Kitty Corner
Keep your feline fine: Kerrie McKeon, Bideawee's Feline Behavior Coordinator shows you how!
What to do with Kitty?
Summer is upon us, and vacations inevitably raise the question of how to provide for your favorite feline’s needs during your get away! We will explore several options, and try to help you find the one that best fits your fuzzy one’s style.
The Friendly Visitor
Having a friend or family member check in and offer feeding, scooping, and T.L.C. on a daily basis is the best option for many cats. Because familiar territory is so crucial to your cat’s sense of well-being, staying at home, surrounded by familiar smells and possessions, helps comfort your cat in your absence. This is also the best choice for multiple cat households. It’s a good idea to have your cat nanny stop by for several visits in the weeks preceding your trip. Make sure to leave vet’s phone number handy in case of emergency.
The Cat Spa
Boarding your feline works well if your cat is a true social butterfly that travels well and enjoys the company of other cats. Even if she will have a private “suite”, the smells and sounds of other cats will cause stress if she isn’t a fan of her own kind! Be sure to choose a boarding facility carefully, and provide all of your pet’s
usual food and bedding to help minimize stress.
The Pro
If you don’t have a willing family member or friend, or if your cat needs medicine on a daily basis, a professional cat sitter may be the answer to your prayers! Check with your vet, your neighbors, and even your local pet supply shop for their recommendations. Be sure to be as detailed as possible in your instructions. Many sitters will even take in your mail and generally make your home appear “lived in” while you are away.
Be sure to plan for kitty’s care well in advance of your trip so that both of you can relax and enjoy your summer vacation. Bon Voyage!
About Kerrie McKeon, Feline Behavior Coordinator
Kerrie McKeon grew up in New Haven, CT with two loves: performing and cats. The former love (performing) took "center stage" early on and Kerrie graduated from Penn State with a degree in Theater Arts, then moved to Chicago, where she spent eight years working in theater. Eventually, the East Coast called her back and she came to New York, where the latter love (cats), a love that had never waned, inspired her to make a drastic career change and join the team at Bideawee.
Kerrie began her career at Bideawee in the Manhattan Adoption Center as an Associate and immediately impressed everyone—two-legged and four-legged alike - with her natural ability to communicate both with the cats and with potential adopters. Kerrie quickly became the star of the Adoption Center, embodying Bideawee's mission of getting to know each one of our animals and each and every one of our adopters so that we can make the best possible match.
In the past few years, as Feline Behavior Specialist, Kerrie has spearheaded initiatives to better the lives of our feline residents, such as requiring toys in every cage and encouraging the construction of even more cageless living space for the cats. She regularly holds educational workshops for the public and for staff at all three Bideawee locations in order to improve our understanding and our relationships with our feline friends. As a member of Bideawee's Case Management Team, Kerrie also has a direct impact on the cats living with us, constantly making adjustments and improvements to better the lives each and every one of them.
MORE KITTY CORNER COLUMNS FROM KERRIE:
Let's Talk Litter!
Let's Talk Litter, Part Two
Getting Kitty Ready for Baby
Moving With Your Cat
How to Get Some Sleep If You Have a Noisy Cat
Playtime for Seniors! Older Cats Are Frisky Too!
Ideas for Inexpensive, Homemade Cat Toys
Sew Velcro strips into the sock opening so it can be closed up and easily reopened. Next, fill the sock with batting, scrap fabric, or dried catnip, and seal shut. In no time, your kitty will have a new favorite plaything!
