Monday, January 5, 2009

Vacationing and Pets


I can never truly enjoy my vacations to their fullest because I'm always stressed out about what to do with my cat, Meeko. The kennel didn't provide the human contact she needs, nor did staying home with daily visits from a neighbour (after arriving home after that particular trip, my cat peed in our luggage while I was removing the clothes, making her thoughts about being home alone pretty clear). Last year, my sister and her husband took care of Meeko. Although a near-perfect solution, it meant they couldn't go up to their cottage while we were away. This weekend, I had a great idea -- hire one of my friend's older daughters to live at our house when we go away next time. I hope she isn't allergic to cats.

Anyway, this got me thinking about vacationing and pets, and I found this wonderful website that lists pet friendly top ten lists. Here's just a a few:

Top Ten Pet Friendly Hotels

1) La Quinta Inns & Suites
2) Holiday Inn
3) Red Roof Inns
4) Candlewood Suites Hotels & Resorts
5) Motel 6
6) Studio 6
7) Howard Johnsons
8) Novotel
9) Sheraton Hotels & Resorts
10) Westin Hotels and Resorts


Top Ten Pet-Friendly Beaches

1) Fort DeSoto Beach, Florida
2) Dog Beach, California - Pet Friendly Rentals
3) Del Mar Beach San Diego, California
4) Cape San Blas, Florida
5) Carmel City Beach, California
6) Hunting Island, South Carolina
7) Fort Funston State Park, California
8) Pistol River State Scenic Viewpoint, Oregon
9) Ft. Fisher State Recreation Area, North Carolina
10) St. George Island, Florida


What do you do with your pet(s) when you go away? Do you stress as much as I do?

17 comments:

NuclearToast said...

I don't have any pets, as I'm a single guy unable to form any emotional attachments or commit to a relationship. Although I do deal with it by proxy since Raggs has two cats. I'll let her answer. I'm sure she'll be along eventually.

Lynn Sinclair said...

Lol, NT. Your relationship with Raggs' cats is kind of like that of a grandparent -- get the kids all riled up then go back to your nice, quiet home.

Heidi the Hick said...

Yeah! Having a crazy dog to haul around is one thing,but the elderly fragile cat is a whole other problem!

This year both stayed with my mom for three days. It wasn't too bad, since both critters consider Grandma's to be a second home. BUT. Grandma made it clear at the beginning that she didn't want to dog sit. The dog wakes up at 6:30 and needs to go out in the cold and sometimes has emotionally-induced "accidents" when we're gone... mind you the cat is easy now. He just eats and sleeps and pees and gets comfy on the couch to start all over again.

Luckily she's a softie and the dog is charming in his snorty way...

And I know the horses are well cared for. Still, I think about my critters a LOT if we have to leave them.

Lynn Sinclair said...

Although it's a long way to drive your pets, Heidi, it is nice that you have a trusted pet-sitter.

Jan said...

I guess i use my pets as an excuse not to do much traveling and an excuse not to stay long when I have to go. They don't like to be away from me and make their feelings quite clear.

Lynn Sinclair said...

I so understand, Jan. I'm the same way. We're planning on going to Japan this year, and I'm hoping to change my husband's mind about going for 2 weeks (but it's a long way to go for just a week).

Shannon Perry said...

I have the world's greatest cat sitter. He comes and stays in my wee little condo with my fussy kitties, and I never have to worry. He feeds my outside guest, too. Last time I came home from a trip, he had a bunch of pictures to show me of my girls which I thought was funny, since isn't it usually the person on the trip that shows the pictures?

Lynn Sinclair said...

That's so cute, Raggs. And it's the perfect set-up -- having a trusted friend stay with your cats.

Anonymous said...

We have arranged that when we go to my parents condo in Collingwood that our cats (separately) share the space, each gets 8 hours of freedom to roam, etc, and have nap times in their separate rooms.
We pay a "cat nut" sitter to stay when we are away, she loves cats, but can't have one.
Let me know, I can make time to come visit a kitty if you have a need. My parents are going to Hawaii end of this month, and I will be going over to offer lap time & movie watching with the kitty every other day, while the sitter does the feeding/litter stuff. Its like babysitting your grandchildren, get to have fun without the hard stuff (so my parents tell me!!)

Lynn Sinclair said...

Thanks, K, I appreciate the offer. Perhaps when you'd like to get away from the kids for a few weeks? Happy cat-sitting while your parents are away.

Anonymous said...

This of course, always presents a problem, because cats are very sensitive creatures -- that can feel "abandonment" very easily.

Lynn's post is also very ironic, given that a colleague of mine just came back from a Christmas vacation while a neighbor came in daily to leave food and water for her cat. However, the cat missed her owner so much -- she refused to eat the entire week. (Cats are one of a few animals that can willfully "starve" themselves.)

This poor little baby was skin and bones, of course, and wound up in the vet's office as soon as my colleague came back. But thankfully, I'm told she's doing much better now.

Lynn Sinclair said...

Oh, poor thing, Georgie. I wasn't aware that cats would willfully starve, but am glad this story has a happy ending.

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