Traveling advice

Hello everyone!

I would like to address a question.

I'm the proud owner of a beautiful rescued cat. He's currently 8 months old.

I might need to travel in the near future, and I'll be gone for at least a month. Sadly, I am not able to take the kitten with me as I'm traveling across the ocean.

I'm not sure how to handle the situation. I live alone.

I could have someone come in everyday to feed the cat and clean the litter box. But I'm not sure if the cat needs constant company or it's enough to have someone come by just to feed the cat.

Any advice, idea is welcome!

Thank you!

would the person spend any time interacting with the cat? 

It could spend some time if needed. A couple of hours, maybe.

hipsterariel said:

 
It could spend some time if needed. A couple of hours, maybe.

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that would be good although a 1 hour visit twice a day would be better. 

That's a bit of a tough one I think with the 8 month old.  If the cat were older, even just a few years, then maybe he would be fine with a couple of visits a day, hopefully some good interaction, though he would be lonely still.  At 8 months, there's little telling what he might get into when mostly alone for that long.

Although it's also not ideal to change a cat's environment, as this typically is a stress factor, he might be a better candidate for boarding for a month, or for staying in a room at someone else's house, if that can be arranged.  (He shouldn't really go into having roam of a whole new house for just a month, or into a situation where he would directly interact with other cats.  Boarding facility would be okay as long as it's reputable.)  Or, if someone could actually stay at your house more of the time, maybe sleep there, keep a schedule more like your own, that sort of thing, that would be another option.

I've never been gone for that long with a cat at home.  Right now I have someone come in twice a day with our cats when we are away, and there are two of them which also helps a little because they keep each other company a bit.  But it still makes me feel bad as these guys are much more sociable with us than my earlier cat.  And even with that, if I were going to be away for a month, I would strongly consider different options because it's just so long to go without regular attention. 

I have a friend who travels a couple of times a year for two weeks and sometimes three weeks.  I board her cats in my study, which is away from my own cats, but a room I spend a lot of time in.  She pays me well, but it's half what she would have to pay a boarding facility, and the cats are much happier.  It doesn't even stress them anymore because they know me and the space where they stay and they know their mama will be back eventually.  Do you have a friend who could use some extra money and has a room where your kitty could stay?  If you can't find a friend to do it ask your vet hospital because they have lots of contacts.  I definitely would not lleave him home alone unless you can find a housse sitter to live there while you are away.

Red Top Rescue said:

 
I have a friend who travels a couple of times a year for two weeks and sometimes three weeks.  I board her cats in my study, which is away from my own cats, but a room I spend a lot of time in.  She pays me well, but it's half what she would have to pay a boarding facility, and the cats are much happier.  It doesn't even stress them anymore because they know me and the space where they stay and they know their mama will be back eventually.  Do you have a friend who could use some extra money and has a room where your kitty could stay?  If you can't find a friend to do it ask your vet hospital because they have lots of contacts.  I definitely would not lleave him home alone unless you can find a housse sitter to live there while you are away.

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That's a good idea!