Sophie's World

A big M-E-O-W to you! Nice to see you again!

Much to Sophie’s delight, we are back from our vacation. We had a marvelous time. According to the pet sitter, Sophie did well too. She received plenty of attention and was fed regularly. What more can a cat want? She’s not a super traveler, so a 7-hour car trip was out. I’m not entirely sure how she would take to flying. So, she stayed home.

Sophie can be a needy cat. She was a rescue, after all. She’s a bit predictable after a vacation. Like most cats, she hates a disruption to her routine. She likes her meals at a set time. She wants me on the couch to cuddle at the designated time. So, when we returned, she had a lot to say.

Perhaps your own pet is like Sophie. I’m not sure if it’s her history or what, but it takes her awhile to ease back into her routine. She is more needy than ever for the first few days. She wants to be held a great deal. Maybe this sounds familiar to you too. To help her transition back to having you around again, take the time to bond again with your pet. Spend extra time combing or brushing your pet. Extra cuddle time is also appreciated.

While we realize our trip is short, it can be interpreted differently by your pet. Making up the lost time can be a great bonding experience for you and your pet.

Tweet This Post

Tomorrow, I’m going on vacation to one of my most favorite places ever, Door County, Wisconsin. It’ll be 10 days with virtually no cell phone coverage, peace and quiet, and plenty of time to reconnect with my husband and my family.

That’s the plus side of it. On the down side, Sophie is staying home alone. Taking her is really not an option. She travels OK, but I don’t see her doing all right in a tent. In the past, I have boarded her at a vet clinic. I speak from experience: this is not the way to go. Avoid boarding in a kennel situation at all costs. Caging a cat goes against everything that a cat is. IMHO, it is cruel. Cats are not that adaptable. Rather, cats enjoy a routine. Disruptions to the usual are viewed with the up most disdain, to say nothing of the stress. In good conscience, I could not board my Sophie ever again.

Instead, for the last few years, I’ve hired a pet sitter. My pet sitter is part of the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters. She is local. She is bonded. On the practical side, someone is visiting my house every day. There’s a feeling of security in that. My mail, if not stopped, is being checked. My plants are watered. It’s a good set up for me. For Sophie, the benefits are huge.

She stays home where her bed is, where her backyard birdie friends hang out, where her own food dish is. The disruption of her routine is minimal. For me, I have the satisfaction of knowing that someone is looking in on her. She is getting attention and love every day, even if it isn’t from her first choice. Her routine is still in her routine.

I encourage all pet owners to explore having a pet sitter call as an option. The benefits exist for both the owner and the pet. If you must be away, won’t you feel more comfortable knowing that your pet is getting one-on-one attention?

Tweet This Post

To a non-cat or even non-pet person, this may seem to be an irrelevant question.  Many of you maybe think about it, but what do you do with your cat during the holidays?

Maybe it’s because Sophie and me have bonded so closely.  I spend a lot of time at home, working.  She’s right there to oversee everything.  When the holidays roll around, I try to figure out what would be least stressful.

Some might say why bother.  Put out some food, fill the water bowl, and they’ll be fine.  Wrong.  Cats, my cat, is a social creature.  She craves human attention.  And since I take being a pet owner seriously, I’m not going to do something that I feel is not in her best interest. 

I’ll never forget returning from a weekend trip when my last cat was still alive.  Poor thing was hoarse from all the crying she did. 

Kennel her.

I’ve tried this.  My logic was that she’d get plenty of attention.  There would be lots to distract her.  Even with the proper attention, she was stressed.  Keeping a cat in a cage for more than a day or two is just not right, IMHO.

Take her with us.

Sophie travels well after she settles down.  Unfortunately, with the small pick up that we have now, there is no room for a bed, a kennel, a litter box.  Not an option.

Get a cat sitter.

This has been the single best thing I believe I’ve done for my Sophie.  Her sitter comes once a day.  She feeds her, plays with her, combs her.  The sitter will also check the mail and water the plants.  You can find a reliable sitter at the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters website.  The cost is right in line with kenneling your pet too.

I’d strongly encourage this route over trusting the kid down the street.  Sitters are bonded, so you can feel confident the pet and your home will be safe.  You leave the impression that you’re still in town.  The advantages are clear.

Holidays are stressful as it is.  Be a responsible pet owner and work out your plan for what to do with your cat during the holidays. Photo by badlogik

Tweet This Post