House Sitters

[hardy49]

Has anybody used House Sitters ? Our friends are moving up north and we would love to visit them in the future but there is no way we could put our two cats into a cattery.
We should like to know what people have thought of House Sitters

[lankeela]

Why on earth could you not put your two cats into a cattery? How do you think all the hundreds of thousands of cats that go into catteries manage? They are safer, well fed and looked after - people don't run catteries so they can be cruel to cats.

If you leave someone at home with them they do not know
they could get out and not come back, the could refuse to eat and if they were ill would the house sitters know what to do? I have seen it from both sides as a kennel/cattery manager and a pet sitter, and the cats I looked after at home gave me more grief than all the dogs put together -
while the cats in the cattery were far less trouble than the dogs in the kennels.

[alijangra]

From my personal experience, my cat really hates the cattery and I will not put her in one ever again. I have used http://www.petpals.com and found them to be very good and professional.

[hardy49]

Thanks to you both

[orange-gnome]

The way I see it, no matter who you leave your pets with whether it be in the hands of a pet sitter or cattery staff you take the risk of them being treated in a way that you wouldn't want them to be.
The best you can do is get a personal recommendation from someone you know and trust. Do you not have a friend or family member that might look after them for you?

[hardy49]

Unfortunately not - that would be the ideal solution. We are not looking for any answers until next year at least so maybe a friend will be able to help us out then.

[tiggerwoo]

Hi
A very reputable Cattery in my area actually lost someone's beloved cat last year and despite every possible effort and a great deal of expense, the poor cat was never found. I feel the same about leaving cats and dogs in catteries and kennels...you cannot bring yourself to comletely trust anyone to look after them as you would do....and this incident just excaserbated my fears. Obviousley the ideal situation would be a family member you can trust and who the cat/dog is familiar with...but failing that I suppose there is only catteries/kennels and sitters to choose from...you will just have to choose carefully. The only person I would trust is my daughter and vice versa with her 2 cats...other than that I stay home.

[lainiej]

Alijangra, I work for Petpals so many thanks for your recommendation. I have found that the cats I have visited whilst their owners have been away have been fine. They have their own little hiding places and sunny spots in their own houses and wouldnt hesitate in leaving my own 2 cats in the hands of a company like ours (but preferably ours!)