Vacation Tips

I will be leaving for vacation for 8 days (leaving early July 4th and returning July 12th). And I was just looking for some advice from you guys on how to make the week less stressful for Zoey and Luna. The longest I've ever left them for was 2 nights.

While I'm gone, my mom will be coming over every other day to refill their automatic feeders, clean the litter box etc, but are there any other things that I could do to make the week better for them?

Thanks in advance?

When I go away on vacation, be it for two nights or 12 nights, I leave smelly clothing with my scent on them, where Ritz normally sleeps/snoozes. I have Feliway too. Also, my cat sitter (who is my niece and has three cats of her own) comes in twice a day to feed and play with Ritz (I fed prey model raw).
Also, I tell Ritz several times that I will be away and assure her I will be back and Niece will be taking care of her. I really do think she understands.
And while I'm away, I try not to stress. (I brought a pillow case with me that had her picture on it.)

Does your mom live fairly close to you? Would she be willing to come every day (to keep those litter boxes smelling good, but also for a little more time with the cats). Especially depending on how many litter boxes you have for the two cats.

When we go away, we have a petsitter who comes in twice a day to feed the kids and scoop out boxes. My sister comes in for about an hour or so at night; she'll watch a bit of tv and let the cats pile on her on the couch for a while. I keep a worn pair of sweatpants at the foot of the bed so that Molli can sleep on them. She does, too.....I can always tell. I always keep their toys out in the living room, so they can play if they want to.