Scared of when my baby goes away to the cattery

[monty_dweezil (GA)]

Yes, me again!!

Even Diabetic cat parents have to go away sometimes, and we've been using a regular cattery / boarding place for the six years we've had our babies, so it's their second home and their "auntie and uncle" there know their history, are closely connected to our vet (who has also been our vet the whole time we've had them) and also are very experienced with special needs cats (including insulin injections).

But...I'm scared. Again. lol. In mid May we have an overseas trip booked. Our first one ever, to the US. It has been in the making for SO LONG and has been delayed and cancelled twice due to visa issues and crazy mishaps. Finally it has now been booked and is ready to go. Except...what if something happens while we're away? We'll be gone for five weeks. Our boys have only ever stayed at their second home for 2-3 weeks maximum.

I know this is five months away, and I am SO hoping, with all my fingers and paws crossed, that by then Dweezil may be off the insulin, because I am terrified that maybe they won't be able to monitor him 100% effectively and they may give him his injections and then he may have an episode and die overnight as obviously they can't be there for all the cats ALL night, watching.

What do you do when your cats have to go away or stay with others? I trust the cattery people...they DO have experience with Diabetic cats and giving the injections, but...I am just a worry wart again.

 

[BJM]

I'd make a list of your concerns and schedule a time to sit down with the cattery in advance so you can go over the schedule you've worked out for insulin and food, and to work out how specific concerns will be addressed.

You might find it helpful to have them do a dry run for a few days some time before the trip, so they can get used to what your kitty needs and work out any kings while you are still around.

 

[monty_dweezil (GA)]

Ok, good. That sounds doable.

I just don't want to be on the edge of my hotel room seat every second of the vacation, sick with worry.

The cattery is good...they have a blog with updates and pictures most days of their "guests" and they'll send me emails letting me know in more detail how our kitties are.

I bought a while back a wifi camera to set up at home that I could dial into and watch on my phone, to see how they were doing home alone (this was back when Dweezil's brother Monty was peeing on the floor and a neighbourhood cat was causing territorial issues. Our cats are strictly indoor only but could see the cat through the windows and it freaked Dweezil out HUGELY) but I wish I could use it at the cattery so I could watch them whenever I wanted...and if I saw Dweezy looking weird or sick, I'd call the cattery at all hours and say, HEY!!! HELP!!! lol

 

[Lisa and Witn (GA)]

When I boarded mine, I would also write down detailed instructions and give them to the vet's office when I dropped the cats off. It would include testing before every shot with my meter, the insulin dose and the don't shoot number. I would also deliver my meter and they knew I would check it when I returned.