As much as you might want to take them with you, there are times when you may need to vacation without your pets.
Perhaps you're going to be staying in a hotel that's not animal-friendly or you're going to be with relatives who already have a house full of pets. Whatever the reason, it's useful to have a checklist of things to consider before you go.
From checking that vaccinations and contact details are up to date to booking a sitter or finding an appropriate boarding facility, being organized and planning ahead will help ensure that your time away is a happy one for both you and your pet.
While there are lots of reasons to take your pet on vacation, the tips below will come in super handy for those times when traveling with pets simply isn't possible.
32 things to think about before leaving your pet to go on vacation
1. Booking a pet sitter
There are a number of options to ensure your pet is well looked after while you're away. Using a professional sitter can be a great choice if you want your pet to be able to stay at home, but there are a few things you'll want to consider first. Make sure you meet the person before hiring them so you know they're a good fit for you and your pet.
You may also want to conduct background checks or ask for references and it can be a good idea to have them spend some time with your pet before you go away to help them become familiar with each other.
2. Check them in to a kennel or cattery
If you have a dog or a cat and would prefer not to hire a professional sitter, you can book your furry friend into a kennel or cattery. We highly recommend touring the facility first to make sure you're happy with the conditions – are they clean, dry, draught-free, warm (if it's the winter), and conducive to a calm, stress-free stay? Check that the staff spends time with the animals each day and that there's enough space for your pet to exercise.
To help weigh up your options, here are the pros and cons of pet sitters vs boarding.
3. Get a friend to check in
Pets can get easily stressed when their humans are away as it often means a change in routine. Sometimes the best option is to have a trusted friend or family member look after them – either by visiting each day or moving in temporarily – as a familiar face can help make the separation from you easier.
Having your pet remain at home may be more important for cats and small animals like birds, hamsters, rabbits, and guinea pigs who may not be used to traveling. If you have a dog, they may be more than happy to go and stay with a friend or family member whose home they're familiar with.
4. Do your research
Whether you plan on using a professional pet sitter or a boarding facility, we highly recommend taking some time to thoroughly research all of the potential options. This will ensure that in the lead-up to your vacation you're able to ask questions and get a sense of the place and/or person who's going to be looking after your pet while you're away. You'd be amazed at how much peace of mind this can give you.
5. Always have a back up plan
We know you probably already have enough to think about, but it's worth always having a backup plan in case your first choice falls through. Sometimes friends or family pull out at the last minute for unavoidable reasons and pet sitters can fall ill, so having another reliable option you can turn to will save you from feeling stressed at the last minute.
6. Ensure their vaccinations are up to date
It's important to keep on top of cat and kitten vaccinations and puppy shots – especially if you're planning to be away and your furry friend is going to be staying in a cattery or kennel. Check to make sure they've had all the vaccinations they need well in advance and if you're unsure, speak with your vet who will be able to advise you.
7. Fit them with a pet tracker
If you haven't already invested in one of the best pet trackers, we highly recommend them. They're particularly useful if you have a dog or cat who likes to roam as they give you real-time location updates sent straight to your phone. Hopefully, your pet will stay put while you're away, but if you're looking to take a load off your mind, these little beauties will definitely tick that box.
8. Make sure they're microchipped
When leaving your pet to go on vacation, one thing you'll want to do before you head off is to make sure they're microchipped and that the information held by the microchip company is up to date.
While microchips are permanent, it's worth having your vet check it before you go to ensure it's still working properly. If you have a feline friend, you can pair this with one of the best microchip cat flaps so that they can come and go as they please while you're out of town.
9. Consider calming aids
Some pets are more than happy with a short separation from their owners while others feel their human's absence more acutely. If your pet falls into the latter category, it's worth considering getting a calming aid. Whether you're looking for ways to destress your dog or trying to figure out how to calm a cat, plug-in diffusers and calming treats can help them feel more settled while you're away.
10. Leave them with lots of familiar items
Does your pet have a favorite bed, blanket, or toy? Whether they're staying at home or going to a boarding facility, make sure they have one or two familiar and much-loved items with them as this can help soothe any anxiety they may feel about being apart from you.
11. Ensure they get enough exercise and play before you leave
Whether it's racing around the house in hot pursuit of one of the best cat toys or finding new ways to keep dog walks fun by offering your pup the chance to tire themselves out with sniffing or doggy parkour, making sure your fur friend gets plenty of mental and physical exercise before you go on vacation will do wonders for their wellbeing while you're away.
12. Provide your pet with distractions
One of the best ways to avoid your pet feeling stressed or anxious while you're gone is to provide them with plenty of things to keep them occupied. If you have a small pet, try filling their cage with lots of enrichment activities and some new toys to explore. For dogs and cats, stuffed Kongs, long lasting dog chews, or cat puzzle feeders are all great options.
13. Take a photo of your pet with you
We know, call us sentimental but in amongst making sure your pet is well looked after while you're away, you want to take care of your own wellbeing, too. Many of us really miss our animal friends when we're separated from them and having a photo with you can help you to feel closer to them.
14. Invest in a pet camera
The best pet cameras can be a real lifesaver if you travel frequently — and they come in handy on a day-to-day basis when you're out of the house, too. A great way to keep in touch with your pet (and keep tabs on them!), you'll be able to see what they get up to while you're out of town and most have two-way audio, so you'll be able to speak to them whenever you like.
15. Leave detailed instructions
Whether you're hiring a professional sitter, having a friend check-in or your pet is going to a boarding facility, be sure to leave behind detailed instructions on how to care for your pet. Write down things like insurance information, feeding times and portions, microchip and vaccination details, medications (if your pet requires these), and a way for the person looking after your pet to be able to get in touch with you if they need to.
16. Keep in touch while you're away
There are so many great ways to keep in touch with our pets these days — whether by having a video call, traditional phone call, or using a pet camera, you may find that checking in with them each day helps make the time you're apart easier on the both of you.
17. Prepare your pet for your absence
When it comes to reducing separation anxiety in dogs and cats, getting them used to your absence over a period of time can be really helpful. Rather than simply going away for several days or weeks without any warning, work on leaving your pet alone for short periods in the month leading up to your vacation.
To begin with, you may simply leave your pet in another room and move to another part of the house. After that, you can try going outside for five minutes. Finally, you can work up to being gone for several hours at a time. By doing this your pet slowly learns that you always come back and the process of you being gone becomes less daunting.
18. Make sure flea treatments are up to date
If you have a furry friend in your family, it's important to protect them against pesky parasites by using the best flea treatment for cats or the best flea treatment for dogs. This is particularly important if they're going to be leaving the house while you're away — whether that be to stay with friends or in a boarding facility. Fleas may be small but they can cause a lot of damage, so be sure to use a good flea collar or topical treatment.
19. Keep goodbyes short
While it can be tempting to make a huge fuss over your pet when it's time for you to leave, try to keep your goodbye short and sweet. The less of a fanfare your departure is, the easier your pet will likely find things.
20. Provide your contact details
Always leave your contact details with the person who'll be looking after your pet in case they need to get hold of you in an emergency.
21. Keep things normal
One of the things that can really help pets when their humans are away on holiday is sticking to their usual routine. If your cat normally has breakfast at 8am and dinner at 6pm, make sure whoever is looking after them does their best to keep those times in place. Likewise, if your dog is always taken on two walks a day, let the person looking after them know that this is what they're used to. Keeping things predictable and stable will help ease anxiety.
22. Inform your vet
While it may sound unnecessary, it's always worth letting your vet know if you're going out of town and leaving your pet with someone else. That way, if anything happens and your pet requires treatment, your local practice will be aware that someone else has been authorized to make decisions regarding their care.
23. Pet proof your house
Are you planning on leaving your pet at home while you travel? If so, you'll definitely want to make sure that you secure (or remove) anything that could cause them to get into mischief. Put away breakables, use cable ties to keep wires together, and pop human food in pet-proof cupboards.
If you have a young fur friend in the family, take extra precautions when it comes to puppy-proofing or kitten-proofing your home – such as locking away household chemicals, keeping sharp objects out of reach, and putting away plastic bags.
24. Spend quality time together before you go
Looking for ways to improve your relationship with your dog or bond with your cat, rabbit, bird, fish, or other pet friend? Spending quality time with them is one of the best things you can do. It's especially important to spend time together before separation as this can help to strengthen your connection and make the days apart easier to bear.
25. Provide mentally stimulating toys
Whether you have a feline friend or a canine companion, the best puzzle feeder for cats and the best dog puzzle toys are well worth investing in if you're looking for a simple way to give your pet's brain a good workout. These days, you can even buy snuffle mats for rabbits and other small animals!
26. Stock up
Whether it's cat food, dog food, fish food, or some other food altogether, stocking up before you go away will ensure your pet can remain on the diet that they're used to. If your best buddy is going to be looked after in your home, it's also worth making sure you have enough of any other items they may need as well — such as doggy poop bags or kitty litter.
27. Check all batteries and automated systems
Something that's easy to overlook is checking to make sure all batteries and automated systems are working before you leave – a task you'll want to do if you're leaving your pet at home. If you use an automatic pet feeder, indoor pet cameras, microchip cat flap, or anything else that needs charging or runs on batteries, check to make sure they're all operational.
28. Have an emergency contact
In an ideal world, if something were to happen to your pet, the person looking after them would be able to get hold of you straight away. But sometimes that's not going to be possible. For that reason, it's a good idea to provide them with an alternative emergency contact who is not traveling with you that they can speak to if you're not available.
29. Decide how many updates you want or need
For some people, regular photos of their pets and updates on how they're doing actually make the separation period harder. For others, it makes it easier. Decide how many updates you want or need while you're away and let the person looking after your pet know.
30. Remind yourself what a good pet parent you are
Pet parents often give themselves a hard time when they need to travel without their pet but you have nothing to feel guilty about. Just like it's healthy to spend time away from the humans we love, it's also healthy to spend time apart from our pets. Remind yourself that you're a good pet parent – the fact that you've made sure they're looked after while you're away is all the proof of that you need.
31. Try not to worry
When we feel strong emotions, it can be easy to confuse them with facts. But try to remember that feeling worried about your pet is normal and it doesn't mean that anything is wrong.
32. Keep the end of your trip in mind
While it's understandable that you don't want to spend your whole vacation wishing for it to be over so you can be reunited with your pet, in those moments when you miss them, it can be helpful to remind yourself that you'll soon be back together again. A lot of us feel blue when a holiday ends, but knowing you'll be reunited with your pet means there's always an upside to returning home.
