 7 year old! MY VOTE? RESCUE! I have two rescue adopted cats, 1 cat that I am fostering for an incarcerated friend, and 2 rescue dogs.

My cats were a little over and under a year old (one each) when adopted. One of them was even a former feral cat that when the rescue mommy trapped for spay and release, was such a sweetheart that she spent almost 6 months caring for him in her home to accustom him to people. Both of my guys are the sweetest, most lovey babies I know. The former feral cat is the one that sleeps with me every night, and the other is literally the best cat in the world and the one who has helped knit all my animals together into a loving family, who all get together and greet me every morning in the bedroom...I get to smile first thing every day!

Kittens have their appeal, but if your 7 year old is compassionate enough to be open to an older cat, please help foster that quality in him/her...it is beautiful to see a child more concerned with loving and caring for an abandoned animal than they are with the excitement and novelty of kittens.

P.S. My dogs were 7 yrs and 5 yrs old when adopted, and the 5 year old MinPin is blind...I'd live to see more people give homes to older (and I mean older and senior) or special needs pets...but that's only for those of us who know we can handle loving and losing our animals sooner than if we'd had them since they were young...for me, I know that I can (once I survived the loss of my first family of 3 cats) and it means I have the opportunity to love the next one(s) that I take in.

Good luck to you whatever you decide! And hug those kids for me...they're obviously special.

Cat Care At Home
Cat Care: Kitten's First Days in a New Home

Cat Care At Home

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