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MIButterfly

(2,570 posts)
Fri Nov 14, 2025, 01:11 PM Nov 2025

I had to board my cats while I was on my cruise.

They were there for almost two weeks. I picked them up last night and as usual, Holly screamed bloody murder all the way home. Martini, who has the softest, cutest little meow, meowed along in solidarity. Usually, when I come home from a vacation, they give me the cold shoulder for a day or so. Not this time. They have been very clingy since we got home. I think they missed me almost as much as I missed them. My sweet kitties. ❤️

As a matter of fact, Holly is sitting beside me and Martini is in my face, licking my nose, my cheek and my ear as I type this!

26 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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I had to board my cats while I was on my cruise. (Original Post) MIButterfly Nov 2025 OP
Promise you will never leave is again! 1WorldHope Nov 2025 #1
They've heard that before. 😀 Mblaze Nov 2025 #3
Actually knew someone justaprogressive Nov 2025 #2
We went on a cruise and left our kitties crud Nov 2025 #4
LOL! I guess she told you! MIButterfly Nov 2025 #6
You might consider a cat sitter for next time you're away for a long duration. patphil Nov 2025 #5
That would be ideal but all my friends live at least 45 minutes away from me MIButterfly Nov 2025 #7
"...would be leery of a stranger in my house..." Understandable, but might be worth considering... 3catwoman3 Nov 2025 #8
Thank you, 3catwoman3, for your good advice. MIButterfly Nov 2025 #9
My daughter is a petsitter with Rover. Silver Gaia Nov 2025 #10
Thank you, Silver Gala, for this information. MIButterfly Nov 2025 #13
Awwwwww, i love your kittens !!!! Trueblue1968 Nov 2025 #11
They're just getting a taste for human flesh. ECL213 Nov 2025 #12
Martini licks my nose all the time. Holly has only licked my hand MIButterfly Nov 2025 #14
All I can say is don't pass away in your house... ECL213 Nov 2025 #15
I hope not, but if they do, it would probably be the least of my concerns at that moment. MIButterfly Nov 2025 #16
They missed you! calimary Nov 2025 #17
And I missed them! MIButterfly Nov 2025 #19
Cats DO miss their owners. BlueKentuckyGirl Nov 2025 #18
That's an interesting study. MIButterfly Nov 2025 #20
Here's a link to the study. BlueKentuckyGirl Nov 2025 #21
Thank you, BlueKentuckyGirl! MIButterfly Nov 2025 #22
It's not fair! Aussie105 Dec 2025 #23
LOL! Not MY sweet kitties! MIButterfly Dec 2025 #24
How did you ever finish typing MIButterfly! Very cute encounter. Thanks for making me smile! George McGovern Dec 2025 #25
I left my cat Monster to board at a vet clinic when I went home applegrove Dec 2025 #26

justaprogressive

(6,841 posts)
2. Actually knew someone
Fri Nov 14, 2025, 01:26 PM
Nov 2025

who regularly flew with her Scottish Fold cat to Portugal...(and back of course)!

crud

(1,247 posts)
4. We went on a cruise and left our kitties
Fri Nov 14, 2025, 02:21 PM
Nov 2025

being watched by a friend. When we got back one of them wouldn't sop yelling at us! For 2 nights straight she woke us up with her lectures.

patphil

(8,970 posts)
5. You might consider a cat sitter for next time you're away for a long duration.
Fri Nov 14, 2025, 02:27 PM
Nov 2025

That way, even though you're gone, your cats aren't pulled out of their safe environment.
We always use a cat sitter...the same one if possible so the cats remember and aren't so worried about a new person in the house.


MIButterfly

(2,570 posts)
7. That would be ideal but all my friends live at least 45 minutes away from me
Fri Nov 14, 2025, 02:37 PM
Nov 2025

and it's a long drive to come all the way to my house and back everyday. As for hiring a cat sitting service, I'm afraid I'm not a very trusting kind of person and would be leery of a stranger in my house when I'm not there. I don't even like strangers in my house when I'm home.

3catwoman3

(29,233 posts)
8. "...would be leery of a stranger in my house..." Understandable, but might be worth considering...
Fri Nov 14, 2025, 03:25 PM
Nov 2025

...if you can find the right people. We have used a pet sitting service for our 4 cats the last 3 times we've traveled, and been extremely pleased. The woman who owns the business has designed an impressively professional website, which is very detailed and thorough. She has a few people working with her, and they are all vetted. We have them come twice a day, and each time the pet sitter sends an email with pictures of each cat and comments about the visit.

I don't know where you live, but I'm going to suggest taking a look at the website of the company I use. It could serve as a standard by which to judge services where you are, should you ever want to think about it. The service I've been so pleased with is called Pause For Pets, and the link is pause-for-pets.com. Also, your veterinarian might have some trusted recommendations.

Sounds like your kitties were thrilled to have you back.

MIButterfly

(2,570 posts)
9. Thank you, 3catwoman3, for your good advice.
Fri Nov 14, 2025, 03:29 PM
Nov 2025

I would certainly trust my vet's recommendations since I've been going to her office as long as I've had my cats, almost 14 years now.

Silver Gaia

(5,338 posts)
10. My daughter is a petsitter with Rover.
Fri Nov 14, 2025, 03:36 PM
Nov 2025

You may have seen their ads on TV? The sitters are carefully vetted, and customers leave reviews. A bad sitter won't get hired again. It's a good service. My daughter does a lot of in-house, multi-night jobs, and has many repeat customers. For any job, there is always an initial meet & greet in your home so you and your pets can meet the sitter, and you can reject any that you don't think are a good fit. Maybe think about it? It's so much better for your pets.

MIButterfly

(2,570 posts)
13. Thank you, Silver Gala, for this information.
Fri Nov 14, 2025, 03:41 PM
Nov 2025

I would certainly consider it. It's just that you hear so many horror stories about caregivers, etc., ripping people off. But I will look into it and think about it for next time.

MIButterfly

(2,570 posts)
14. Martini licks my nose all the time. Holly has only licked my hand
Fri Nov 14, 2025, 03:48 PM
Nov 2025

one time in the nearly 14 years I've had them. I wonder what was on my hand that was so enticing that day. She's never made biscuits, either. Martini makes them all the time.

Holly hisses at Martini, but I've never heard Martini hiss. She's too laid-back and go-with-the-flow to ever get riled up about anything.

ECL213

(444 posts)
15. All I can say is don't pass away in your house...
Fri Nov 14, 2025, 03:58 PM
Nov 2025

those sweet little kitties will start munching on you immediately.

MIButterfly

(2,570 posts)
16. I hope not, but if they do, it would probably be the least of my concerns at that moment.
Fri Nov 14, 2025, 04:04 PM
Nov 2025

BlueKentuckyGirl

(543 posts)
18. Cats DO miss their owners.
Fri Nov 14, 2025, 04:12 PM
Nov 2025

I read about a study once that took a cat's , 1) favorite food away, 2) it's favorite toy away and 3)it's human away for a short length of time. When all three things were put back out in front of the cat, a large percentage of the cats went to their human first. I know that when I had cats, they always acted a little put out after I returned from a trip but shortly afterward became a bit more affectionate.

MIButterfly

(2,570 posts)
20. That's an interesting study.
Fri Nov 14, 2025, 04:21 PM
Nov 2025

Thanks for telling me about it. Non cat-lovers always think cats are so aloof. They just don't know them like we do.

Aussie105

(7,821 posts)
23. It's not fair!
Sat Dec 6, 2025, 09:12 PM
Dec 2025

They spent ages training you to be their 24/7 servant, and then you leave them with strangers, without a 'May I', without a 'I will be back soon' ?

Plotting revenge, no doubt! Be alert, and be afraid!

MIButterfly

(2,570 posts)
24. LOL! Not MY sweet kitties!
Sat Dec 6, 2025, 09:18 PM
Dec 2025

Actually they've been very quiet and secretive lately. Hmmm. I wonder what they're up to?

George McGovern

(11,628 posts)
25. How did you ever finish typing MIButterfly! Very cute encounter. Thanks for making me smile!
Sun Dec 7, 2025, 04:47 AM
Dec 2025

Last edited Sun Dec 7, 2025, 02:44 PM - Edit history (1)

applegrove

(131,749 posts)
26. I left my cat Monster to board at a vet clinic when I went home
Sun Dec 7, 2025, 01:34 PM
Dec 2025

for Christmas one year. When I went to pick him up he looked so stressed out, like a refugee, but happy to see me. I had adopted him a few years earlier when he was 2. He obviously remembered not having a home. I decided never to board him for more than a few days again.

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