Hello all! This is my first post here ... I searched for similar topics but didn't really find what I needed so here goes:
We are going on vacation for 7 days. My cat Murphy moved in with us a few months ago - he is now about 10 months old. The move was traumatic for him, and long story short, boarding him is completely out of the question.
We plan to leave him at our house (he's an indoor-only cat). Below are the precautions & plans we will have in place.
Now, I'm really worried because he's SUCH a social kitty. We play every morning when I wake up and when I get home from work each night, he has "baby time" followed by hide & attack. He talks all the time, follows us from room to room ... I'm really afraid it might be traumatic for him to be alone so much! Also, my husband is a full time grad student and is usually home all day. ONe friend of mine suggested "weaning" him of so much attention.
So anyway, here are our plans, please add any suggestions or let me know other tips about leaving kitty home alone for the first time!! Thank you in advance!
-- My friend will be coming over once a day to replenish water and food, do the litter, and play with him, hopefully for about an hour. I plan to pay her $100, so she should be happy to spend time with him! She has two cats also.
--We'll put away all the things he could hurt himself on (he gets his soft claws stuck in the rug fringe all the time, for instance! little dork!) or things he could chew on out of boredom (read: stereo wires)
--We'll put out LOTS of water to drink.
--We'll crack a window upstairs and duct tape the screen in real well. Leave a couple other chairs by windows so he can look out. Leave all his toys out of course.
--Set lights and a radio on a timer for the evenings.
--Next door neighbor (we live in a townhouse) will have friend's phone number in case the cat starts yowling ...
--Last resort, friend can take Murphy to her house if he seems distressed. ...
--This will be in two weeks, so the house shouldn't get too hot or too cold.
AHHHHHH!!!
We are going on vacation for 7 days. My cat Murphy moved in with us a few months ago - he is now about 10 months old. The move was traumatic for him, and long story short, boarding him is completely out of the question.
We plan to leave him at our house (he's an indoor-only cat). Below are the precautions & plans we will have in place.
Now, I'm really worried because he's SUCH a social kitty. We play every morning when I wake up and when I get home from work each night, he has "baby time" followed by hide & attack. He talks all the time, follows us from room to room ... I'm really afraid it might be traumatic for him to be alone so much! Also, my husband is a full time grad student and is usually home all day. ONe friend of mine suggested "weaning" him of so much attention.
So anyway, here are our plans, please add any suggestions or let me know other tips about leaving kitty home alone for the first time!! Thank you in advance!
-- My friend will be coming over once a day to replenish water and food, do the litter, and play with him, hopefully for about an hour. I plan to pay her $100, so she should be happy to spend time with him! She has two cats also.
--We'll put away all the things he could hurt himself on (he gets his soft claws stuck in the rug fringe all the time, for instance! little dork!) or things he could chew on out of boredom (read: stereo wires)
--We'll put out LOTS of water to drink.
--We'll crack a window upstairs and duct tape the screen in real well. Leave a couple other chairs by windows so he can look out. Leave all his toys out of course.
--Set lights and a radio on a timer for the evenings.
--Next door neighbor (we live in a townhouse) will have friend's phone number in case the cat starts yowling ...
--Last resort, friend can take Murphy to her house if he seems distressed. ...
--This will be in two weeks, so the house shouldn't get too hot or too cold.
AHHHHHH!!!