We don’t board our cat, actually. He’d lose his damned mind. When we got our dog, the cat didn’t come downstairs for three months except when the dog was outside. Even though we get howls of indignation and rage when we come back from trips (the longer, the louder!), we’re pretty sure he’d still be happier alone in the house than at a kennel where he’d be surrounded by noise and strangers. We have a neighbor check in on him once every three or four days just to make sure he didn’t somehow tip over his water or get stuck in a room, and that’s all he gets.

One thing we don’t have to worry about here is fleas, which is nice. I used to live in Houston and fleas were a constant pain in the butt until I found a pet “treat” made of garlic and brewer’s yeast. Something about it tastes icky to fleas and they vacate post haste. It’s amazing, and no baths, fumes, powders or collars.

Thanks for the reminder about the respiratory illnesses … I’m not a fan of airplane air.

We’re thinking about making a really big trip next summer to catch a nephew’s graduation and see my grandmother and brother. It would involve going from Denver to Ohio to Pennsylvania to New Jersey and back. Yipes. I wonder how much it costs to rent a Winnebago?

And in the present conditions, if I had to travel as part of my job, I’d find a different job.

Boarding the cat, BTW, is likely to be pricier than expected. Let’s say $10 a day (conservatively). For nine days, that’s ninety bucks. BUT YOU’RE NOT DONE when you pick that cat up at the vet or “pet resort”! Ohhhh no. The cat will inevitably come down with some sort of ailment, and very likely will get a parasite or two, too. So now you get the privilege of paying the vet to treat the animal:

$80 to walk in the door
$125 for medications
$50 to diagnose the fleas and prescribe a flea powder that won’t kill the cat

Hmmm… We’re up to $345…maybe it would have been cheaper — or at least less hassle — to have carted the cat on the plane.

Seriously: I’ve never boarded a dog or a cat and not come home to a sick animal and a vet bill. So the veterinary care prob’ly ought to be added into the cost of traveling.

While we’re toting up medical care, might as well add in the cost of a visit to your doctor to treat the epizootic you picked up on the plane, plus the cost of the aspirin, sore throat lozenges, decongestant, Kleenex, and cough medicine.

Funny about Money’s last blog post..Awww, C’mon! Am I really that dumb?