going back to work--anything I can do to prepare them?

mamacat

mamacat

TCS Member
Thread starter
Top Cat
Joined
Dec 6, 2004
Messages
1,355
Purraise
3
Location
The beautiful borough of Queens, NYC, NY
I'm not sure if this is the right board for this--anyway...

A week from this coming Monday I will be starting a new full-time job. I haven't worked full-time since May 2004, so as you can imagine the kitties are VERY used to having me at home. Last year I did volunteer work three days a week for several months, and the first week I did it, the kitties pooped all over the apartment to tell me how unhappy they were that I wasn't around for treats and cuddles.

It has been almost a year since I stopped doing the volunteer work, so again they are used to having me around lots--I mean, it's not like I'm home every single second of every single day, but I am still with them a lot. Is there anything I can do to help them adjust when I start working 5 days a week?
 
satai

satai

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Jun 24, 2006
Messages
4,448
Purraise
1
Location
Limerick, Ireland
No advice, just empathy - my cats like it a lot more when I'm at home studying full time rather than working.

Can you spring for a feliway plug for the first month?
 
natalie_ca

natalie_ca

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Jul 2, 2006
Messages
21,136
Purraise
223
Location
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Originally Posted by mamacat

I'm not sure if this is the right board for this--anyway...

A week from this coming Monday I will be starting a new full-time job. I haven't worked full-time since May 2004, so as you can imagine the kitties are VERY used to having me at home. Last year I did volunteer work three days a week for several months, and the first week I did it, the kitties pooped all over the apartment to tell me how unhappy they were that I wasn't around for treats and cuddles.

It has been almost a year since I stopped doing the volunteer work, so again they are used to having me around lots--I mean, it's not like I'm home every single second of every single day, but I am still with them a lot. Is there anything I can do to help them adjust when I start working 5 days a week?
Click to expand...
Get them used to you being away. Start going out for periods of time before you return to work. Start with small amounts of time like 5 or 10 minutes every couple of hours for a day, then increase the time to 1/2 hour and do that several times the next day. The day after try 1 or 2 hours, the next 3 or 4, etc.

By the time you return to work they should be a little bit used to you not being there all of the time.

Also, don't make a big fuss over them when you leave, because that only increases separation anxiety for them. Give them their morning cuddles etc, but don't do it right before you leave the house because that will leave them expecting you to pop back in again right away.

Also, leave the radio on for them so that the house isn't dead silent.
 
K

krissie

TCS Member
Adult Cat
Joined
Dec 6, 2001
Messages
177
Purraise
1
Location
Chapel Hill, NC
Try to keep a set schedule. What my cat seems to crave is routine more than anything. She likes having me home, but she's ok with me being gone all day as long as I am fairly consistent about it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top