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F or many people, the holiday season is a whirlwind of travel. But what about your pet? Ideally, animals should stay where they're most comfortable, says Louise Murray, DVM, author of Vet Confidential: An Insider's Guide to Protecting Your Pet's Health (Random House) and Director of Medicine at the ASPCA. Unless you plan on being away for several weeks, it's best to leave your cat or dog behind. To find a qualified pet sitter, ask your veterinarian for recommendations, says Murray. See if any of the office's licensed vet technicians—who have extensive healthcare knowledge and a guaranteed love of pets — offer sitting services. Just like a job interview, ask candidates about their During the Holidays Critter Care ANIMALS, especially cats, are creatures of habit and don't adjust well to unfamiliar environments or conditions. "A cat who is stressed about being in a new place might stop eating," says Murray. Consider hiring a pet sitter to check on your animal while you're gone. Cats should be looked in on at least once a day and dogs should be walked three times a day and fed twice. Some pet sitters will even stay at your house and provide overnight care, and may offer to pick up mail and water plants.