Tips for leaving your pet at home while going on a holiday

If you’ve decided to leave your buddy at home, there are still some more decisions to make. Do you board your pet at a kennel? Do you get a pet sitter? Do you let your friends or family take care of your pet? Some pets find it quite stressful to go into kennels or catteries. Cats usually prefer to stay at home or a place they feel safe and secure. Certain dogs, rabbits and rodents also feel better at home. Whatever you decide to do, make sure your pet is comfortable. In this blog article we’ll explain the different options of finding care for your pet and we’ll also provide some handy checklists.

Boarding kennels, catteries or pet hotels

If your pet is staying at a kennel or cattery, there are various ways to make sure your pet stays happy and healthy while you’re away. Prepare your pet’s favourite treats or get a new toy that he can take with him. Before making a reservation, you’ll probably want to check whether the boarding house is the right place for your pet. Here are some tips that you can keep in mind:

• Do a trial run first. This way your pet can get used to the new environment and you check whether it’s a good match.
• Check out business reviews and testimonials on social media. Also check if the boarding kennel or cattery is certified.
• Take a look at the facilities and provided services. How big are the runs? Is a veterinarian present at the boarding place? Are you allowed to provide your pet’s own food? And if your pet has allergies, can you provide medication or skin creams?
• How clean does the place look? Is there enough space for pets to move around? Where will your pet sleep? How much social time will your pet have? How many carers will be around daily?
• What requirements does the boarding place have regarding vaccinations and parasite treatments (fleas, ticks and worms)? Are there any additional health requirements?

If you’re satisfied with the boarding kennels, cattery or pet hotel, you can make a reservation. Don’t know where to start? You can always ask your veterinarian if he or she has any recommendations. Pet owners in your neighbourhood might also have some good suggestions. Before taking your pet to his temporary stay, make sure you have plenty of pet food, a travel basket and medical supplies. To help you out, we’ve made a checklist that will help you prepare for your pet’s holiday.

Checklist: Boarding kennel / Cattery / Pet Hotel

Leaving your pet at home

If your pet prefers to stay at home, there are various options to make sure your pet is cared for. Friends and family might be able to look after your pet in your home. But there are also professional pet sitters that can check in or actual stay at your home. You can safely find a pet sitter through the National Association of Registered Pet Sitters. Having your pet stay at home means that they feel safe and secure, and all the necessary food, medication and toys are already don’t need to be moved around.

Your pet will likely feel less stressed if he gets to stay at home. It’s still wise to get your pet acquainted with the pet sitter first, though. Leave your pet with the pet sitter for an afternoon or full day first, to see whether it’s a good match. To make your pet even more comfortable, you can prepare cooling products in the summer, or a dog crate or travel basket that your pet can sleep in. You can use the following checklist to arrange the right care for your pet:

Checklist: Staying at home

Arranging a pet-sleepover

Your pet could also go for a sleepover. This is especially useful for pets that don’t like being alone. Trial runs can help your pet get used to staying at the place of friends and family. You can even arrange to leave your pet at the home of a professional pet sitter!

Checklist: Sleepover

If you have any other questions, send our veterinarian an e-mail: veterinarian@vetsend.co.uk