Caring for an Exotic Pet While You're Away

Having any kind of pet is a responsibility and a tie, especially when it comes to taking a holiday, but when you choose to keep an exotic pet, going away can become a whole lot more complicated. Putting your dog in kennels, or your cat in a cattery while you jet off for a fortnight in the sun is one thing, but your snake or your scorpion? Clearly, that’s an entirely different prospect – and it’s certainly something any aspiring exotic pet keeper is going to have to think about.

Exotic “Kennels” and Pet Sitters

There are a few specialist places which will look after your exotic pet while you’re on holiday, but they are very few and far between. If you do live within a sensible distance of one of these, then count yourself very, very lucky. On the whole the best you can hope for is a pet sitter; originally started to look after much more conventional pets, the service has expanded alongside the increased popularity of exotics. Although the number of snake-sitters is still dwarfed by the ready availability of dog-walkers, but never-the-less exotic pet sitters provide a valuable – if limited – service.

On a positive note, however, unofficial arrangements of this kind can often be made through the members of many of the relevant clubs and societies. Since holiday care is a common problem, many exotic keepers will be prepared to look after your pets, if you’ll repay the favour. You scratch my back and all that!

Ask Around

It’s obviously worth asking around to see what fellow exotic pet keepers do when they want to go away. You never know, you could just be able to strike a reciprocal bargain to look after each other’s animals – or they might be able to point you in the right direction for a good pet sitter.

Your vet may be able to suggest a suitable solution – or put you in touch with someone who can. Sometimes vets who specialise in exotic animals offer their own “kennel” services – though this is, admittedly, fairly unusual. Again, if yours does, think yourself lucky.

Friends And Family

The tried and tested solution, of course, involves imposing on friends and family. While it is, inevitably, easier to ask your parents, sister or best friend to care for your cat than your corn snake, you might be surprised at how amenable those who care for you can be – especially with the promise of a nice postcard and a suitably extravagant present in the offing. Granted, you may be foisted with their holidaying hamster in return, but on balance, it’s got to be a good deal!

Why Bother?

Although it’s true that since most exotic pets are cold-blooded, they don’t need to be given food regularly, that’s clearly not an excuse to forget about them for the fortnight you’re away. Even if they don’t have to have daily meals – though the odd bit of food seldom goes amiss – there are other reasons why exotic pets should always have someone to care for them. With so many of them coming from warmer climes, it’s obviously important for someone to make sure the heating system is still working properly. By the same token, even the most dedicated of desert dwellers needs water – so someone will have to be looking in to top up water bowls.

While many exotic pets can survive, left to their own devices, it doesn’t mean they should be. By adopting any pet, we assume responsibility for its welfare; when that pet is an exotic or unusual one, that can certainly make holidaying arrangements a whole lot more complicated. However, if you sort out your pet’s holiday arrangements ahead of times, there’s no reason why going away should be a problem.