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

[MIButterfly]

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!

[1WorldHope]

1. Promise you will never leave is again!

[Mblaze]

3. They've heard that before. 😀

[justaprogressive]

2. Actually knew someone

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

[crud]

4. We went on a cruise and left our kitties

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.

[MIButterfly]

6. LOL! I guess she told you!

Aren't cats funny? And wonderful!

[patphil]

5. You might consider a cat sitter for next time you're away for a long duration.

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]

7. That would be ideal but all my friends live at least 45 minutes away from me

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]

8. "...would be leery of a stranger in my house..." Understandable, but might be worth considering...

...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]

9. Thank you, 3catwoman3, for your good advice.

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]

10. My daughter is a petsitter with Rover.

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]

13. Thank you, Silver Gala, for this information.

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.

[Trueblue1968]

11. Awwwwww, i love your kittens !!!!

[ECL213]

12. They're just getting a taste for human flesh.

[MIButterfly]

14. Martini licks my nose all the time. Holly has only licked my hand

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]

15. All I can say is don't pass away in your house...

those sweet little kitties will start munching on you immediately.

[MIButterfly]

16. I hope not, but if they do, it would probably be the least of my concerns at that moment.

[calimary]

17. They missed you!

[MIButterfly]

19. And I missed them!

[BlueKentuckyGirl]

18. Cats DO miss their owners.

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]

20. That's an interesting study.

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

[BlueKentuckyGirl]

21. Here's a link to the study.

https://time.com/4714823/cats-very-social-study/

[MIButterfly]

22. Thank you, BlueKentuckyGirl!