What to Do For Your Cat When You Go Away on Vacation!

Confused about what to do with your cat on vacation or any other trip? Whether you’re gone for a few weeks or even a few days, disruption to your routine can be stressful for your cat. All it takes is a little planning! In this video, I’ll share some of my best tips to reduce stress for both you and your cat while you’re away. Now go enjoy your vacation - you deserve it!
0:00 Intro
0:30 Setup
2:14 Not Great ways to leave your cat when you go on vacation
4:18 Better ways to leave your cat when you go on vacation
7:42 The Best way to leave your cat when you go on vacation
8:17 Setting Up Your Petsitter
10:52 Support for Your Petsitter
13:02 Take your cats with you?
14:26 Conclusion
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Products mentioned in this video
All the treats
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Boredom Busters Slow Feeder Licking Mat
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Armarkat Forest Green Cat Bed
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Armarkat Classic 53-Inch Faux Fleece Cat Tree
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Kitty Holster Cat Harness
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Videos referenced
Puzzle Toys for Cats: • Puzzle Toys for Cats: ...
Should You Walk Your Cat?: • Should You Walk Your Cat?
Flying with Cats: • Jackson Galaxy's Tips ...
Moving with Cats: • Moving Long or Short D...
Pet Sitter Resource: www.petsit.com/locate
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#JacksonGalaxy #Cat #Vacation

[@JacksonGalaxy]

Thanks for tuning in everybody! Remember, if you have an idea for a future topic, please comment below and start with VIDEO IDEA: so that it makes it easier for my team and I to find them. Have a great week!

[@mcmlxii4419]

I enjoy your videos tremendously. Whenever I traveled by car (and I used to go on a lot of road trips), my cats went with me. One time I drove from Tampa to Oklahoma City with 7 cats in the car with me. These trips went extremely well, considering that cats are not known for being the most agreeable travelers. Cats can be acclimated to become much better travelers than a lot of people realize.

[@holleesavage569]

Love your videos…just noticed that your wife’s name is Minoo…great name! In French, the slang term for ‘kitty’ is ‘minou’ …pronounced “me-knew” just made me giggle on how appropriate that name is !

[@dinak.2552]

I'm having a Severe cat Emergency and Need Help ASAP! I don't know where to contact you, so I'm asking for help here. 2wks ago, my mom brought in a 2yr old male cat to our v small apartment & just had him wander around. My youngest cat, Lyla 6, lost her mind with hissing fits, growling & running to my bedroom. My 2nd cat, Lily 10, just hid & observed. Well, my mom took the cat nxt door, after a day. Ever since then, Lyla, who is 2.5x the weight of my tiny, sensitive Lily, has been all out attacking her! They've nvr fought B4. But Lily has been stuck in my bedroom for 2wks now. Lyla sneaks in or busts the door down & I hear Lily screaming & I run in there. They've been on cat CBD for 3 days now, but it's only helped a bit. Both have big time peed on my bed, along w Lily scarily dedicating a few times. Lily has fragile physical & mental health. She was already really stressed & her weight tends to drop accordingly. Lyla hasn't been to the vet since 2018, cuz we couldn't get her in the carrier multiple appts. AND we will be moving soon, once a place is found. I'm very disabled & have already been v ill during this time & feel like my cats are going to kill me with this. Plz send me back some of your precious wisdom! I've loved what you've been doing, since "My cat from hell", first came out. I need your genius now. Thank you!

[@Peacedragon-rp4in]

My cats and kittens love my German shepherd. Without her, they are lost. Food and other stuff is not needed. Angel my German shepherd is.

[@stephanieescamilla9087]

Hi Jackson! You've helped me so much with raising my first cat and then fostering 4 kittens we found. I wanted to know what you think about taking your cat out on a pet stroller. Before I became a cat owner, I would take my dog on walks in her pet stroller. She had cancer and walks were her favorite so I bought the stroller to help us enjoy our favorite activity together. My dog passed away and I no longer use the stroller. The other day that I opened the stroller I caught my cat sleeping in the stroller. I have taken him around the house in the stroller and he does enjoy it. So I would like to know if pet strollers are a good idea or should I find other ways to bond with my cats. Thank you and you rock!

[@susies8834]

Jackson - one year ago I had to call the police on my “boyfriend” when he became violent. He refused to leave my home, so I had to take my two cats to a hotel with absolutely no preparation or forewarning. Because I had watched so many of your videos, I was somewhat prepared with a portable litter box, litter, food ready to go and carriers. I was also able to get the terrified cats comfortable fairly quickly at the hotel because of all your advice and guidance. As traumatizing as the experience was, I am so grateful to you - me and my two buddies kicked the loser to the curb and have since relocated across the country. Thank you for everything.

[@smokeykitty6023]

You sound like a strong, brave person! Your babies are lucky to have you to protect them. Hope all is well with you all now. I've never heard of a portable litter box! So clever...

[@MossyMozart]

@susies8834 - I am thrilled that you and your little family are both safe. Mr Jackson has helped me, too, but not as much as you were helped! Thank goodness he was there for you.

[@bethwiese-hz8yg]

Glad you guys are safe now ❤

[@bambinaforever1402]

Next time u get a new bf check out how is he with your cats. Some people are not good with cats, those re NOT good bf /gf material

[@silviabehrens2506]

I'm so glad you are safe now. Sending lots of love and strength

[@greenarrow219]

I can't afford a vacation, so I will just chill out with my cat instead 😂🐈

[@pelusita2016]

😹🤣😹😂😂😂welcome to my club !!🤣🙏🙈😉👋😸 To many Kiddo's I say 20 and my 2 other Dog senior Kiddo's

[@sanshine5128]

You are not alone😂home is where the heart ánd therefor the pets are🥳🥰happy holidays!

[@DeeE101]

I am with you on staying home with my fur baby! ❤️❤️

[@semperfi818]

Nothing wrong with taking a kitteh-centric staycation, sure: as a neurodivergent human who generally prefurrs feline to human company, I can relate to basic feline comfort-zone realities, and frankly am on a limited income which I'd rather spend on my kitteh.

[@isirlasplace91]

Same😂

[@joannebutzerin6448]

After years of being stressed out about my cats every time I left town, I finally decided to take them with me. They did great, and I am never leaving home without them again.

[@MariansNook]

I would love some tips on how to make my cat stress free when traveling!

[@surmasarkar5896]

Yes. Me too.

[@joannebutzerin6448]

@@MariansNook I know some tips. Pack your vehicle and then put pads, blankets, and cat beds all over so there is a choice of real estate/beds. Give each cat a crate or carrier to start out in and to stay in if they feel afraid. Don't leave until they have eaten breakfast and gone potty. You can bring a litter box and offer them a chance to go when you stop for a rest, but they should definitely go at home before you leave. Mine never go on the road so I don't bring a litter box anymore.

[@lizalove91]

My cat can’t even go to the vet without needing anxiety meds she’s so nervous about change in routine 😭I think if I had taken her out when she was little it would better

[@joannebutzerin6448]

@@lizalove91 You can give her some gabapentin. Take her out for a couple of short rides around the neighborhood.

[@kayak63red34]

I'm an emergency / CC veterinarian and have seen hundreds of cats over 36 years who have become ill, with the history of the owners being away. Some were cat-sat, many were left for a few days with food/water/extra litter, some were boarded. There's no question that the interruption of a cat's normalcy creates stress and can lead to illness. Thanks for your very thorough treatment.

[@mariamcdonald345]

I'm a professional pet sitter and I love everything about this video- I can't wait to share it with prospective clients! All the points he makes are excellent. A great pet sitter will go over all of these important aspects of pet care at a meet and greet, and this video is amazing prep for pet parents. I love it when clients have lots of enrichment for their cats, high value treats for me to give, and detailed written instructions.

[@Puddinrin]

what would you say is a good petsitter vs a bad/amateur one? I'm so anxious when looking to hire one because most in my area are all private (as in, no certification). I'm so afraid they'll either be abusive at worst, and incompetent at best, especially if I have a cat with special needs :/

[@bambinaforever1402]

@@mariamcdonald345 what insurance can protect your beloved cat from an abusive person or if a cat escapes and gets hit by a car? I do not need any money. Should insurance kill the bad pet sitter?

[@vacafuega]

​@@bambinaforever1402obviously insurance can't do that, but if someone is insured they're showing their willingness to be accountable for what happens. The only way to really ensure your pet is never in bad hands is obviously to never leave them, but that's not always possible. Petsitters who are proactive about care and accountability are going to be way better than someone who is just trying to make a quick buck.

[@melissa-anngarvin2027]

Stoked! I can't tell you how validating this video was for me Jackson. I don't actually know too much about cats but I am observant and tend to have feelings about how they feel so I've been deemed the family cat whisperer. I thank you for the work that you do, it provides me the vocabulary and confidence I need to protect the happiness of my feline family members 🙌

[@mariamcdonald345]

@@bambinaforever1402 I'm so sorry if you had a bad experience. Of course insurance can't prevent all disasters, but it's useful in the event of accidental injury, illness , property damage or injury to a third party.

[@bratsmom6749]

I didnt go on vacation, but I went for a routine test at the hospital. There was an unexpected heart problem and I was admitted. I was hysterical worrying about my rescue cat who was always so fearful. My friend went to care for the cat and spent lots of time with her. He said the cat kept checking the window, the last place she saw me outside. The cat loves this guy, so in the case of my demise I know she will be loved and cared for. 😊❤

[@sydneykendall7125]

May you be there for your cat for many years to come.

[@bratsmom6749]

@@sydneykendall7125 Bless your heart! Thank you! She's an older cat that I rescued because she had so many fears. She is much better now.

[@barbarascotto3873]

I know exactly how you feel. I have no one I trust to come into my house since I took two ferals in almost two years ago. They're constantly trying to get out. Being hospitalized is my biggest fear.

[@ajyarlett]

@@barbarascotto3873agreed, my same worry 😢

[@lyndeldunn7932]

Hope you’re feeling better now. ❤

[@debbiegranelli5437]

My husband and I used to take our 2 kitties with us on our annual 2-week vacation to Martha’s Vineyard, which included being in the car for up to 5 hours and traveling by ferry to the island. Carly and Abby had as much luggage as we did! 😻. They always did great! We even had a open carrier on the backseat so they could scurry there from their perch on the front seat (they ALWAYS rode shotgun). People often take their dogs and when other travelers saw our kitties, they smiled and said nice things! We lost both of them in the last few years, but I wanted to share this comment so that others would know what a normal thing it was for us to include them.❤

[@sketchur]

Yeah, we'd take ours with us normally, too. They're family. I just never thought of it any other way.

[@karengrohs4942]

Years ago, we used to take our two kitties with us when we visited my parents. They were not good riders though. More recent cats have been as we found out when you moved.

[@symbungee]

We used to take our 2 cats to the shack for a month each year, and a couple of weekend trips. The car journey was only 30 mins. After a few holidays the cats started to associate the carrier with a good time/fun and stopped crying when in the car.... I could get the carrier out and they would jump in voluntarily. That became important as they aged, they were easy going in the car for medical appointments etc. I miss Fluffy and Franklin ❤

[@wilsoncrystal9661]

It’s important to have a plan for your furbabies for any occasion, vacation, emergency, ANYTHING!

[@hoppingwren]

Yes we had an emergency when my partner's parent was dying in hospital and we needed to be away for 3 nights - it was honestly a bit tricky because it was unplanned but we had friends come in evening and night. Usually we get a pet sitter but she wasn't available at such short notice!

[@patriciamele2892]

Jackson how do we prepare for fire? Cause when that fire alarm goes off for cooking the cat is hiding scared.

[@nicolealfonso]

My cats are legit the one reason I don't want to be away from my home for more than 12h, thank you for this video, it's very veeery helpful!

[@MelanieDurette]

Lol I’m glad I’m not the only one who feels this way. I have to leave for almost two weeks in August and I can’t bear it! Have a stay in cat sitter booked though. A great place to find sitters is the vet schools if you have one in your city. Vet students are usually fantastic.

[@barbarascotto3873]

Me too!!! I took in two ferals in Oct 2021, and their first instinct is to run to the door when they get scared of something. The female actually escaped in April of 22, and she was hanging around the yard for 6 days before I was able to trap her with a drop trap. Aside from my husband dying, those six days were the second worst ime in my life. My other, older cats have never been outside, so they were not looking to escape, so I was semi comfortable having my neighbor come in to take care of them when I was a way, before I took these two in. Now I would never CONSIDER going anywhere overnight. I don't trust ANYONE to come in my house. Needless to say, I haven't been away overnight in almost two years. It's a real drag, I wish I could do something to alleviate my brain. I'm anxiety ridden to begin with, but this just sends me over the edge. I think all the time about what would I do if I ever had to be hospitalized. My only friend that I trust is 8 hours away from me. I hate living like this.

[@Sssssssslf]

​@@barbarascotto3873 I'm in the exact same situation so I can wholeheartedly relate! My cats are extremely nervous by nature and have never been used to anyone else but me, I know they'd be completely and utterly traumatised if I left them, whether that be with a sitter or in boarding so I've never left them in their lives but like you I always worry what would happen if I had to leave in an emergency or were hospitalised, it's very stressful and far from an ideal situation. I think the best thing that we can do is to make up a detailed instruction booklet like Jackson shows in the video with all of our cats likes and dislikes, feeding instructions, their special quirks, vet Info etc so at least we have that already prepared in an emergency situation if we had to leave and I think the next best thing you can do is to hunt for a really good sitter, a true cat lover that understands cats, not an easy task by no means. And if you find someone have them get used to your cats first and observe them with your cats so you can judge whether they're the right fit. I wish you luck in finding a solution to this difficult problem!

[@653j521]

@@barbarascotto3873 Focus on your cats' welfare over your fears. The cats rely on you to be strong. You can do this. Make plans. That will start you going ahead. It will help your anxiety to drop when you know they will always be safe.

[@barbarascotto3873]

@@Sssssssslf thank you for understanding! Everyone thinks I'm crazy (probably am) but since my husband died 34 months ago, my cats are the only thing I have to live for. Like I said, the only friend I trust is 8 hours away, and I'd still be nervous.

[@onbearfeet]

Thanks for this! I've been my downstairs neighbors' regular catsitter for several years (mostly because the cat saw me through the window and somehow decided I was the One Acceptable Stranger), and I've been doing most of what you recommend all along: giving him lots of chill hangout time and playtime in addition to food and scooping (he seems to enjoy loafing near me while I read a book), keeping everything as consistent as possible, etc. We're now at the point where he responds to his humans leaving and my walking in with a "where have you been?!" shoutfest, followed by face rubs. It's nice to be appreciated. 😂 He still gives his humans the stinkeye when they come back, but it's possible that's because I play bottlecaps with him more than they do.

[@SaiyukiGS]

pets appreciating you feels so good ngl 😂

[@onbearfeet]

@@SaiyukiGS The most accurate T-shirt I've ever seen was one that said, "I just want all the cats to love me best."

[@Sssssssslf]

Play bottlecaps with him more than they do ..thats so cute! 🥰

[@onbearfeet]

@ThreeOfAKindx3 He loves chasing plastic bottlecaps, and it's entertaining for me to flick them, too! I like seeing if I can get him airborne. 😂

[@patriciamele2892]

Lol. I was wondering what playing bottle caps was. Cute.

[@Mel-qz4xj]

As the owner of a professional pet sitting business for the last 20 years, I wish all my clients and future clients would see this video. You are on the money in so many ways! Thank you for doing this video!

[@charismahornum-fries691]

I so value pro sitters. I will never go back to any family, friend or anyone in my life. It's worth the money and investment into my cat's life. And being on vacation actually feels like being on vacation 😊😊

[@jenniferg5987]

Where are you located?

[@alysiagonzalez3529]

My son is home with Missy. She's fine.🥰

[@cruella8955]

In my first year as a cat owner (around 10 years ago), I very foolishly boarded my two kitties for 7 days during a vacation. I didn’t do any research, I just thought boarding was what I was supposed to do as a responsible cat parent. It took months for my cats to snap back to normal again after that. There were so many unknown, new cats in the boarding home, and although they were separated from them they could still see and smell the others. I felt (and still feel) so guilty about putting my lovelies through all that stress. If I’d known better I’d done better. Thanks for this video, it’s sure to save many cat people from making the same stupid mistake that I made.

[@1UTUBEUSERNAME]

Live and learn. There is zero point in feeling guilty. Your cats have long since forgotten about it.

[@JustineAdlong]

We also leave our petsitter armed with voice recordings of us "baby talking" to our cat. Just a minute or two a day makes a big difference to her mojo! We also do this when just one of us leaves, since our cat gets anxious without BOTH of us lol. It really helps our kitty relax and say "oh yeah, I guess they didn't abandon me forever" 😂

[@Sssssssslf]

This is such a sweet and great idea! 👏❤️

[@JustineAdlong]

@@Sssssssslf Aw thank you!

[@StragenTheDragon]

I thought about doing sth like this but I was afraid it would rather confuse my cat to hear my voice when I'm not there. Maybe I should give it a try (she's pretty chill without us, though)

[@JustineAdlong]

@@StragenTheDragon It seems like it might confuse kitty, but at least with ours it puts her at ease. Definitely worth a try!

[@Missbecification]

I took my boy with me on vacation for three weeks. He had an awesome time running around on the farm at full speed.

[@MossyMozart]

@Missbecification - Coyote territory? We learned the very hard way while on Cape Cod that coyotes will come out in the daylight to grab a kitty RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU! One kitty dashed flat out horizontally and outran the coyote while the other kitty dashed vertically up a very tall locust tree shivering and traumatized and would NOT come down for anything. We had to borrow a 50 foot ladder so my partner could climb up to get her. Every kid in the neighborhood held onto the ladder to stabilize it, so we bought them all some really big fancy cupcakes from a bakery in Trouro. No more playing in the yard even with us there with them.

[@sydneykendall7125]

​​@@MossyMozartThank goodness the "hard way" wasn't the hardest way! Glad your cats survived that experience with raw nature. Seems your kitties' survival instincts were on the ball.

[@karenadams5052]

I’m lucky that my pet sitter is my sister. She takes care of our fur babies in our home full time and it really gives us the piece of mind to enjoy our vacation. They love her as much as they do us. She brushes them and lets them have their outside time. If we didn’t have her we wouldn’t be going on vacation.

[@bambinaforever1402]

@@karenadams5052 u re lucky

[@karenadams5052]

@@bambinaforever1402 Yes and very appreciative of my sweet sister.

[@gettyro7390]

My daughter turned my home into her cat's vacation retreat. Miss Luna is in my lap and drooling within five minutes of arrival LOL.

[@Sssssssslf]

That's awesome I love that! 🥰

[@connie_360]

I vacation several times a year but I don't worry, my adult children will NEVER leave and my cats love them 😀

[@velmanovak6046]

I’ve been a cat sitter for 30 years and your video is excellent. Thank you for educating people!

[@jonbourgoin182]

Are you part of a larger company or is it something you do independently?

[@velmanovak6046]

@@jonbourgoin182 no this is my own company. I was solo for a while and then I added independent contractors and had 18 until California decided they should be employees. I am solo again and still loving it.

[@misskitty2133]

How much is the average fee for 3 days?? I have NO CLUE

[@sydneykendall7125]

​@@velmanovak6046 I remember hearing something about California making people hire their independent contractors. That didn't make sense to me. Do you know why CA did that?

[@velmanovak6046]

@@misskitty2133 it really depends on where you live and what services you need. In Orange County California I think it starts about $25 for a half hour basic visit. If the cats need medication, insulin, sub Q fluids, other special needs or if the cat sitter does overnights then obviously there’s more involved.

[@s.crawford12]

I just vacation at home with my cats. Its cheaper and my cats love the extra play time, attention and extra snacks for a few days. 😺😸😻

[@Amnaaljumaily]

It's tempting to ask a friend or neighbor to drop in, but absolutely getting a professional is key. It's affordable and allows a clear structure for the cats to rely on, plus you don't feel guilty asking them to ensure they play with the cats for at least 20 minutes or more. We noticed our wall flower cat actually grew in confidence when we left on vacation (oops! Learning moment for us, now we make sure to provide longer, daily play times around the same time in the morning and evenings and its made a huge difference specifically for that cat).

[@LPdedicated]

Currently cat-sitting two beautiful babies, one of them being a senior cat with special dietary needs, and their mom made sure I was informed about absolutely everything, from their diets, routine and behavior, so now we can just hang out without worrying if I missed something. :)

[@jvapellowe]

I regularly take my cats with me when I go to my parents' house (in town here), even just for dinner. That way, they got used to my parents as well as their house, and know where to expect the litter box, food, water, scratch post and toys to be. On the two weekends I needed to be away, I left them at my parents', and while they did miss me, they were able to be comfortable and relaxed there, which was a relief to us all!

[@wrayewenigmann3696]

I did that for my daughter's two cats for years so that she could have her holidays. Now so sadly, both of her cats have passed on and she has moved away so she can't be there for my cat.

[@halebird1539]

This is what I do as well! It’s nice because it got our kitty into the habit of doing this well before we went on vacation. Now it just seems like a second home and, best of all, with people he already likes and knows well.

[@alam5055]

I'm so glad I live in the same city as my sister. When I go on vacation, she takes care of my kitties and when she goes on vacation, I take care of her dog and chinchillas

[@deemoore97]

We just went on holiday and left the girls with their grandpa. They lived with him for a long time so they’re very comfortable with him and in the space. In fact, Lexa got so excited to see him that her tail was vibrating. Last year we left them there for 1 week while on a work trip, this time it was 2 weeks and honestly it seems like they just like his apartment better because it’s bigger and has a few more windows. We’re picking them up tonight so it’ll be interesting to see how grumpy they are about coming home haha

[@therealshard]

How was it when you came back?😊

[@dmitri9984]

Jackson, I just recently got my first kitten and the first thing I did was do a youtube search on taking care of them. So glad I found your channel, I have been watching non-stop and you are an abundance of valuable knowledge. Thank to you, she's gunna have the bestest most spoiled life. Thanks for all your hard work and all the incredible information you give out, we appreciate you!

[@mailynnmoon1648]

we are two in the same lmao

[@wannabeorganized4925]

We bring our cat with us. She won’t let anyone in the door to feed her so she goes with us to the cottage and seems to enjoy it as much as we do 😎

[@christinamendoza382]

Yes! My cat's love our family beach house. It is just as much a get away for them as it is for me!

[@MossyMozart]

@@christinamendoza382 - We go to Cape Cod and take the kitties. They would play in the yard while we are out there with them, then we all go back inside. UNTIL a coyote came running right past my partner in the MIDDLE OF THE DAY to try to grab a kitty lunch. They both got away, but it was horrifying and traumatizing for all 4 of us. They are not allowed to play in the yard anymore when we go to The Cape since the coyote was so brazen. Ask if there are coyotes in your beach area, and if so, use caution. PS: A friend who lives near Hollywood, California put his small terrier out into the fenced-in yard to pay when a coyote came sailing over the fence, grabbed the doggy, and fled with him in its mouth. My friend was very shaken to loose his little buddy that way. I don't blame coyotes - they have to eat, too - but there's no need to put your beloved pet on a platter for them.

[@sydneykendall7125]

My mom still lives in the neighborhood I grew up in. For decades there were no coyotes, but in the last few years they've come to live in the neighborhood woods. The ones I've seen around there look scrawny and hungry. Coyotes are on the move.

[@bambinaforever1402]

@@christinamendoza382 when Jackson meant travelling he meant going somewhere far and different. Going in between your home and your beach house where they know everything is hardly travelling

[@loisdunbar2612]

I camped for summers in a travel trailer and my boy Max was right there with me....❤❤❤

[@eec7622]

My cats are pandemic rescues and I've worked from home their entire lives. They are very avoidant of any visitors, and so I find that my next-door neighbor doing cat care while I'm away is the best option. They've seen and heard the neighbors through the widows and have seen me interact with them. The cats are much more at ease with them than I think they'd be with an overnight sitter they do not know. So, even though it's only a twice-per-day visit from my neighbor, this is an ideal situation for us.

[@Fancyfree252]

I hired a friend 10 years ago to sit with my cats. At this point she comes in 2x a day. She gives Squeeky such a great schedule that when I get home Squeeky tries to get me into his new schedule. 😂. I miss him so much when I’m gone. She sends me pictures and I sometimes think he enjoys his break from me. But I also see the party you showed in the first scene. 😂. Thanks for the videos.

[@susanbecker5610]

I'm a pet sitter with Rover and I absolutely love this video! You are so absolutely right. I will say that sometimes some cats just run anyway. You mentioned the pets will tell you, but there are cats that just don't come out and pet owners don't want to take the time for you to hang out and have their cats get used to you. I've even had an owner that didn't want to even do a meet and greet. Owner's that go the extra mile though are priceless, from providing notes, to extra treats, to routine information, to writen instructions, to a binder like you have with emergency numbers and vet information. All of these things are incredibly helpful, because sitters really want to give your pets the very best experience and care. Sometimes I work with clients too, if they're struggling financially to afford daily or twice a day visits I'll adjust prices. Or in other cases, I'll stay a little longer than what they're paying for, because I feel it's benefiting the cats. Let me just add, the slow blink, is absolute magic, when the cats come out. They go from scarred to calm immediately. For so many cat owners, your videos are a lifesaver.

[@sydneykendall7125]

You sound like a most excellent sitter! Good advice about the vet. I can't have a cat, but I love learning from Jackson and his community. I tried the chin lift and slow blink on my friends cat - a kitty I see very rarely - and she didn't it right back to me! When I was leaving my friend's place, the cat stood in the path and meowed repeatedly at me. Not sure what that was about. Maybe she was telling me to come back again. 😊

[@Milinkre]

This can't come at a better time! We are litterally going on a 1 week vacation later this month!

[@IzzyOnTheMove]

It's an absolute joy to bring my cat on vacation with me. He flies, rides trains and ferries. I don't drive and he weighs 14lbs so it's trickier, but we go on long trips and he's so pleasant to be around that it is totally worth it. ❤

[@evalynn1863]

I wish I could do this for my cat but I feel like she would just be too scared and I think she's too old to learn how to be confident outside of the house. I know she would love it. She adores laying out in our backyard, but that fear would be too much for her. I wish I could've normalized it when she was younger.

[@keekeejalen]

I’ve been very curious traveling with your cat how do they go to the bathroom?

[@NicolaHalsall]

I went to a music festival recently. My friend (the cats' auntie Debbie) stayed at my house with them the whole time. I cooked her favourite meals, bought her favourite treats & left her lots of to tier treats for the boys. They all 3 loved the bonding time and I felt secure that they were well loved and taken care of ❤

[@justinewhite-hadley3138]

I'm a professional pet sitter and my clients and I do this. Meeting and getting to know their kitties is critical! As is keeping up their routine. I always tell them there is no such thing as too many notes! 😊 I love my clients pet's like my own. ❤

[@stephh_nz]

I’ve been let down by pet & house sitters in the past so I have decided the best thing for me and my cats is a Cattery/boarding house. It allows me to relax while away knowing they’re safe and well looked after, not wondering if the sitter showed up! I did my research and found a great boutique place with individual rooms and a family run business that means the same people look after my fur babies every time. We take scent soakers to the Cattery and my girls seem to really love it.

[@razorreznor]

I use a cattery too and they're brilliant. The one time I tried to book our local pet sitter, she went nuts at me on the phone about her car breaking down and was going out of her mind from stress. Nope!

[@M-_-O]

Finally a sensible comment. I had to scroll way to far to find someone who is living my reality. Cat sitters are an extreme luxury and no one I’ve ever met can afford one or trusts the flaky people who show up (if they show up).

[@chrisholle4221]

Yes, this is also what I wanted to see. I am going on vacation in a little more than a month and I have my cats booked at a cat hotel. I went and checked the place out and it looks like it will be wonderful for my boys. It has indoor/outdoor (safe) play areas, no dogs allowed and the owners live right next door. So I am happy with what I found. My family lives too far away and anyone I would trust is allergic to cats.

[@agnieszka9904]

We live in rural Ireland, the only pet sitter I ever met was a really lovely person but she spent most day drinking, reason I know - I met her while working in the pub. Therefore I'll choose cattery. Simply because one near us has glowing reviews and it's professional and reliable. Plus strange person loitering around the house unattended with all the personal stuff around, I don't know how trusting you have to be to not feel uncomfortable. Glad that there's at least few people with similar view. Felt like the worst person to think this way🤷🙂

[@debbietaylor5183]

I'm also going to be boarding my cats in September not only that I have two cats that currently need re-introduced....one play aggressive other door dives I would hate to put pet sitter in that position currently I have great cattery not far from my home well run & in rural location too...I've explained the situation which they understood & they will be boarded in separate areas for now. May cost a bit extra but safer for cats imo plus unless you know pet sitter well then I wouldn't do it.

[@loes3161]

Thank you for this video, Jackson! I felt like I was being dramatic when I wrote a ''cat daddy guide'' for my brother who was catsitting my cats while I was away for a week. I wrote down their feeding schedule, the phone numbers of my landlord and neighbors, my vet, who to call in case of an outage of electricity or water, what to do in case of emergency, where the travelcase is etcetera etcetera. And I asked him to stay over the day before I left so we could go through the guide and I could show him everything...It felt like I was drilling him on a military mission :') happy to hear that it was actually not a strange idea.

[@pollyharris7637]

I have a friend who taught me to make a list of all possible contingency situations like: Who is their vet. Who is backup if for some reason your chosen pet sitter can't make it. Who has an extra house key in the neighborhood. How to reach you in an emergency. Who to call if you can't reach me. Who to call if there is an issue with plumbing, electrical, etc... And I know it's not something most of us want to think about but leave some directions on what to do with your fur babies if you pass away.

[@amystripling9139]

We travel to Texas in the winter and Alaska in the summer and our cat travels with us. She is great on the airplane. This last trip was her 5th trip and she didn't make a peep. We have an expandable carrier and fly first class so we are able to pull out her carrier, from under the seat, and expand it for most of the flight. She has even gone on multiple day car trips with us. She has her own suitcase full of toys, food dishes, treats, food, and portable litter box. She loves to look out the window when we drive down the road. It is fun to watch the reaction people have when they spot her looking out the back window.

[@MURZBO]

Thanks for posting this, Jackson. We had 2 pet sitters recently. One primary and a backup. Along with speaker surveillance cameras where we could sing lullaby songs to our baby daily and give instructions to the sitters when needed. Luckily it went well the biggest anxiety is being away from our baby!!

[@zoer7338]

Great idea with the speaker surveillance cameras! 👏

[@amyadams2253]

Yes! I set up cameras anytime I travel, not just for home security, but for furbaby peace of mind! The petsitter I had was amazing and waved to the camera by my baby's food bowl at every meal time! It was also nice to be able to check in on my baby when the petsitter wasn't there to make sure everything was still okay.

[@eleonorabartoli2225]

I had to suddenly leave the home of all their life and look for a home to buy, all in 45 days. Motel 6 was a life saver for me and them, pets stay free, no carpet, litter box in the bathroom. all was clean and they were comfortable while I went to work. One was 22 and the other 17 and I found out they were the best travelers!

[@adamstalilonis8787]

22 yo! Wtg! Must b feeding him the rite 🐟!!

[@aisha1728]

You gave us advice on how to keep our cats relaxed and happy. God knows how much I need advice on how to manage being away from them. I’m traveling soon and nothing kills me more than the fact that I’ll be apart from my little baby for a while :((

[@8zZkellyZz8]

My cat is super chill and we bring her everywhere on vacation with us. My boyfriend is from Newfoundland and we flew there from Vancouver with her in the cabin with us 🥰

[@sherribirdsong9756]

Greetings Jackson and all cat (and dog) people followers😊 ❤! Well, I was blessed enough to have a busy, part-time career of being a petsitter/house-sitter before there were such people around, at least where I lived, over 27 years ago...so, when you wanted to go on vacation, even long, extended family vacations, I was the girl you called, when you wanted a trustworthy, loving, and caring person with the reputation of spoiling the animals so much, that when you got home, your fur babies would look at you, and say: "oh, its you, hi, where's Auntie Sherri?"😂❤😮😊❤

[@pelusita2016]

You had an amazing 😍 Job!🐈🐈‍⬛❤️🙏

[@KaraOfTheSea]

Luckily for me, both of my cats are "Mojito cats" so when I go away I usually have one of my neighbors hang out with them in the morning and evening. However, my dog has a lot of health problems so I only let my mom and step-dad take care of her (they are both in the medical field and one of her medicines is an injection). And since she isn't allowed to have vaccines anymore (a consequence of her diagnosis) I can't board her. But what is fascinating is when we get home from our trip, the cats immediately run to greet my dog and rub up against her. Then they look up at us like "Oh hey, how's it going?"

[@ColleenLotz]

Thanks for this video. It has given me food for thought. However, I am so blessed. The lady who cleans my house once a week and has been with me since my 2 cats were kittens, is happy to come and stay in my house. She loves my 2 girls, knows their routines, knows what they like and dislike. So it is such a great comfort to me when I go away. I know they're safe and happy while I'm away. As a matter of fact, they barely acknowledge my return. 😬😊

[@megany0510]

My husband and I went for our first vacation in a decade and we had a friend of ours take care of our cat. She consistently texted us pictures and videos so we could see how well our cat was. He acted like when he was around me!

[@chelseagrooms-perez2316]

A long time ago (i am quite ashamed to admit), I did all the “very bad” things, but we stopped after a very bad scare. Our male developed pancreatitis and stopped eating/drinking (made more dangerous by the fact that he was very overweight from having been on a kibble diet that wasn’t properly tailored. We fixed that, too. They all only get wet food now, and dry treats to help clean their teeth), and we almost lost him. Since then, we haven’t been on vacation, because we didn’t have friends/family that we trusted living close enough, and the hubby and i are both very paranoid about strangers in our home. Hopefully we can find a good sitter we can rely on, because trips to visit family are the #1 reason my husband wants a break from cats when the three we have pass, and why he only wants to adopt 1 cat (to make it easier/cheaper to travel with) after we’ve taken our big vacation.

[@kimberlycorliss9616]

Staying with my friends cats right now. They definitely want me here, but miss their mom and dad too. The kitties know me well and I think my presence makes them feel more secure.

[@amberdyet8059]

My cat is my vacation period! Exclamation point!!😃😺

[@AnnaLee2222]

I just started my own cat-sitting biz in my senior years. I had my first cat as a toddler and throughout life but there is STILL so much to learn! THANK YOU for my continuing my education! Love, Light, and Cat Mojo!

[@rebeccaaustin3041]

I wish there were more videos like this! I had one cat that was miserable every time I left for vacation. She would poop all over the house while I was away, which was really embarrassing to have the petsitter see that. I started taking her with me, and she was happy as can be. I was shocked, but kept taking her with me when I could. My new cat has a total different personality. She doesn't mind me leaving as long as she has visitors. My petsitter has been really good with her. Every cat is different.

[@lisadieter-burns]

You make me feel like I am not the crazy cat lady. I leave a detailed schedule, pre-package the bunnies' food (we have cats and 2 bunnies) , leave post-its on things. I completely agree with you about making your pet sitter successful = your success. Pre-visits, daily check-ins, notes on things, doing all precautionary work I can think of. Then I relax. ❤

[@meghannsherman]

I worry most about my bunnies and making sure they have constant food and don't go into stasis. I'd worry about that if I had someone else caring for them and would probably board them with a bunny rescue in an emergency.

[@lisadieter-burns]

@@meghannsherman yes. I totally agree. It has been something that I work diligently with my sitter. Bunnies are so unique in their needs. My pet sitter keeps the bunny boxes to the brim with hay. I also pre-make new bunny boxes with new hay for her to switch out. This way I know they are getting the portions I feel they need. 🐇

[@meghannsherman]

@@lisadieter-burns Such great ideas!

[@alwineweerdesteijn2195]

Just stay home and enjoy good company

[@AllThingsConsidered333]

My daughter has taught our cats to sit and wait patiently before they are fed and also before they are allowed outside in the yard. Next we will be tackling clicker and harness training! We so appreciate all your videos and knowledge that you share with us!

[@Metqa]

that is so important and so refreshing to have a pet who controls itself. two of my cats were well trained and would sit , stay, wait, and wait for dinner even when the plate was on the floor. This came from the frustration of , when I fed kibble, my kitten rushing in and headbutting the bowl out of my hand each feeding time, kibble everywhere. And harness trained is so nice for any travelling. my cats could go for walks on a leash and heel and sit just like a dog ( my mom trained all of our dogs, so I picked it up from her) . It made travelling to the vet, or travelling for holidays that much nicer. I used to take my cats with me, they were used to the car because I accustomed them from kittens so they weren't afraid. So kitty's got to go on Family visits but they usually stayed in my and had their freedom, privacy, litter box in their own space and could come out to visit or be visited . Clicker training was the way to go! I have 3 adult cats now (RIP my Late Qiwi and Bean) that were abandoned by my neighbor and have never been trained and it is driving me up a wall how poorly mannered they are. Once you successfully clicker train cats you will be astonished at how much better life is with them compared to untrained cats.

[@niram4107]

​@Metqa Would you be able to recommend good books, websites, etc for training cats. Thanking you in advance.

[@AllThingsConsidered333]

@@niram4107 Jackson galaxy is who we always watch and my daughter just kind of figured it out on her own how to train them. She already had them pretty well trained to sit before feeding or going outside before we found Jackson. Since we’ve been watching his videos, we see he does go over some stuff himself then also interviews and links to other folks who teach clicker training and more

[@PurrSitCatSitting]

This cat sitter thanks you for sharing this excellent advice! This career is not just about loving cats, it's about providing the most security and the least stress for them *and* their humans. 😻

[@suefuller3111]

I'm glad you mentioned that you can take your cat on vacation. My girl and I are really attached, and the idea of boarding her was never considered since I'd worry that she'd think I abandoned her. We don't have petsitters out here that do cats, so she's coming with me on vacation. We're taking a mini vacation next month to see how she travels to a destination other than the vet. If she does well on the drive and at the hotel, we'll be going on a longer trip next year (with a stop over each way to give both of us a break - even I don't want to be in a car for 10-11 hours straight). I'm taking toys and her bed, as well as her usual needs (litterbox, food, etc.), and I think she'll do great. I do have to practice putting her on a harness - I don't think she'll be a fan, so we'll see.

[@bmiles4131]

Keep a towel in the crate in case you’re stuck in traffic and she suddenly has to go. You don’t know what their pee schedule is while your at work. Learned the hard way. Later got a big crate and put a little litter box in it. Much better. And always assume if sun touches your car it will be 140F within 10 min. Avoid any possible 1-2 hour traffic jams in mid day as while cats are more heat tolerant than dogs, they don’t sweat either. (If you are in Texas, travel by night, I swear.) along those lines, assume cement and dry sand are hot enough to cook an egg unless you are also barefoot or have put your palm down for several minutes.

[@lbarriobero]

Excellent video!!! My wife is a cat sitter and we watched this video together. We learned new things to improve the life of our cats and the cats she takes care of. Thank you!

[@shelleyreece9574]

Thanks for this video! I spent weeks thinking about how to best care for my timid senior cat while I was on vacation. She doesn't travel well, and people were telling me to just board her, but I knew that would be awful for her. In the end I decided to invest in an overnight sitter - someone who would effectively mimic my routines, coming home in the evening, staying overnight, and then leaving in the morning. I really appreciate all the content you've created over the years to help me provide a safe home for her, and I'm so happy that I was able to use that info to figure out correctly what to do :)

[@erickaotterman5957]

This is something I've spent a lot of time thinking about. Worrying about our cats has pretty much kept us from vacationing any more (that and covid). When we did have to leave the house for a few days because work was being down on the floors, we found a hotel that let us bring our cats with us and brought everything we could to make them feel as at ease as possible. It was still awful for them though. They just didn't feel at ease in a strange place. I did start talking with a friend a couple of days ago about the possibility of her cat sitting for us. We talked about her coming over well in advance to become a familiar face. She's one of the few people I would trust because she is so conscientious about cats.

[@LanaStyles3]

Literally leaving my cats for the first time next week for 3 days. This made me feel better about the pet sitter I have lined up!

[@SaikaTheCasual]

Looking forward to this video! We are going on vacation for the first time in 6 years due to our cats. We are very careful to not stress them and we don’t want to leave them alone - so fortunately, my in-laws will live in our home for the duration of our vacation to take care of all of our furrballs needs! :) we coached them on what to look out for in their behaviour, when to call a vet, how to get them into their transport boxes… your videos helped us a lot with understanding cats, which is why we can now share this knowledge way better now!

[@bambinaforever1402]

The best way for the cats. U re lucky to have someone related available

[@msmorro]

Great video. I wish I had this foresight when I was younger and left my wallflower cat alone or with friends. We had 15 great years together but I can’t help and think back about how I could have made life better for him when I traveled. Don’t wait until it’s too late. Now I have a harness trained cat that I may be able to take on vacation one day. I try not to make the same mistakes but I can’t help wishing I could do it over. RIP Wilson.

[@margaretburley3256]

You know it now! How were we supposed to know back in the day? The vet and the adoption agency never even told us the littlest things. . . We got our new adopted cat back home years ago, open his carrier and didn’t see him again except for a rare glimpse in three weeks! (Our house is kind of big.)Why didn’t she tell me - or why didn’t I know - to have opened the carrier in a smaller space? Ugh. But let’s try to not sweat over the past. Now we know!

[@pvdm709]

What I noticed for when taking a cat for a car ride, when they are high up enough to see outside the window and see all the movement, they are more relaxed.

[@nancysickles4419]

Thank you Jackson I am a pet sitter, and I appreciate this video. You hit the nail on the head. I am sharing this video with my group of other pet sitter‘s. We have formed a net work, and we work with each other instead of against each other to provide the best care for our pet parents and their pets.

[@okeating3663]

Thank you for all these fantastic suggestions. My luka is a very important part of our family. We work hard to enrich his world. Hammock in his favorite window with a view of everything. And he even sees us when we drive up at the apartment. So cool to see him in the window. He has all kinds of toys large and small and his carrier well he loves. Its set up all the time with his favorite teddy bear for cuddling. I have trained him oh a harness and he does very well. He us a bolter and I'm glad the common area hallway has 2 glass doors so he won't get far. He is spoiled in so many ways including special treats , catnip and love. He picked us at the shelter and our lives have been enriched since that time. I could never just leave him home alone for even a day. I do want to take a trip with my family, we will drive and I even thought up on what to take. How he will travel, and yes his harness will be on and attached to his carrier. We even had a few trial car trips. He did well except the meowing. But I talked to him and he did very well. Not sure when we can take our trip , but I know now all my planning that I thought off is exactly what you stated in this video. Now I have peace of mind I will make his and out trip a fantastic time. Again thank you for this informative pet vacation video.

[@MarylandMermaid]

I’ve owned a pet sitting service for over 29 years. Many clients have booked two or three visits a day for their cats. They appreciate and need human attention. I used to get asked to do every third day or every second day and I absolutely won’t. They must book at least one visit each day. I cannot understand people leaving cats alone for even a day. I love my work and feel blessed to be with animals everyday. I have two cats, a dog and a parrot.

[@jasonhorowitz4015]

Thanks for the awesome video Jackson! I'm writing this while we are on our summer vacation. Whenever we travel, our cats go to 'summer camp' at my parents place. Even though this isn't the optimal choice based on the video, it works for us for a few reasons: First, our cats have been there many times, and are now used to it. Second, they have a larger, nicer apartment, with great windows with lots of birds. This is why we call it summer camp. In fact, our two cats actually tend to behave better while they are over there. It also helps that my parents are great at taking care of them. Just my two cents. Happy travels!

[@JonesStreetMusic]

Our cats go to summer camp, too (we call it cat camp). They're well cared for with reliable people who spend time cuddling them (if they want to be cuddled - one always does, one never does because he is not into strangers). We send their food and pro-biotics with them, and blankies from home so they still have their home smells. They, too, are in a nice cat apartment. It works for us and it works for the cats. Sure it's probably a little stressful to be away from home and away from us, but I can tell you that when my husband was in hospital a couple of years ago (not covid) the cats were just as stressed out that he wasn't here, so I don't know that a cat sitter would work for them anyway. Not to say there aren't great cat sitters out there - I'm sure there are! Plenty of them right on this page. But it's not the best option for my cats nor my humans and I'm glad Jackson left the door open on conversation and didn't make it a Thou Shalt. :) Happy trails!

[@jopa9703]

I haven't taken a holiday since I had my first cat. My cats are more important to me than a few days' holiday.

[@Maggied50]

We’ve taken our cats in a car, plane, hotel and RV camping! They do great. Great video too!

[@divinelightreadingsbykris777]

How did you get your kitty on the plane? I was thinking of taking an RV trip with him lol.

[@Maggied50]

@@divinelightreadingsbykris777 we got them used to carriers so they felt secure in them. We put harness with leash to carry securely through TSA. Then would open carrier top while waiting to board; they never went far from carriers. They were zipped back up during takeoff and landing but then I opened the top of the carrier in-flight and they would peek their head. That was basically it. We did that with two cats several times and have never had a problem. I would say the most important thing would be getting them used to their carriers so they like the carrier and feel secure in it. Good luck!

[@653j521]

@@divinelightreadingsbykris777 My sister and her husband years ago had a furbaby before human babies. The cat enjoyed their camper they lived in on the road going to fairs to sell tshirts at tractor pulls. (The cat couldn't handle a strange house so no staying with us anymore.) One day they couldn't find her and asked our mother to look for the cat. Armed with an open can of tuna she tried walking around the empty fairgrounds calling here, kitty kitty. Nothing. Gave up. Some time later they discovered the cat in a drawer in the camper. She had found a cozy spot. Tragedy averted. Mom was a trooper! Many years before, she had unsuccessfully tried to find a missing dog with hamburger. Hey, sometimes you have to improvise. :) Alas, when my other sister's cat escaped from my brother's house somehow (basement window?) moving cross country, the cat was never seen again. Staying at someone else's house is really scary for some cats.

[@high_ryze666]

I'm terrified to bring my cat on a plane. I've heard horror stories about airlines sedating the cats, and saying they can't be up in the cabin with you, and they have to go in the belly of the plane with all the luggage. I can't imagine putting my cat through that, makes me sad just thinking about it. Which airlines have you flown with, that have been good about pets?

[@JeffShoub]

@@high_ryze666 We take our 2 cats back and forth to Mexico. American Airlines is great. Never a problem with them in the cabin. They say the cats have to stay underneath the seat in front, but on all our trips,other than landing and takeoff, no one has ever said a word about, having my cat on my lap.

[@sukhikay]

As a pet sitter- thank you!!!!!!!!!!! FYI most sitters have a rule that for the 12 hour period we are able to leave and come back a couple times, they don’t usually stay full 12 but deff do a huge portion of it ! And that’s why the price is cheaper for 12 hours or house sitting

[@Synchroskate56]

Hey Jackson! I am a feline vet and I just advise my clients to never leave their cats. 😂 All kidding aside, even with the best petsitting situation, many cats will still have anxiety- related illness which is most often expressed when their human returns. I WISH there were more cat-friendly lodgings so we don’t have to leave our cats behind. What Thank you again for your cat-savvy advise! 🐾🐾

[@davebryant8050]

The problem with taking cats on vacation is that too often they just end up locked up in a room while their owners are out doing their thing. I had to take a cat with me once when my wife had an eergency illness and although things were going okay the motel had a miscommunication with the maids and they were trying to corner my cat in the room when I returned and the cat was terrified for weeks after that. A sitter is the only real way to maintain the status quo.

[@georgiarn3915]

For the past 10 years my mom has been our Petsitter. She has lived with us since 2019 now, so she knows the feeding times, and other routines. She also brushes, and otherwise provides comfort and affection for them when my husband and I are out of town. It really works out great because she is a member of the household on a daily basis now. I don't know what we would do without her!

[@BrittMFH]

Yes, that's a wonderful thing while it lasts. Once my mother couldn't pet sit bc of age, it becomes another matter.

[@georgiarn3915]

@@BrittMFH very true. It will be an issue for us too in the foreseeable future. 😔 My mom is 73 and she has been declining over the past few years.

[@TheILoveBinx]

i think this is definitely a good rule of thumb especially for those really shy and anxious cats but it also does depend on your cat. my cat is pretty curious since shes only a one year old. i had to care for her for a week at my moms house because my boyfriend (who had been watching her for two months or so back on campus, where we normally reside) had to leave for a week, so i just took a few of her favorite toys and a small old cat scratcher to bring with us. because of how long i was at my mom's house after we adopted her she forgot me for a little bit but she got very comfortable in the new environment after a few hours. also i just realized we did actually have a little santa stash for her because my mom came back one day and was like "i bought some toys for my grandkitty!" 😂

[@marlapear3439]

Such great advice! I recently had a pet sitter for a weekend trip and got such different results from my 2 cats. The shier one loved her, was waiting at the door for her to come and play by day 3. The usually outgoing one was horrified. She hissed, she hid, and wouldn’t come out to even eat until the sitter was gone. She made the most sad noise of relief when I got home. It’s so important to build that positive association and next time I will make sure she has lots of positive reinforcement during the meet and greet! I also make sure anyone who comes over introduces themselves with treats and quiet voices :)

[@jodeedugger9807]

Jackson your so detailed I really like that about you 😊👌🏻 My neighbors always wrote out instructions for me when to feed their cats what toys they liked any vitamins or meds they were on when to take out the cat box what cat liked pets and cuddles and what cat liked to be more independent and so on and so forth, this really helped me become a good and trusted cat sitter and house sitter because they also left me instructions on how to take care of the house. I was paid $20 a day for cat and house sitting which was good money.

[@balkenbrack]

Over the years, I’ve been able to find dependable cat-loving people who are visiting Vancouver. I offer them free accommodation in exchange for cat care. This seems to work pretty well and definitely gives the cats a routine. I also give the cat-sitter detailed instructions as you describe - very important.

[@h.wayneb3495]

Thanks for sharing your experiences, We have had 4 cats now for 3-1/2 years now, thier mother was feral cat that had showed up out of blue and in rough shape this is a long story however indoor/outdoor cats all fixed including momma cat which disappeared after nursing time was up. Well maybe not the right way to leave but works both upper and lower back garage doors latched at about 10" so they can come and go also extra food, water and bedding areas and seems to work. These cats keep a distance from strangers and even family members as they've accepted my wife and myself but very guarded with others.

[@animatorstanley]

I have two cats and we went away for a weekend. The neighbor and her daughter came over twice a day to take care of them, and the dog came with us. We even had a camera to could watch the cats. They did so well, and were super chill. Honestly they're more mischievous when the dog's around. 😂 we came home and they were happy to see us but not traumatized by our absence, no bad behavior.

[@yuliyayakhontova5157]

I take my cat with me whenever I have to leave overnight, and we traveled together all over the East Coast from Florida to Upstate New York, and to Puerto Rico, in the car, plane and a boat :) He is an amazingly well adjusted, confident and friendly 😊

[@kamala24the1st]

We're on a plane tomorrow afternoon and bound for Europe!! We are gone for 10 days. I'm off for the summer And they're used to me being home. We have one who loves whoever is popping in to spend time with them, but the other hides and it stresses me out Any prep we can do or any tips we haven't tried will be passed on to my sitter The same person always takes care of them so I'm hoping he'll come around eventually.

[@alexandriashannon7438]

We take our cat camping, we have a 16 foot trailer and she has a cubby hole meant for storage behind the sitting bench that she can escape into. We trained her to be comfortable in the trailer by taking her out to it in the driveway a few times long before we actually went camping and her litterbox is in the bathtub. She seems to enjoy it. 💜😺

[@Sssssssslf]

That's awesome I love that! 🥰

[@SableWolfAngel]

Great timing on this video, Jackson! I'm on vacation right now! I don't really have the means to hire a 12 hour overnight petsitter, but I got some very reliable friends to do it while I'm up in the mountains. One friend comes in the morning/afternoon to play with my dear Popkat and just check on him, then a different friend comes in the evening to feed him, give him Churu, fill his water, play with him, etc. I even get pictures and videos of my baby while I'm away! I'm lucky my cat is really easy going so he adjusts to my absence rather well and when I come home, he greets me like a normal day when I come from work and acts like it's business as usual. He's used to these friends as well because they've come over before and he's really friendly overall so he's just as welcoming to complete strangers as people he knows. I can rest easy knowing he's well tended while I get some R&R. Your video gave me confidence since I was already doing a lot of the ideal stuff you mentioned. It lends a lot of credence from a cat expert such as yourself! Thanks for the great content!

[@pennycaschera203]

Thank you for helping me to feel less like a helicopter mom since I also have a book that is very specific to everything cat related. Since we have 6 cats, I have a picture of each cat with a personality description/friendships. Their favorite foods, treats, toys, and household spots. Our book has removable health info, vaccination information, and past health issues. I always let the vet know when we're going out of town and make sure they have my cell phone handy. I also have the closest emergency vet info listed. There's a detailed schedule sheet, including chore times, feeding locations, and how they like it prepared. Our pet sitter stays at our house, so I included directions for operating the appliances and TV. Our itinerary is included as well as contact numbers should we be out of cell phone areas. About a week before we leave, I verify and update all information and email to our sitter to look over and familiar herself with any changes. I am better able to relax, knowing that the kids are getting as close to the level of care as possible when I'm not there. Even my skittish girl seems to handle me being gone surprisingly well as long as our routine is maintained.

[@tfk5649]

As a cat sitter I always arrange a home visit to meet the cat/s & family prior to booking. As Jackson says it's like an interview & you should also be able to ask for references & ensure the sitter is insured. I don't do overnight stays but again as Jackson says it's important to have a routine. I organize my visits to be approximately at the same time morning & evening. I also keep the visits routine too. So I will greet the kitty client maybe a little play if they want & then soak bowls, clean litter tray. This is followed by a good play session then they have food (I alway mush up food!). However, the routine will change according to the kitty clients needs. Some kitties love watching cat tv on youtube, classical or other music relaxes other kitties. I bring along cat toys, high quality treats (after checking with human), groom, take out for walks, send updates etc. My aim is to give kitties as happy time as possible when I visit so they have a positive experience. When you are booking a cat sitter it's important to choose a person who your cat is happy with & then continuity is key if possible. Cat sitters also use cat sitters so if your regular one isn't available, ask them who they use.

[@MossyMozart]

@tfk5649 - All great suggestions. How much (on average) does cat-sitting cost?

[@tfk5649]

@@MossyMozart I'm live in London, England & charge between British £15 or approx US $20 for a 30 minute visit.

[@theresarogers4262]

Oh man I've worried about this for YEARS!! So glad you did a video on it!! THANK YOU

[@myhope8181]

Love this video. I use to leave my poor cat a few days with food and water when I traveled NOT knowing how bad it was. Always heard cats can be left for 3-4 days etc…BUT over the last few years he doesn’t get left more than a few hours. If I have to travel there is always someone with him and if I travel by car, he now goes with me. His foldable cat cube, and a litter box in the trunk with the seat down for his access. I’ve learned all these tips from the videos so thank you Jackson we don’t know what we don’t know and Simba thanks you too! 💕

[@Hortonscakes]

I only have my Mom in law over to cat sit if we go away for more than 24hrs. And she comes over while we are here because they are her grandbabies. We recently acquired an almost adult cat, so I'll have my MIL over to just come visit so the new cat gets to know her. My big boy, Queso is used to her. We plan on getting automatic water/food feeders soon because my work schedule is all over the place right now. Thank you Jackson!

[@patriciagoncalves-adiestra970]

Thanks Jackson! I'm a cat sitter and do all that you mentioned! So happy to know that I do all I can to make cats "vacations" the best days possible 😻

[@nikkierasmus9517]

My partner and I got our 2 year old a sibling followed all your videos on cat intros and they really worked thank you so much. We also looking at going on vacation next year my sister usually comes to sit our 2 year old when we out for the whole day so we planning on asking her to stay and sit them when we away

[@millafilppula4083]

I had an unexpected opportunity to go on vacation last fall, for one week. I was worried about what to do with my cat but a friend of mine, who has visited every now and then, offered to take her in for the week. I grew up around people with the mentality that cats are so independent that they don't really need to be taken care of, but I didn't feel okay with leaving my cat for a week with someone just coming by every now and then. I took all her favorite things, all the blankets i crocheted for her, her favorite boxes as well as scratching post and cat tree. I bought her extra treats and when we arrived at my friend we spent some time together before I left. I was so worried, but when my friend sent me videos of my cat playing in the grass outside and sleeping on top of my friend on the couch, I felt so relieved. Every day i would ask how has she been eating and pooping and does she seem anxious, and she was a little anxious but from the videos I saw she seemed to be doing alright. I felt bad for it but I didn't want to miss a one in a lifetime opportunity so I took it. Thank you for your video, now I can plan for my cat when going on vacation in the future (if I ever get the chance again)

[@artransue]

We were always nervous about taking our cat on vacation but because he is on a very strict medication routine for FIC it is hard to entrust that to others. We finally gave in and took him. It was hard at first because he was a bit nervous but after some trial and error he is totally fine with it now. He really seems to do best when we are his constant support.

[@annetteherrera2813]

I was more concerned with my outdoor feral cat. When I went on vacation, I made sure that my neighbor followed my routine. It wasn’t exact, but at least I know she was fed. This really worried me more than my three indoor cats. Feeding feral’s outside is a whole other story. Maybe you can do a video I’m going on vacation and feeding a cat colony or strays. This is also a big topic for cat people.

[@starrywizdom]

That was the main reason that one of our family always had to stay at home while we still had the lovely feral beauty who adopted us to care for. She was so skittish we didn't think she'd even come into the yard for food if someone other than the family put it out for her! After over 15 years under our care, she passed peacefully of a stroke about a year ago.

[@sallyboyd1212]

My biggest concern is separation anxiety. I discovered on my last trip that it goes both ways. My neighbor has developed a relationship with her and plays with her to get her out of hiding. I plan to ask for regular pictures of her to make me feel better.

[@sherrybirchall8677]

Thank you Jackson, for this video. I am leaving in August, for about a week, to go to my grandson's wedding. I have been so worried about the best thing to do for my kitty. This video really helps.

[@Nugget1ify]

The binder is a great idea! I wish Jackson had a template for it. That would be SO helpful! Great info! Thanks Jackson 😊

[@rosemaryaugustine130]

I do an info sheet with every trip and post on the cabinet above the counter…it includes feeding wet and dry, water bowls and litter locations, back door issues, lights, AC or heat, TV or Radio, Mail, Trash days, etc… I’ve done this for years, and I do this still for a sitter that’s been with me for the last year. Plus she has all my emergency info. I also had to fill out her detailed form when I hired her. Binder is great idea as well. Some of my info changes with each trip, so I highlight specific changes.

[@jadesadventure4150]

My mum house sits while we go on holidays and our cat is very comfortable and familiar with my mum. She is amazing with sticking to our feeding routine as well and works similar hours so is usually in and out of the house at the same times. Mum is awesome ☺️. I think our cat likes a break from the energetic and loud child too so it's a holiday for everyone haha 😂

[@bdlrnzi]

This information is so useful as well for those occasions when one is hospitalized. I called on my wonderful catsitter to care for my boyz, Humphrey and Bogart, when I was in the hospital for 10 days a few years ago. It was one worry that was off my mind. It is great, too, if a catsitter can contact you while away to let you know how things are going.

[@sydneykendall7125]

Love you kitties' names!

[@Lina-ku6iy]

This is what works for me and my babies: I'm in my early twenties and have 3 cats, all about 2 years old. I litterally spend all my nights at home. When I can't, I ask my sister or a close friend in advance to sleep at my place. Over the holidays I travel with my cats to my parents and I taught my parents how to care for my babies. This summer I went for the first time on vacation, so my cats went to my parents house, which is a 3h car drive away, and they spend there for about 3 weeks. They know the place, my parents and our family dog well and they got a lot of stuff with their sent on with them (they also have 2 cattrees and litterboxes there, with their smell on). My mom comitted to sleep with them every night (It's so important for my cats, as they otherwise have a hard time calming down and they love to cuddle). They get their usual food and waterfountain with them and my parents give them all the attention they need (they are very needy). My cats are very happy staying there and they love exploring new rooms and following the dog around. But ofcours it's not like at home, as everything in my flat is litterally catified, so they get the most out of being indoor cats. ❤

[@zaskie84]

I've been doing catsitting in the recent months and I totally agree with the points in the video! I always think along the lines of... if owner is going for holiday, kitty is gonna have a great holiday at home too! I request owners' permission to give treats and I try to play more with kitty (often even more than their pawrents do) so that kitty is happy and active and doesn't think about their mama or papa so much.

[@noshowjackie]

La Quinta offers some pet-friendly rooms in the Southwest. They are paw-some! 😺🐾

[@MossyMozart]

@jackiedshow - Best Western is the same. We had to stay in one for a month until the house was ready and they didn't bat an eyelash when I told them we had TWO cats. They have rooms specifically for pet families and a doorknob hanger that alerts the staff when pets are inside. We were very pleased.

[@daphnie816]

I didn't even know petsitters existed. One of the things that's been stressing me out most about planning a big trip I want to go on is what to do with my cats. My sister offered to board them, but there could be complications between her pets and mine. I love the idea of them staying home but still having someone care for them regularly!

[@user-bt2ef1cl9i]

We take our four cats with us every two months when we travel by car between MD and AZ, and when we go on vacation and week-long meetings. They do great! While in the car, their living area consists of two medium crates wired together in and a third smaller crate for the litter box. Takes up the rear/cargo area of our station wagon. In the winter we use a heating pad and summer We have small cage fans, and a nightlight near the litter box and food areas. For stays in hotels (especially for times we need to leave the room), we have a cage system that breaks down into 12x12 squares. Wanted to reduce the chance of housekeeping accidentally opening the door and one of our girls bolting. All four cats are harness trained, but we use a rolling double decker carrier to move them from the car to wherever they need to go, again, to minimize the risk of something frightening them and causing them to bolt. Last, but not least, one cat gets a little stressed in new hotel rooms, even though this cage system has all of their favorite toys and blankets, so we use the Feliway diffuser and calming collar for her. Hope this helps others see you can travel with cats if you plan it, and everyone is less stressed.