How long will you leave your cats by themselves?

We are going to be out of town for 8 nights over the holidays. We have a cat sitter to come everyday for an hour for the first four days, but after that only my sister is available to come and that would be every second day.

I know Noisette will deal with it okay as we've left her for up to 5 days by herself before, and seh could care less.

I am worried about Timothy though - we've only had him two months and he's moved a round a lot before coming to us. I don't want him to feel abandoned or upset, especially because his herpes tends to act up when he's stressed. Part of the reason we adopted Timothy was to have a companion for Noisette when we are away. I want Tim to learn to be independent, and am hoping Noisette will set a good example (he copies everything she does).

For long have you left your cats at home alone, with a drop-in sitter?

Well,

All I can say is that it depends on a cat. I've heard stories about cats getting upset and acting out in various ways. My cats are fine to be left alone. They are just happy to see me when I'm back. One time my neighbour had to leave town for 5 days and asked me to watch her kitty. Her cat got a bit too depressed and wouldn't play for the first couple of days or eat. I wasn't sure if he was just sad or sick. But he got better after a while and was really excited when I came by.

We would never leave our cats more than 24 hours by themselves. Huggy bear less as he gets very lonely. A lot of it depends on the cats but if it was more tha 2 days we would get a cat sitter to come at least twice a day or put them in a cattery.

xDx your Huggy bear is so adorably cute I just couldn't help it by say that

Originally Posted by Chichi

xDx your Huggy bear is so adorably cute I just couldn't help it by say that

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Thankyou. He Knows it Too

I've left my cats with an automatic feeder and water for 2 days. I wouldn't go without a cat sitter or someone coming by for longer than that. Every other day sounds ok as long as they are on dry food or using an automatic feeder to keep the wet food fresh. They will get lonely and be very happy to see you when you get back.

Cynthia

I just spent 5 days at my parents house recovering from surgery. While I was gone, my dad came over daily to make sure my boys were fed and food put out for the outdoor cats. They were fine on dry food. I have a fountain for water.

I've never left my babies even for an overnight trip. I wouldn't be able to stand it.

I've been lucky so far and haven't had to leave the girls.But, if I had no other choice.........I would think that a week would be o.k. with a drop in sitter.
My Brother-in-Law has had to leave his for a week when my Father-in-law passed away and he had to get on a flight right away.His were fine, he has an automatic feeder/water.
Good luck and I hope they do GREAT!!!

I would be too nervous without someone checking on them. I think the longest I've ever left them was 48 hours at the very most, and I think I left about 3 bowls of food for one cat. He was ticked he didn't get his wet though. On my honeymoon were were gone for a week, and we missed our kitties! We met a least 2 other couples who were in the same situation!! We had a friend feed them then, or a neighbor. Now we have a petsitter b/c we moved.

My cats don't get to stay alone for more than 24 hours and I don't think I've ever left them without any human contact for that long anyway.

I have left my cats with a sitter for up to 12 weeks but now I cant since the sitter was grandma or great grandma (RIP) and I will have to get a pro sitter just for an overnight trip...

I would nt leave them more than 24 hours alone but that is me ... and I still pet sit from time to time

I wouldn't use a pet sitter. Dropping in once a day is not enough. I'd rather they be in a cattery where they can be more closely supervised. Anyway I'd left my babies for two nights from time to time. Never left more than one night these days though, especially in the weather we've been having.

I have a little question for everyone how answered that he has left the cats alone for more than 24 hours....its ok about food and water..but how about the litter box..? do you have an automatic one..?

I have left them overnight on a few occaisons but only with my mom petsitting. I generlly dont like to leave them at all, only when I am at school or work.

I have left my two for 2 days but I wouldn't leave them longer than that. If its for a day or two I do not get a sitter, and thats only because I have the Drinkwell fountain and the automatic Littermaid boxes. If I need to go somewhere longer I send them to a cattery. But, if I didn't have the fountain and automatic boxes, I would not leave them longer than 24 hours.

To answer your question about the litter box.

Before having the automatic, I scooped the regular box at least 5 times a day. So really if I didn't have the automatic it would be hard for me to be gone even for 24 hours.

Originally Posted by Punchy

We are going to be out of town for 8 nights over the holidays. We have a cat sitter to come everyday for an hour for the first four days, but after that only my sister is available to come and that would be every second day.

I know Noisette will deal with it okay as we've left her for up to 5 days by herself before, and seh could care less.

I am worried about Timothy though - we've only had him two months and he's moved a round a lot before coming to us. I don't want him to feel abandoned or upset, especially because his herpes tends to act up when he's stressed. Part of the reason we adopted Timothy was to have a companion for Noisette when we are away. I want Tim to learn to be independent, and am hoping Noisette will set a good example (he copies everything she does).

For long have you left your cats at home alone, with a drop-in sitter?

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Have you exausted every possible source? You really are taking a chance. Even if you solve the food and water problem, what if one of them gets sick or has some kind of an accident?

I would never leave my cats for more than 24 hours unless i had a sitter....

But i am lucky w/ this because I have friends and family who are competent in cat care, and my cats are comfortable w/.....

I dont know if they would be upset since I have never left them too long, and there are 4 of them, and they all get along real well (minus the little scuffles here and there between mabby and poppy)....

Though I get real upset when I leave them...John and I went camping 2 summers ago....out friend jim stayed at the house and wathed the cats....They love Jom, cause hes got a kittn mentality...so hell play w/ them for hours, and they get to play rough w/ him and such.....

But I called everyday to check in on them.....

When Emmet was hospitalized last year for a week..I was a wreck that whole week........I couldnt function...Even though i knew he was going to be ok it was not seeing hes sweet face and doe eyes that really got to me.

We have never left our boys more than several hours. Never yet overnight....but I would if I needed to.
If we were gone more than 24 hours i`d certainly have someone (that knew them) come in and check on them to make sure they were OK and check on their food/water/litter situation.
Linda