Options for kitty when you're away on holiday
So who takes care of kitty if family and friends can't be convinced to babysit?
- Leave kitty to fend herself - I've seen this happen often, and I think it's heartless. I would never do this to my babies.
- Leave kitty plenty of food and water - OK but perhaps only for a few days
- Leave kitty plenty of food and water in an automatic dispenser - Better option than number 2, especially if kitty can't control food intake. But only good for 3-4 days. If it's longer than that, somebody needs to come in once in a while to take care of the poo stench if kitty's an indoor cat. And to check for food and water supplies.
- Leave kitty at the pet shop - I've seen this at many pet shops. The kitties look like they've been drugged to sleep.
- Leave kitty at the vet's - Hmm... better than number 4. But it would be like leaving your baby in hospital while you're on holiday. Imagine kitty being surrounded by other sick cats!
- Cat boarding aka cat hotel aka cattery (not the breeding centre type) - Now we're talking! A holiday home :)
Cat Hotels
Scallywags Malaysia
3, Jalan SS1/1B, Kampung Tunku, Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
I think this is the best cat hotel in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor. It's got a really homey feel to it. The cattery is in the lush green garden of the owner's bungalow house. So rest assured that there's always someone to keep an eye on the cats in case of emergencies!
They've got rooms for 2 cats, 1 cat, and even 1 "kampung house" fit for 5 cats! The garden facing room for 2 cats is especially nice because it has multiple floors and nooks and crannies for cats to explore or hide. Each room has a chair, rug, sisal scratch post, a few toys, and even a little fan! The owner, Liz, has a certificate from the Feline Advisory Bureau, a UK organisation which sets benchmarks for feline wellbeing, including hygiene standards at catteries.
This place gets booked up very quickly during festive events (Raya, Christmas, Chinese New Year), so make sure to book ahead.
The downside? Well, the only thing is that the cats get fed dry food only (IAMS, Royal Canin, Orijen...). So no raw meat or canned food during the holidays for kitty...
Pet Epicure
16, Jalan Bandar 2, Taman Melawati, Selangor
This is a pet shop / pet boarding / pet rescue centre. So it definitely DOES NOT fall under my general rule to not leave kitty at a pet shop during my holidays. The owner, Alicia Horsley Ling, is really passionate about animal welfare that some of the rescued cats are actually boarding at the shop. But please, please, don't throw away your cats here just because Alicia has a soft spot!
What I like about the place is that they feed a raw meat diet for their boarders.
And apparently, the cattery is built to FAB standards - complete with sneeze barriers to prevent transfer of disease.
The downside? Well, it could do with a more homey feel to it. The rooms literally look like see-through fridges with a wire mesh ceiling for ventilation. Although there are shelves for kitty to climb, carpet post to scratch, toys to play with, little chair to sit on, and even fan and AIRCON, there just aren't any hidey holes for kitty to get some privacy! And if I'm not mistaken, someone needs to man the place 24x7 if it's truly built by FAB standards.
Verdict? Definitely consider if Scallywags is fully booked.
De'Ritz Hotel @ Pet Safari
Level 2, Ikano Power Centre, Jalan PJU 7-2, Mutiara Damansara, Selangor
If Pet Epicure's cat rooms look like fridges, the ones here look like mini-fridges! Much less homey, no privacy, and not good for the claustrophobic kitty. But at least kitty won't be surrounded by wailing sick cats like at the vets (I hope).
