Do you think it's safe?

To leave Jake for a weekend by himself?? Kyle (bf) is going on vacation to Hawaii while I'm going to Bulgaria to visit family, he leaves a week before I do and I leave the weekend before he comes back. Normally he'd be the one to take care of Jake while I'm gone, but since he will be gone too I don't know what to do. I hate taking him to the kennel, because they keep them in cages, and they require for all cats to have the leukemia shot which I refuse to give Jake.
I could hire someone to come in, but I don't trust random people, most people in this business are not a legitimate business that would screen employees, etc..
Anyway, what do you think would you leave a kitty for the weekend, with his food and water dispenser full???

Originally Posted by ut0pia

To leave Jake for a weekend by himself?? Kyle (bf) is going on vacation to Hawaii while I'm going to Bulgaria to visit family, he leaves a week before I do and I leave the weekend before he comes back. Normally he'd be the one to take care of Jake while I'm gone, but since he will be gone too I don't know what to do. I hate taking him to the kennel, because they keep them in cages, and they require for all cats to have the leukemia shot which I refuse to give Jake.
I could hire someone to come in, but I don't trust random people, most people in this business are not a legitimate business that would screen employees, etc..
Anyway, what do you think would you leave a kitty for the weekend, with his food and water dispenser full???

Click to expand...

For the weekend I think it is ok.... Although I wouldn't do it. I would buy a fountain and a gravity fed food container though.... Just to be sure....

I've done it when I still lived at home. I didn't like it. Is there anyone you trust who might run over at least once? A co-worker or neighbor?

I wouldn't be able to sleep or enjoy myself if I left my cats home alone without anyone checking on them. They would likely be ok, but a lot can happen in 2 or 3 days.

Water bowls can get tipped leaving no water for them. Plus they could get hung up in something, a claw could be caught, a door accidentally closed during play shutting them in.

If it's possible, I think you should have someone go in and check on him at least once daily to make sure that he is ok.

And also, leave a radio on for him for company.

I would be a bit concerned and probably wouldn't do that. My concern is what if your BF's plane is delayed or quite late for whatever reason and he can't get home on the day you are expecting him for Jake. I would have a back-up person just in case.

When we left for a few days when my FIL passed away, a friend from our church looked in on the girls. Even then we called her almost everyday we were gone.

When they were less than a year old, a neighbor looked after them. We were gone a week that time and called everyday to check in.

I would have a friend check on your kitty.

If you won't be gone for more than three or four days, your kitties should be fine! I have done this with my own cats several times and there is no problem. Simply leave them with clean litterboxes and a lot of small bowls of food and full water bowls all around the house. I think we all tend to worry about our cats more than we should - cats are quite intelligent and can stay alone.
However, if you do have a friend or neighbor that you trust, it would be nice if they could check on your cats (so that you can be entirely calm about them).

Okay now I feel odd. We leave our cats a lot for weekends a lot.... We have a gravity feeder and we leave an extra water out. We have an alarm on the house and I have just never worried about it.

I do overnight stays in London. I leave 7.30.a.m saturday and come back around 6.p.m on the sunday, so for me that's 2 days, but any longer l would have to get someone in to check on them.

Weigh the lesser of two evils: putting up with having a stranger visit the house, or the constant itching thought that something might be wrong with your baby and he's all alone.

IMO, its enough of a nagging worry leaving my munchkins alone for 13hrs, so I invested in little IP webcams. IMO, you'll enjoy yourself so much more if you get a sitter.

Knowing me, I would still worry like crazy even if I do have someone come and check on him ....but I'll get a friend to do it,it shouldn't be much of a bother for him if it's only one trip to my house...
I really appreciate everyone's input, I don't feel so bad for considering this now..
I'm already freaking out about being away from Jake for 2 weeks
I thought about a webcam but my house is pretty big and Jake has several hang out spots that I'd need a few webcams to be sure I'll get to see him. And, I'll have a ridiculously long flight since I have a 9 hour stay when I'm switching planes I'll probably get wifi which is about 5 euros an hour or so, but I don't think I'd get more than 2 hours, lol it gets expensive after that and Jake may not even be in front of the webcam for that time..

Originally Posted by ut0pia

I'm already freaking out about being away from Jake for 2 weeks

Click to expand...

If you have someone you can trust to check on them on a daily basis it's half the battle. I was on a weeks cruise last year and i was worried sick about leaving them, but a close friend called in twice a day, every day and they were fine.

Originally Posted by capt_jordi

Okay now I feel odd. We leave our cats a lot for weekends a lot.... We have a gravity feeder and we leave an extra water out. We have an alarm on the house and I have just never worried about it.

Click to expand...

I'm in the same boat too. I have no worry in leaving my kitties alone for a weekend....heck I leave my snakes alone for weeks at times LOL (aside from feeding days). I make sure the water fountain is full + leave out an extra bowl, and leave out enough food to last the weekend as I don't have a gravity feeder but know how much my cats eat I make sure each litter box is clean, and they are all set.

Now when the kitties were younger, I wouldn't leave them alone, or if I did have to go for a night they were put in "their room".

Kitties are smart and independent, I don't worry if I'm only going to be gone a weekend....But that is just me.

I wouldn't do it......just too paranoid. Then again, I have a hard time leaving them alone just for one whole day if we're out shopping and don't get back home until late at night. That's just me. I just won't do it.