Baby Cat's Family Vacation - Part Two: Holiday Mode Activated

Hi, I’m Nicole! Read my introduction to learn more about me and my distinguished Burmese, Mr. Baby Cat.

They say holidays are good for the soul, and after taking Baby Cat on our most recent holiday, I cannot stress more how much I believe that. This little dude went from making us reflect on whether or not it was time to call the vet and possibly discuss euthanasia to relaxing on a patio with a metaphorical Tommy Bahama shirt on and a Mai Tai in his paw. This boy was born to holiday.

And it’s not like where we live is not relaxing; we’re out on 25 acres of native New Zealand forest with a view of the valley and a cozy, warm fire stoked for him all night. But even when a home is a haven, there is clearly still value in a change of scenery to liven the senses again. Not just for Baby Cat, but for the whole family.

But even though we knew we needed the break, we truly could not believe the pep in Baby’s step almost immediately after we arrived.

Now, I’m not saying that everyone with a geriatric cat should take their feline on vacation, but if your cat did or does enjoy traveling and has become less mobile, do what you can to safely take them on an adventure.

When we bought our current home, we said we would never make Baby Cat move again, it was his retirement home. In the wise words of M.K. Soni, “Retire from work, but not from life.” Baby Cat’s retirement years have been progressively more, and we’ve just let him rest and relax, but seeing what this family vacation did for him, I truly believe that it gave him a new sense of purpose. New smells, new scenes, a new fireplace to snuggle up beside.

My husband and I were both blown away by the change we saw, he was eating heaps, drinking heaps, and walking around, too. It had me wondering why holidays are good for us. Working remotely, I haven’t felt the need to take a vacation in a long time, because my hours are flexible, and I can work from anywhere, so even when we travel, it feels weird having actually nothing to do. But this holiday, we unplugged completely and focused on our family time, and it really paid off.

In my searching, I found some reasons that holidays are good for humans, and I wanted to share them, because they really did seem to ring true for Baby, and even Rosa and Mac (and our toddler who also entered holiday mode very quickly and embraced it big time).

The 5 Main Reasons Why Holidays Are Good For You & Your Pets

1. Rest and Relaxation:

• Provides a break from daily stressors.

• Helps prevent burnout.

• Improves mental clarity and productivity.

2. Quality Time with Loved Ones:

• Offers opportunities to reconnect with family and friends.

• Strengthens relationships.

• Creates lasting memories.

3. New Experiences:

• Encourages exploration of new places, cultures, and activities.

• Stimulates creativity and curiosity.

• Breaks the monotony of daily routines.

4. Physical Health Benefits:

• Increases physical activity through leisure activities like hiking or swimming.

• Reduces stress, which can lower the risk of heart disease and high blood pressure.

• Improves overall mood and well-being.

5. Emotional Well-being:

• Provides time for self-reflection and personal growth.

• Enhances emotional balance by reducing anxiety and depression.

• Offers a sense of rejuvenation, helping you return to daily life refreshed.

I know our experience is anecdotal, so please consult with a vet before you do anything completely out of the ordinary with your cat of any age.

But this adventure was absolutely the best thing we could have done for our little family of six. We are so grateful that we got to spend so many wonderful moments together there and have made some new core memories.

Have you ever taken your cat on holiday? I’d love to hear from you, and if there are any things you would like to share about the adventure.