What To Do With Your Pets When Holidaying This Summer

For many people, pets are a huge part of the family, so it’s no surprise that holidaymakers have to carefully consider who will look after their dog, cat or hamster when they head off on a break.

The good news is there are many options for pet care these days, so having a beloved animal does not have to stop you booking coach hire to Leeds or hopping on a plane this summer.

Friends and family

Living close to family and friends has many advantages, one of them being that there are people around when you need someone to take care of your furry, feathery or scaly friend.

Having a relative or pal look after your pet is ideal, as you are more likely to trust they will do a good job and take care of them the way you would like them to while you’re away.

Of course, with 45 per cent of the British population owning an animal – a rise of five per cent since 2016 – it could be that you repay the favour when they go away and look after their beloved pets. That way, you can take it in turns and not feel as though you are putting your mum, sister or neighbour out by asking them to watch yours.

Kennels or catteries

Over a quarter of Brits own a dog and 18 per cent have a household cat, so kennels and catteries have become extremely popular places to leave your pooch or pussycat when having a break.

According to GoCompare.com, it costs an average of £15 a day to take your dog to a kennel, or £25 a day to send them to stay with boarders for the duration of your trip.

It is slightly cheaper for cats, costing £10 a day to send them to a cattery. Alternatively, as felines are much more independent than dogs and simply require food and water, lots of people like to hire cat sitters for a slightly cheaper rate who pop by and check they are alright.

Hire a house sitter

So popular are pets that many people have more than one. In this case, it could work out more cost-effective to hire a house sitter for between £45 and £60 a day.

This pays for someone to come to your home and look after all your animals, whether you have an iguana, degu, rabbit or finch. The other advantage of this is it means your companion can stay in their familiar surroundings and get undivided attention from the carer.

Take them with you

Of course, if your pet is like a member of your family, there is always the option of taking them on holiday with you. Many campsites, bed and breakfasts and hotels allow you to bring your dogs these days, so you don’t have to leave them behind at all.

If this sounds like something you’d consider, make sure you check with your accommodation and transport provider first to see whether they would let your pet come along.