Every holiday season, catteries, cat hotels and cat sitting services compete for cat owners’ business, and there is an ongoing debate about which option is best when choosing the right holiday care for your cat.

Cats are not quite the solitary animals they are perceived to be. They form strong bonds with their owners and can get very upset and stressed if their beloved human leaves them for an extended period of time. Stress in cats can lead to them not wanting to eat any more, overeating, overgrooming, urine spraying, diarrhoea and even cat flu.

Naturally, cat care providers will always promote their own business, but there are a few points that you should keep in mind when looking for a solution for your cat:

How does your cat usually cope with being left alone?

Is she used to being on her own all day, quite independent and free to roam? Or is he used to your company and more of an indoor cat?

If your cat is fairly independent and used to being on her own, and you are only away for 24-48 hours, then getting a friend, neighbour our cat sitter to come and feed her twice a day is a good option for you. If that is not the case, and you are away for more than 48 hours, the home-from-home care and attention of a good cattery or cat hotel might be a better option.

How about your cat’s past?

Is your cat a rescue cat who has been abandoned and traumatised in the past? Will she go looking for you if you are gone for a longer period of time?

Cats have been known to get very lonely and go looking for their owners. Is your cat likely to put himself at risk by starting to roam further and further afield while looking for you? You don’t want him to become one of the over 600 cats that are run over on British roads a day and should opt for the safety of a cat hotel.

How about your cat’s health?

Is your cat diabetic, does he need a special diet or regular medication? In that case you have to make sure that whoever looks after your cat is very responsible and prepared to go the extra mile while looking after him. Experienced pet sitters and good cat hotels will be able to look after your cat’s additional needs. Cat hotels have the advantage of being able to react quickly should an emergency arise, whereas your cat might be left in distress between cat sitter visits.

Chris Wearne is Longcroft’s Head Vet.