Ragdoll Cat Forums

My husband and I are planning to fly from North Dakota, to our family in Virginia for Christmas Holiday. The trip will be ten days long, and the flights are about 1-2 hrs long each (we will stop several times to change flights) We had four options as to what to do with Dakota who is our only pet.

1. leave him at the house in his safe room with his food, water and toys, which would be familiar, but he would be alone, save for the person who would come and feed him, water him, and scoop his box. I do not know people well enough up here to expect them to play with him for a few hours a day--I assume they would not--essp. with their own holiday plans

2. Leave him with some good friends that live about 30 min from us in North Dakota, but this family has never owned a cat, and they have a 14 month old infant as well---not to mention the surroundings would be unfamiliar, but at least he would have someone to socialize with

3.bring him with us--as carry-on of course--he has a carriar, which he has been in 2 hrs at a time before-for a total of 5 hrs (on our drive back from the breeder) he would stay with me, my husband, and my family for 5 days, then just my family, as we go to visit my husbands family for another 5 days. My husband and I lean towards this because we will be able to be with him in his new surroundings for a while, and my parents do not have small children or pets (except for one caged rabbit and a gecko)

4. Boarding--I do NOT want to board him at a shelter

What are your suggestions on this matter? I know this forum will have the best advice I can get!

I would select option 1. (This situation is one reason at least two pets are best.)

(11-23-2009 02:29 PM)JanH Wrote: [ -> ]I would select option 1. (This situation is one reason at least two pets are best.)

But will he become depressed? we will be gone for 10 days-maybe a bit longer! I wish we could have gotten two kittens to keep each other company, but it was hard enough getting a note for just one in our apartment that typically does not allow pets

I'm not sure I understood correctly, but unless you are going to stay in once place for the full 10 days with him, then I would say just bring him to your friends home or have someone visit.

The thing is, if you know you're going to go out every xmas for this long and for other holidays you may want him to get used to traveling. I would think in the end if he can handle it, this would be best for you and for him.

He does not have your sense of time. All of the alternatives have risks of stress and boredom. The first seems the safest and least stressful. Christmas is the worst possible time to take a pet to a gathering (particularly during a busy airline period, when things get lost) - or for him if the gathering is in your home. You have a group of strangers to him that have a focus that does not include him or his safety. He is better off in his comfortable, familiar environment.

If you go for option one, and it would seem the least stressful for him, you could leave a radio on, this offers him the sound of voices and therefore a bit of company.

Is he gregarious by nature? A few years ago one of my friends asked me to look in on his ragdoll while he and his wife were traveling for a week. I was actually thinking of getting a cat at that time so I suggested the cat stay with my wife and I. So they dropped him off, he spent about an hour exploring our apartment, then dropped off to sleep on the sofa. He was pretty much at home immediately, and did great all week. (So did we, we ended up with a ragdoll a few months later.) Now our Sage is more shy and would probably do some hiding for awhile. A 14 month old is probably not too much of a risk to a cat, that's a young kid and easily controlled by the parents. That would probably be the option I would go with. Second choice would be a pet sitting service to either house-sit or look in on the cat every day.

I would not leave a cat with someone who has never had a cat. Simple things that the people do not even notice, like leaving a door open while bringing in the groceries, can mean the cat can get out. Folks have to adjust their mind set to protecting an indoor only cat. Why bet on that for a ten day "visit." We put the cats up when we have guests who are not pet people. Even with us present, doors get left open and the like. And you are not just relying on the couple. You are relying on everyone who visits them as well. Not for me.