Calling Your Cats While on Vacation

It is so hard for me to go on vacation. Just the thought leaving the cats behind gives me the willies. Perhaps I am overreacting, but they are such an essential part of my life that being without them is something I try to avoid at almost any cost. Moreover, while I provide them with the best of care in my absence, I worry and miss them dreadfully. It just is not fun without a couple of cats sitting on my lap, vying for my attention. In fact, the last time my husband and I went on an extended trip far from home precluding the cats accompanying us, was to Jamaica, W.I. I love the Island and all of its magnificent scenery, culture, and food. Most of all, I enjoy the Jamaicans with whom I have become friendly who have always opened their hearts and made our trips very special. And while there are dozens of stray cats roaming around hotels earning a living, begging for scraps, since they are so skitterish, they make me even more homesick for my boys. In order to have more peace of mind, I hired a compassionate cat sitter to care for our kitties while we were away. The reason I refer to her as "compassionate" is that she completely understood my ambivalence about traveling so far without the cats. Since I have a portable email device, I am able to send email easily anywhere in the world. The cat sitter promised she would email me daily with any news and to keep me informed. Receiving her daily missives made it very comforting to stay in touch. I have to admit rather sheepishly, that when I go out of town overnight, or take a long day trip, I find my fingers walking to the pay phone to call my kitties. While they have not yet learned to answer the phone, I suspect that hearing my voice through the answering machine may be of comfort to them. I wish there was a way for me to be able to hear their responsive "mews." I don't think I am unique in this feline attachment. In talking with friends, they 'fessed up to similar behavior. Trust me; it was quite comforting to know I am not alone. Do you think phoning up kitty is bizarre? Would you be tempted to do it? Leave a comment and share with us.