The number of people choosing to travel with their pets is on the rise. According to an enqûete by the American Pet Products Association, 37% of pet owners take their pets on trips, up from 19% some 10 years ago. Today, many people see their pet as a family member. And a family member isn't something you just leave behind.

People are also increasingly booking short vacations; it is quite cumbersome to take the pet away somewhere each time or arrange a sitter for a few days.

Taking a dog on vacation with you, no one is surprised. But can it also be done for the cat?

The alternatives in a row:

• Leaving the cat alone at home: in itself, it could be done if your cat is used to going in and out by itself. However, experience shows that quite a few cats disappear during the vacation period.
• Arranging a babysitter: it can be the neighbors or a professional babysitter. That is already a much better solution, the only drawback is that someone has to be inside your house all the time which some people don't like.
• A cat hotel: cats are attached to their territory but also to their owner. In this case, both disappear from sight. Moreover, a cat hotel with the strange smells and the presence of other cats can feel stressful, especially the first few days.

And how about taking your cat on vacation with you?

Traveling with cats is not suitable for all cats. But if your cat is fairly strongly attached to the family and not extremely stress sensitive, then it can be fine. Certainly purebred cats like British Shorthairs can usually be easily taken on vacation.

How do you know if your cat is suitable to take on vacation?

• No cat likes the transport basket, but if you know from your cat that it will be a half-hour fight to get them in it, you shouldn't do it.
• How does your cat behave at the vet? Is she completely paralyzed with fear and slips off the table as quickly as possible to sit behind the cabinet. Or does she happily jump off the table to walk freely around the practice?
• How is the car ride going? Observe your cat carefully. Is your cat panting like a dog with her eyes wide open and meowing persistently. Then practice a few times first!

Some tips to prepare your cat for the trip:

• Use a soft transport basket that your cat gets in and out of well. A fabric transport basket is also more acoustically pleasing than a plastic cage.
• Teach your cat to walk with a harness from an early age. When a cat wears a harness, it is safe for your passenger to take the cat out of the carrier during the trip.
• Make sure your cat is properly vaccinated and treated for fleas. Of course she should be microchipped and best to check that the chip is properly registered and in your name. You never know what will happen on the road.
• Bring the cat's favorite food, known cat litter, and possibly his own basket or blanket or other hiding place.

How do you acclimatize the cat upon arrival?

• Let your cat sit in his carrier basket on site for half an hour first, a matter of "grounding" for a while! Meanwhile, everyone can take their things inside and find their own place.
• Then choose one room where the cat will stay. Put all the stuff there and let your cat get used to it from its own hiding place. This is then also the place where the cat will stay when you go out.
• If the whole family goes out or to a restaurant, always put the cat back in its regular place first. Cats are masters at finding little holes and places where no one sees them and then falling asleep there. It is no fun to spend hours searching for your cat when you return from an exhausting trip.

Your cat is welcome at Ciepers Lodge!

Why do I allow cats in a vacation home?

I have been a veterinarian myself for 30 years and a breeder of british shorthair cats for 15 years. It strikes me every time how difficult some people find it to take their cat or male cat to a cat hotel. Many cats are also particularly attached to their owner and they get stressed by the presence of other cats in the cat hotel.

Especially in Corona times, the bond between people and their pets has become even stronger. Therefore, it just feels good for everyone to be able to bring the cat.

Ciepers Lodge is ideally suited to bring your cat. There is a very nice porch that is closed with a double door. There is plenty of light and the cat can lie quietly on the windowsill and look outside. That's what a cat prefers to do: watch what's happening outside from up high, lie in the sun and enjoy. If that's not a vacation feeling!