Cats in Hotels

[magwitch]

I didn't know what show thread to put this on so please feel free to move it if it is in the wrong place.

I know a few of you have done overnight stays in hotels with your cats and I just wondered what the practical issues and things to be careful of were.

I am thinking of taking The Boy Gomez to a two day show but it is too far to want to take him all the way there and back in the car two days running.

Have never tried taking a cat to a hotel so just wondered if any of you have any pointers.

Thanks x

[mimazali]

The Tica shows have a nominated hotel, normally a Hilton. They negotiate a special price, and you can take cats.
My suggestion would be to take all you need ie litter tray, food etc and a favourite blanket or bed.
Personally, I would not leave the cat alone in the room, in case someone goes in and scares the cat. So use room service for your meals. A nice hotel could be fun, soak in a bath, glass of wine, and a film.
If you have a soft carrier, the cat could sleep in there if worried.
Moving to Tica area, assuming you are thinking of one.

[magwitch]

Actually, the show in question is FB, but if it works then that gives me much more scope (eg, for TICA as a lot of 2 day shows are further away than you would want to subject a cat to two days on the trot).

That is exactly the sort of questions I needed answering, thanks, Clare - wouldn't want to leave a cat in a hotel room just in case someone opened the door. Have ordered a Sturdi (due end of Feb, I believe) so I thought he could have his own tent to sleep in that was familiar but I was thinking of room service etc rather than leaving him on his own.

[capricciosababs]

hi maggie, yes, we have been to the channel isels to scotland for catshows - also to west country being planed this times - right - when we first went to jersay the show manager gave us some superb advice re cats in hotels - after a few trips hope this helps -
pack your own human usuals etc etc ect -
then - add this little lots -
another larger litter tray to place in a room corner or a bathroom, take all the glasses the flowers vases etc and stick these inside the wardrobes ( ps tell the hotel receptionists or theier room supervisor this prior pleas cos small polite info sur helps!) - cat litter catfoods and a cat blanket to throwover the bedcovers so it isnt shredded - some black binbags for poos plus a vircon sachet and a basic airfresh spray, cat foods, some water from home via a plastic bottle, add a few fav. cat toys and also - v. impt. talk to the reception, tell them theres a show cat in your room, stick a notice on the door saying please dont enter unless find the room occupants, re check the window locks, go the restaurant, get some fab food, and a good solid nights rest ! pps mags we have done this before, with goodwill it works very very well ... pps take stinky bags and some vet wipes for on the way there xxx babs

[mimazali]

Sorry, assumed wrong :(
I think it could be so much fun, real relaxing evening with some luxury bubbles (for you), a box of choccies.... mmm, why have we not ever tried it? Oh yes, because Moz throws a paddy if I leave him with someone else!

[magwitch]

I think Gomez might actually like it (he is a sucker for a bubble bath).

Basically, then, take your normal show kit and be polite to a cat friendly hotel (I notice a number of shows recommend these) and all should be OK with the usual precautions? Don't think I could bring myself to leave the room, just in case, but if Gomez is confident at a show and trusts me hopefully he would trust me that a hotel is OK too.

[Lilian]

I took Merlin overnight to the Supreme in a travelodge in 2007 and he was a little bugger!!! on the window in the bathroom under the quilt etc at 3am!!! obviously disorientated but I was absolutley shattered for the day! so suggest getting some kip during your stay, maybe not at night!!
When we went to Glasgow last weekend he was a bit better but not much!! we left the hotel for our meal with Kay & Ray and when we got back Merlin was curled up under the quilt fast asleep, we left the TV on for him and to stop anyone thinking no one was home!

[magwitch]

Oh yes, and because Pubert loves a Gomez-free day if I take Gomez to a show so am sure he would love a Gomez-free weekend (imagine the disappointment when The Boy comes back .......).

[magwitch]

I took Merlin overnight to the Supreme in a travelodge in 2007 and he was a little bugger!!! on the window in the bathroom under the quilt etc at 3am!!! obviously disorientated but I was absolutley shattered for the day! so suggest getting some kip during your stay, maybe not at night!!
When we went to Glasgow last weekend he was a bit better but not much!! we left the hotel for our meal with Kay & Ray and when we got back Merlin was curled up under the quilt fast asleep, we left the TV on for him and to stop anyone thinking no one was home!

I was kind of hoping he might just see it as a much bigger show pen.

I asked the question partly because when you go and pick up a new kitten they are obviously really wary of new surroundings but I thought that possibly if you were with your cat and the cat in question is used to being put in the car and taken to slightly strange surroundings then it might work. At least your cat is used to you and trusts you, whereas when you pick up a kitten there is all the trauma of separation from family and familiar surroundings he/she has known all his life.

[capricciosababs]

nicest thing re travels with a cat?
when they give up curl up cuddle up to you cos they love you, and you all get a good nights sleep - its just the same travels with cats as I assume travels with toddlers so treat them the same, fuss the feline or felines, then no probs - ps just be nice to the hotel staff they can co operate v well indeed x happy trip hons x

[capricciosababs]

pps - take a tea towel for the cats washing ups, then the hotel staff wont whinge when you wash the litter trays food bowls etc. and an airfresh spray doesnt come amiss either ! its easy, just go away, enjoy the trip, so if we all do it the right way some more hotels wil then allow us and our cats to visit catshows further afield - ie a PR task - pps we are doing the same this spring somewhere weat country... far prefer a feline than some rowdies and lat night revellers in a hotel, or worse, a naff chef who wont let you take spare chicken or trout to the room for the cats pps be polite to restaurant staff, they can allow you a catbag ie read doggiebag for the room for cats suppers !! :housed:

[MagicT]

I stayed at a Holiday Inn for the Supreme this year, they didn't charge anything extra for having ctas in the room.
Neve was totally at home and didn't bat an eyelid but Tuvix hated it, although he's a big lad he's a bit of a sensitive soul. I took the same things as Babs suggested and Carol Many Cats lent me a sign saying "Do not disturb, loose cats in room" to hang on the door.

[nose leather]

Yes some very good advice there.

We took Elijah to Newbury for the TICA Halloween show and had the night in the designated Hilton Hotel. We were not alone in that and many folk had carriers.

We were very worried and mindful of the luxurious room and its contents. I moved the ironing board into the wardrobe as it may have been clawed and hitched up the net curtains carefully. Elijah slept in the bathroom and his tray was in there which made it easy to sweep up (with my own dustpan and brush) when we left. Several folk I know had big crates/cages for dogs which folded up into the car's boot and these are available at P@H and Argos. I was mindful of the hot kettle as I am at home. We had several blankets and one tray for the show and another for the hotel.

We never left Elijah alone in the room and this was rather a shame for us as we each had to swim and dine/breakfast alone which spoilt our time together. However Elijah came first as did the Hilton's furnishings!

It was important to be careful as it only takes one careless owner to change a hotel's attitude to show cats. We will definately stay overnight again and little Elijah was perfectly happy and seemed to enjoy himself. Good idea about the notice on the door and about room service.

Good luck Maggie.
:cheerleader:

[pgreen3108]

just make shure they have a comfy bed in the hotel, for the cats of course

[capricciosababs]

well one of my chris pressies was wonderful - a large cosy blanket which we can take away with us to use as a throw cover over the hotel duvet so our darling doesnt do any damage - we have bought a more oen larger cat carrier for use in the car on a longer trip too so she can have some fresh air and shall stick a large plastic litter tray inside then a cat blanket - cos you know what devs tend to do during a drive ( shes done a number two before !) - also some stinky bags and a few wipes for use as we drive - just in case... ps I will be ko having a short swim peter doesnt like water so he will stay in the room and read something or watch tv ! can see cherubs face already when she sits on the hotel rooms windowsills ans watches her first seagulls - should get a good snapshot or two! it will keep her amused anyways - ps as for packing - we will have to add a posh decorated pen to all the other items - hope hotels porter is fit we are on the first floor and no lifts - whoops that will cost hubby a large tip for the help !!

[magwitch]

Where are you going, Babs?

[capricciosababs]

will PM ou magwitch - just a weekend away - we want a bit of a break -

[capricciosababs]

ok down south somewhere - west country springtime - can say since we shallnt be competing just having a hols with a dec. "posh pen" type of trip for few days ! ps can we teach a cat to surf? ( the internet that is not the sea - out pc isnt wired up for wifi it was made the year before they did this - so its no use taking it to the hotel which is wired for wifi of course) - never mind its less packing at least we can drive down and stick things inside the car !

[capricciosababs]

nb footnote - told magwitch - try wh smiths bookshops for a paperback book they think still should publish annually its called petswelcomehotels and incs hotels guest houses and B and Bs all around the UK some take just dogs others okay re cats !