home alone

My husband and I are going out of town for 3 days next week and leaving our 2 one-year-old cats home alone for the first time! I'm so nervous. The only thing that makes me feel ok, is that we've tried traveling with them earlier in the summer and the commuting was really hard for them. I know that being in their own home will be easier. It's just that my husband works from home and I have the summers off, so one of us is always around, so it is going to be quite a change for them. We have a pet sitter coming to meet them before we leave and he is scheduled to check in on them for feedings, litter patrol and play time, two times a day.
Does anyone have any suggestions on how to make their first experience at home alone easier for them? and for me?

thanks:

They should be fine with the pet sitter coming in twice a day. For the most part, they will probably sleep a lot and if they have treehouses in front of the window, they will be fine in entertainment.

Hubby and I will be leaving our two boys for nine days starting Friday. We have never been gone this long, 4 days is the longest.

We will have people stopping by daily to check on them-feed, water, scoop. To be honest, I'm very happy that we have two now, as I would feel terrible leaving one all alone.

I will also be leaving four turtles in the hands of someone else for the first time. This is more nerve racking than the cats.

Leslie

I left Oliver alone for weekends now and then during college and he's been without me for a week or so at a time (with longer trips, he of course has someone watching him) - he's "mad" at me when I get back, but otherwise does fine... one thing I did discover in college (I lived alone in my own apartment) was I had to leave the tv on animal planet if no one was in my apartment (ie: while I was in class, at the bar or at games) or Oliver would FIND trouble to get into! We're back living with my parents now and we still do this (even though here at home I also have a dog) - we leave my bedroom tv on if no humans will be home... I don't know if it's a comfort thing or it being on makes him think that somewhere in the house, someone is home so he should stay out of trouble.... so maybe leave a radio on low somewhere just so it's not like dead silent in your place since they're used to the noise of someone being home