Pet boarding?

[rachrp]

Looking for a little advice... what has everyone done with your sugar kitties when you leave for vacation, work trips, etc.? We're going on vacation in June for 5-6 nights, and I have NO CLUE what to do. There is a local vet clinic that does pet boarding for special needs kitties, but I don't know if they will do preshot testing, etc. We have family close that can help, but I feel like that's a lot to put on someone's shoulders. The most they've ever done is just feed him and give him a shot (before we were testing)... Needless to say, I'm nervous to leave him, even though it's a few months away.
Does anyone have any suggestions??

 

[MaryB & Chester]

There might be someone in your area from the board who could be willing to take care of your kitty.
You could ask at your vet's office if there's a tech who might be willing to come by for testing and shots. Even better if there's a veterinary college in your area - maybe there's a student who could help out.

I've boarded with my vet. They don't test as often as I'd like...but it was a decent option. I think Chester is going to learn how to travel - at least when we go see family.

 

[Michelle & Dusty]

Do you belong to any organizations (church, college, volunteer groups) that might have an older teen/young adult to cat sit for you? I have to travel a bit for my job and just got back from my first trip away since my cat's diagnosis. I work at a college and so could email a community list-serv affiliated with the college, and had several students respond with interest. The student who I ended up going with had never given a cat injections before, but I showed her how to test and dose Dusty and had her come over before I left to do it with my watching. She then updated Dusty's spreadsheet so I could track her numbers. I paid her $20 a day, which included her staying at my house for the duration of my trip.

 

[rhiannon and shadow (GA)]

this is just my opinion....
but since I've been here at FDMB , i have observed too many bad situations for others with the boardings....( to the point now where
I would cancel my trip before boarding my own cat)
Those services do not seem to test in the evenings... they shoot and go home or the day when they close....
Most kitties don't eat very well when they are caged and in unfamiliar surroundings which doesn't help their numbers stay in safe ranges.
They don't seem to understand how important it is to monitor with lantus and our other insulins used around here even when you tell
them. They just seem to operate the way they always do.


I would opt for that family you mentioned or like others say... find someone you can teach... who is willing to learn.
Even better if you can find someone willing to stay in your house...

 

[Wendy&Tiggy(GA)]

I had go go away for two weeks and I have two diabetic cats. So I asked my vet about vet techs looking for cash to do it but they weren't comfortable and recommended a pet sitting service. I googled them and read reviews and had them come over and meet my cats and get comfortable with them.

With bailey they tested him and had instructions not to shoot if he was under 150 since they couldn't be around to monitor all day. With Tiggy (who is aggressive to strangers) I reduced his dose since they couldn't test him.

They came in twice a day, fed, changed the litter, did the meds, watered the plants, opened and closed the blinds and sent me an email update on the cats. I also installed a web cam in an area where the cats sleep so I could keep an eye on them at points during the day. I left detailed instructions, photos and so on so no mistakes were made even though they had their own notes and process.

The service were great. If you can find one, I would recommend it.