Leaving cats alone

[barb0802]

Hi,

Just wondered how you all felt about leaving 2 cats alone for 2 or 3 days at a time. I have done it a few times already, but I'm just wondering if it's irresponsible of me or if it was "accepted" among cat owners. I have an automatic feeder that will dispense 2 meals (canned food) and they have access to all the dry cat food that they would want. I also put out an extra litter box and a few bowls of water.
Has anyone left their cats for this long or longer? Is it really a terrible thing to do?
I have to do it again next week and each time this comes up I wonder if it's the 'right' thing to do. The Cat Sitters charge $40.00 a day around here ($20.00 for each cat) So, I only use them when I'm going away for a week or more. And it's not like they stay at my house, she only comes in once a day, so what's the difference if I use the automatic feeders or have a sitter. Sorry this is so long. Any suggestions, advice or criticisms are welcome ,

Thank you!

Barb

[mofong]

We travel all the time, so that is the main reason I got a second cat. The company is good, and I don't feel so bad when I am gone for the weekend. If I have to be gone for more than four days, I have a neighbor come in and feed daily, and change the boxes for me. Leaving a single cat alone is much more cruel than multiple cats.

[barb0802]

Thanks for your response. So, what I am doing is ok? And I can leave them for 4 days without worrying? Should I be concerned that I can only give them 2 cans of food during that time? They usually split a can in the morning and another at night. So, they would really have to rely on the dry food to keep them full. Is that ok?

Thanks again for responding!

Barb

[midnightbride]

Hi. I just registered for this, so this is my first time. I have just been wondering the same thing. In a couple of weeks, I have to go on a business trip for 5 days and then 5 days later, I'm going on vacation for another 5 days! My mother does stop in on the days I'm not going to be home at all, but I still feel extremely guilty leaving my 2 cats alone. They do fight occasionally, but apparently only when I'm home. They're not exactly best friends, but I guess they keep each company somewhat. I always wonder if it really is that upsetting for them or do they just sleep all day. If I've had to go away for 2 or 3 days, I'll leave them alone with large amounts of dry food, etc. If anyone has experience with this, please let me know. Thanks.

[mofong]

Usually, my cats get a spoonful of wet in the morning and dry all day. In the past, about a year ago, I only had 1 cat, and he got a half can of wet daily. When we went on trips, he got a full bowl of dry only. He did okay with that. One thing that I do notice, is that he eats a lot more when we are away. Once I got another cat, I bought a feeder for dry food. It looks like a little water cooler bottle. It holds quite a bit of dry, about 6 cups, and seems to be okay.

We've been a cat family for over 6 years now, and haven't slowed down in our travelling. We are gone for two weeks at the end of the year, various weekends, and a week in May. Sometimes we take more trips during the year, depending on my husband's mood. It took me about a year to convince my husband to get the first cat, because he thought that with our travel schedule, it would be cruel to leave the cat alone. After we got our first cat, and took a trip, he saw that the cat was fine. A little clingy when we got back, he slept on my head/face with his paws wrapped around my neck, but he was okay.

My husband travels a lot, and the older cat won't have anything to do with him for his first few hours home. I think he's mad that my husband came home and took his side of the bed. Last summer, we got T.C. and now the older one, Nigel, has company when we are gone. I've noticed that when we get back, Nigel isn't so clingy anymore. Even though they are not bosom buddies, they know that there is another body in the house.

It still doesn't hurt to have someone come in once in a while, give them a few treats, and check on the condition of the house. Sometimes they leave "presents". But all in all, it's been better since we got Nigel a little "sister".

[midnightbride]

Thank you so much for your reply. I think I feel better about it now. I usually only went on long trips about once a year, but I guess they'll be OK. I just wish they could talk!

[havel1hv]

We have 6 cats and we take one long vacation away from home a year - usually about 9 days. We leave them alone the entire time - my mom usually stops in once. We leave A LOT of food and even more WATER! We've come home to a trashed house once or twice, but... the only bad part is that after 5 days I start to obsess about it, what if... the house burned down (which is my greatest fear), what if, etc. So if you are comfortable with it, your cats are healthy and you leave more than enough food and water (that they can't spill) I wouldn't feel guilty about it...

Hope that helps!

Heather V. Havel
Michigan - USA

[mofong]

The only time I don't leave them alone for a few days is if we're gone for more than a weekend. Since I have someone to pick up my mail anyway, I also have them come and change the water and the boxes daily. If it's only a weekend, (two nights max), then I feel okay to leave them alone.

I, too, start to worry after about 5 days. We take a long trip once a year for two weeks. I miss them more than I worry about them. It begins to feel strange not to have at least one cat sleeping on the bed with us.

[gypsy55]

We leave Sammy home alone, if we're only gone over a weekend, but we still have a neighbor check on him every day.

This year we're going away for two weeks, and a friend is going to house/cat sit for us. I wouldn't even consider boarding him, he deserves to stay in his own home.

He's the first pet I've ever had, so I guess I'm a bit over-protective of him. He's not the most friendly of cats, but he needs to have someone watch out for him.

Gypsy

[barb0802]

I know what you mean about "what if"... That's all I start thinking about is "the house definitely burned down" It's crazy I know.. but I can't help it.

Thanks to everyone for all of their tips and suggestions...I feel so much better now, and will 'try' to have a good time this weekend and not obsess 'too much' about them... ;o)

Thanks again,

Barb

[midnightbride]

Thanks so much, everyone. I do leave a large dog bowl filled with dry food and one for water. But even though my mother stops in, I am always imagining the worst like a fire or someone breaking in and they get out (I don't care about my stuff, just my cats!). They've never been outside. I just feel like a bad "mother" leaving them for so long. But since they can't speak for themselves, we'll have to assume they find "cat things" to do when we're away. They do make a huge mess when I'm away, like playing with toys they haven't touched in months!

[mofong]

Sounds like there are the same fears out there about our children getting out of the house in case of an emergency. I have my cats collared and tagged, as well as computer chipped. If they ever get out, they will have a good chance of getting back to me. During the earthquake here in the 80's, there were hundreds of animals in shelters with no owners to claim, as many thought they were gone for good. The cats with the collars and/or chips made their way home. After that, I made sure that my children were tagged and chipped. Also, I am getting a sticker to put on my front door that tells emergency crews that there are pets inside. I read an article about how fire fighters do not know what is in a house, but if they see that sticker outside of your door, they know to go in and look.

With these precautions, I don't worry too much about emergencies, just that I miss them.