Going on holiday without the dog or cat: boarding, pet sitter or grandparents, and the instructions to leave
The whole family, in a single app.
The family organiser for iPhone, Android and the browser, end-to-end encrypted. Free for a family of two parents.
Every holiday for a family with a pet starts with the same question: what about him? Sometimes the animal can come too. Often not: the journey is long, the accommodation won't allow it, the cat hates the carrier. Then you need to decide who'll look after it, and make sure they have everything needed to do it well.
The three most common options
Boarding kennel or cattery
- pros: staff used to animals, dedicated spaces, constant supervision
- cons: a new environment some animals find hard; book well ahead in peak periods
- usually requires up-to-date vaccinations and recent, documented parasite treatments: ask for the list when booking
Pet sitter
- pros: the animal stays home, with its habits; especially good for cats
- cons: requires trust, as someone enters your home; choose one with references
- visits once or more a day, or staying in, to be agreed
Grandparents, friends, neighbours
- pros: familiar people, often already known to the animal
- cons: not always used to specific needs; it's a favour, not a service, and needs organising with care
Book early
In holiday periods kennels and pet sitters fill up quickly. As soon as you decide travel dates, put the pet's arrangements in the family calendar too, with a reminder to book and one to prepare what's needed.
The instructions, written down
Whoever looks after the animal needs the same information. Write it once in a shared note, and update it before each trip:
- food: what, how much, when; what never to give
- medicines or treatments in progress, with doses and times
- habits: walks, play, where it sleeps, what scares it
- warning signs to watch for, as advised by your vet
- vet: name, address, phone, plus a nearby emergency clinic
- your contacts on holiday, and a backup contact near home
- microchip number, useful if the pet gets lost
The note can be sent or printed: no daily calls asking how much food.
Documents
Kennels ask for the vaccination record, and a pet sitter may need it for a vet visit. In KidBox's Pets section vaccinations and treatments are recorded with dates, and the health record and certificates are in the encrypted documents: a photo or PDF to send in a minute, instead of handing over the paper booklet.
Before leaving, check vaccinations and parasite treatments cover the whole period: with reminders set, you'll already know.
Coming home
When you're back, a few minutes with whoever looked after the animal: how it went, whether it ate, anything unusual. Note it down: next time you'll know what to improve. And if the animal saw a vet while you were away, record it in its profile straight away.
In short
Choose between boarding, a pet sitter or people you know based on the animal, book as soon as dates are set, full instructions in a note updated before each trip, documents and vaccinations ready to send, and a short debrief on return. You're on holiday. Your pet is in good hands.
The tools this article talks about
Read next
"I'll look after it": how to really share pet care in the family
When the dog arrives everyone promises to look after it. Three months later one person does the walks. How to share walks, food, the litter tray and the vet in a way that lasts.
Your dog's and cat's health record: vaccines, parasite treatments and check-ups without forgetting
Annual boosters, monthly flea treatment, the check-up, the microchip. How to keep your pet's health in order using the same method you use for your children.
Travelling with children: a packing and documents checklist, shared between parents
Children's documents, tickets, medicines, chargers and the soft toy nobody sleeps without. A three-stage checklist with tasks shared out, so you don't have to turn back halfway.