There are so many options for pet care while you are away, the key is to find something that works for you - leaving you completely confident that while you are sunning yourself on a tropical island, your four (or two, or six-) legged companion is safe and well.
Pet sitting - If the cat that lives at your house (let's face it, you can never really own a cat - they tend to own you) is quite happy to roam freely, having a friend or neighbour come in and regularly feed them is a great option. If your animal prefers company, or you are going for an extended period then having a sitter come and stay is a great way of keeping your pet in their own environment. It also solves the issue of clearing the mail while you are away.
Kennels/Catteries - Probably the most utilised form of pet care. We love the Theresa Elizabeth Holiday Home for Dogs in Coatesville. Instead of traditional crates/cages, the dogs are free to roam around a house and yard environment and have fun with other dogs of similar size and temperament.
In-Home Pet Boarding - If you aren't keen on a stranger roaming through your house, then packing your pet off to someone else's may be an option for you. If you can't manage to con any family or friends into the job, then Pet Angels is your best bet.
Of course we would advocate that Pet Insurance is a great idea at any time, but especially so while you are away. Coming home to a costly vet bill could put a dampener on any trip, so some forward planning always helps.
One final tip - add an extra day off work to the end of your trip - it gives you an opportunity to spend some time with your pet. Unless you have goldfish, in which case I'm fairly certain they will have forgotten you had even gone by the time you have unpacked.