Where to take my cat for a few hours?
January 21, 2015 10:26 AM Subscribe
We just got a notice from our landlord that they need to do some extermination in the building, and are asking everyone to vacate the premises, including pets, for a few hours during the day TOMORROW.
Obviously I want any extermination that needs to be done to happen in a timely manner, but this seems like ridiculously short notice! Also, while I can obviously be out of the building, we have a cat and I have no idea where to take him. It is winter, so doing something like hanging out at the park with him in his carrier is a non-starter. We do not have a car, so driving around is also not an option. I guess in theory I could ride around on a city bus for a few hours, but that seems rather ridiculous. Any thoughts of public places that might allow me to have a cat-in-a-carrier with me for a few hours during business hours?
Obviously I want any extermination that needs to be done to happen in a timely manner, but this seems like ridiculously short notice! Also, while I can obviously be out of the building, we have a cat and I have no idea where to take him. It is winter, so doing something like hanging out at the park with him in his carrier is a non-starter. We do not have a car, so driving around is also not an option. I guess in theory I could ride around on a city bus for a few hours, but that seems rather ridiculous. Any thoughts of public places that might allow me to have a cat-in-a-carrier with me for a few hours during business hours?
Where are you? This is a pretty location-specific question. But there are a lot of kitty daycares and whatnot that exist, and cats are generally fine in the cold, so I wouldn't worry too much about having him outside -- toss a kitty blanket in there.
posted by brainmouse at 10:29 AM on January 21, 2015
posted by brainmouse at 10:29 AM on January 21, 2015
Response by poster: I'm in the Boston area. I would be worried about myself sitting outside for 4 hours, so I definitely can't do that option even if the kitty would be okay. :) We just moved here so do not have a vet set up yet, unfortunately.
posted by rainbowbrite at 10:31 AM on January 21, 2015
posted by rainbowbrite at 10:31 AM on January 21, 2015
I'd imagine that almost any vet's office, given the circumstances, would allow you to just sit in the lobby quietly with your cat for a few hours. Call around. I'm sure it's not the weirdest thing they've ever had to do for an animal's welfare. Bring some doughnuts for the office staff.
posted by Faint of Butt at 10:36 AM on January 21, 2015 [13 favorites]
posted by Faint of Butt at 10:36 AM on January 21, 2015 [13 favorites]
Best answer: If your cat's shots are up to date, there are a couple of PetSmart Stores in your area that would board her for the day, your vet or groomer would probably also provide that service.
posted by HuronBob at 10:36 AM on January 21, 2015 [8 favorites]
posted by HuronBob at 10:36 AM on January 21, 2015 [8 favorites]
Pet Smart offers cat boarding. You might have to sign up for an overnight stay, and they'll want to see that the cat has had shots. We used their services during a move and they seemed attentive.
posted by path at 10:36 AM on January 21, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by path at 10:36 AM on January 21, 2015 [1 favorite]
Are you near any of the universities? I would suspect you could probably get away with hanging out in the lobby of a classroom building with a cat in a carrier. (Not the library or anyplace they'd check IDs.)
posted by jaguar at 10:38 AM on January 21, 2015
posted by jaguar at 10:38 AM on January 21, 2015
Definitely vet's office. My cats hung out there for a day last August when our air conditioning was out. Even if you don't have an established vet, call around and I'm sure you can find someone to help you.
posted by something something at 10:40 AM on January 21, 2015
posted by something something at 10:40 AM on January 21, 2015
Vet's office, yeah, or maybe you have a friend or a co-worker who would let you hang at their place?
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 10:41 AM on January 21, 2015
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 10:41 AM on January 21, 2015
Roaming PetSmart would be the least weird.
posted by DarlingBri at 10:44 AM on January 21, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by DarlingBri at 10:44 AM on January 21, 2015 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Good call HuronBob! I had no idea that PetSmart did cat boarding by the day (I thought it was just doggie daycare). I called our closest one and they can do it! Thank you. :)
posted by rainbowbrite at 10:48 AM on January 21, 2015 [7 favorites]
posted by rainbowbrite at 10:48 AM on January 21, 2015 [7 favorites]
If you'd prefer to patronize a local business rather than a corporate behemoth, I would suggest searching at this link for an American Association of Feline Practitioners-certified "Cat Friendly Practice," especially a gold-ranked one. They would almost certainly do day boarding for cats and have been carefully evaluated for having facilities and standards of care best suited to cats' well being and comfort.
posted by jayder at 11:49 AM on January 21, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by jayder at 11:49 AM on January 21, 2015 [2 favorites]
I'd put the cat in its carrier and bunker down at starbucks for a while. No one is going to care.
posted by vivzan at 12:30 PM on January 21, 2015
posted by vivzan at 12:30 PM on January 21, 2015
I think calling the vet is the best suggestion in these comments, because even if that particular vet's office can't help you directly, they'll probably be knowledgeable about what other options you have in the area, and can at least give you advice.
posted by sam_harms at 6:09 PM on January 21, 2015
posted by sam_harms at 6:09 PM on January 21, 2015
This thread is closed to new comments.
not for a check up just hang out in the lobby
posted by St. Peepsburg at 10:28 AM on January 21, 2015 [6 favorites]