Summer vacation is approaching: whether relaxing by the pool, hiking in the mountains or an adventure vacation with the family - everyone has their own preferences. But with a cat in the house, the question always arises: who will look after her? Or can she come with me? Here we give tips for your vacation with the tiger.
Can the cat even come with me?
First of all, it should be said: Traveling with your cat should be practiced from a young kitten age. Long journeys in the transport box are very stressful for cats. You should generally avoid air travel with cats - there may be other animals in the hold, it is loud, the pressure drop is unknown - all of this can lead to trauma.
The type of vacation you go on should also be appropriate - a cat is better off in a holiday home in front of the fireplace than on a club vacation where it can only roam around in the hotel room.
That's why you should first go through all the options for accommodating your cat at home before you set off on your journey together.
Accommodation at home
If there are no friends or family members available to look after the cat in its usual environment during your vacation, there are cat sitters who will come and take care of the most important things: feeding, playing, cleaning the toilet or in an emergency drive her to the vet. These sitters must be booked well in advance and given a detailed list of your cat's characteristics. Do you have a special feeding routine? What is her favorite toy? Is she more shy or cuddly? All this information ensures that the cat is doing well in this rather unusual situation.
Accommodation in a foreign environment
If you don't want someone strange to come into your apartment, a change of environment is possible, but this is associated with stress for the cat. It's best for her to live with familiar faces who she feels comfortable with. Cats love their routine and prefer to be out and about in familiar surroundings. That's why you should try to set up her favorite place from your apartment in her new environment as she knows it. Your favorite blanket and toys can help reduce stress during the cat's getaway.
The food in particular should remain the same, otherwise the sensitive animal can quickly develop an upset stomach.
Accommodation in a cat hotel
In case no one really has time, there are also boarding houses for cats. These are specifically designed to make cats feel comfortable. Nevertheless, your cat will find the change of location with many strange companions stressful. Get a general impression of the accommodation on site in order to decide whether you want to put your cat there. Pay attention to the following points:
- How many cats are in a room?
- Are there enough retreats and free-roaming opportunities?
- Do the employees seem competent?
- How is the hygiene in the house, how many litter boxes are there?
- What is fed or can you bring your own food?
A short test phase can help to find out whether such cat care is suitable for your tiger. Board the cat for a day or a weekend and pay attention to how it behaves when it's back with you. If her stay at the boarding house was not good for her, she may then become withdrawn and anxious, not go to the food bowl or get diarrhea.
On vacation with the cat
The cat boarding houses are all full, no one can take care of you and your cat knows how to spend long periods of time in its transport box? Then there are a few things to consider:
You should know the entry requirements of your destination country - is an EU pet passport with valid rabies protection sufficient or do you need an animal health certificate? There can quickly be a rude awakening at the border - especially if you want to leave the EU. You can find information about traveling within the EU here .
Of course, it is just as important that cats are allowed in your accommodation. Not every holiday home is cat-proof and some providers do not want animals in the house. Cats are prohibited in most hotels.
When traveling by car, you should take regular breaks during which your cat can leave its box and stretch extensively. She should generally be as comfortable as possible and always have enough water. On longer journeys, it can happen that the cat gets sick and has to vomit - the vet can give you an anti-nausea medication and it should be in the travel first-aid kit.
To reduce stress a little, calming herbs such as catnip can help - for some cats, just a little coaxing is enough. But under no circumstances should the cat be taken out of its transport box while driving. If she panics and distracts the driver, an accident can quickly occur.
If you are traveling south with your cat, you should keep an eye on the outside temperatures. High temperatures endanger your four-legged friend's health and can cause heat stroke. If you leave the car and the cat is left alone, you should make sure that you park in a shady place and possibly open the sunroof or a window a crack. In the sun, the interior can become very hot and reach life-threatening temperatures in a short space of time.
