#1
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Worried About Leaving Cat Alone While on Holidays - Tips Please!
My Husband and I are going away for about 10 days and will be leaving our cat home alone. I have two friends coming in, one in the morning, one at night to feed and water him and scoop his box. I've heard horror stories of cats going to the bathroom all over the house because they're upset that they're alone. I'm very worried this might happen with mine. He is a very clean cat and always uses his box. He is also very affection and cuddly and follows me everywhere so I know he will be very lonely. Just wondering what others have experienced when leaving their babies alone and any tips that might assure a good outcome to this. I feel soooo guilty leaving him. He's only ever been left alone one night and that's only happened twice. He is 3 1/2 years old.
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#2
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I petsit professionally (as my own sort of hobby business). In all honesty, cat's really don't care when you are away. I've had one cat that has just avoided me the entire time just because she is anti-social, but psshtt when you're away your kitty is just going to be thinking about napping in the sun until you return
Always ensure someone is going to be checking on him daily and you are fine. I hate when people leave their cats alone for 24+ hours without anyone checking on them. Is something going to happen? Probably not. But what if he tips over his water dish. He just goes a few days without water? Don't worry on it too much. Invest in some extra toys, especially with catnip. See about some interactive toys to keep him occupied... they have ones where the ball spins around on the track. My cats love that! You can also have Rescue Remedy added to the water which helps some cats. If you can, set a timer on the TV or radio to have it on for a few hours each day just for some background noise. I always include mail pick-up, watering houseplants and opening/closing blinds in my petsitting duties just as a courtesy, so it doesn't look like you are on holiday
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My cat is smarter than your honor student. Stop Dog Fighting ~ Neuter Mike Vick! ~ RIP Timmy ~ May 2009 - November 6th 2009 |
#3
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I recently left my 2 cats for 3 weeks with a sitter. There is a thread here about it, but the short story is that they both did well. Leave some stuff around with your scents on it for kitty, and some toys... with good sitters he should be fine.
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#4
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Quote:
http://www.pets.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=71458
__________________
Assumptions do nothing but make an ass out of u and me. We can stick our heads in the sand for only so long before it starts choking us. Face it folks. The pet population is bad ALL OVER THE WORLD! |
#5
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I recently cat-sat for my sister for a week. As soon as I got in the house the cat led me right to his food dish, with some loud meowing!
As long as he got fed, he seemed fine. The horror stories are probably rare. Cats seem to adjust well. |
#6
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I have left my cats home with somebody coming in to feed them and did not come home to any problems. Just make sure the person coming in is well trusted.
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Cat maid to: Rose semi feral, a cpietra rescue, female tabby (approx 13 yrs) Jasper RIP (2001-2018) Sweet Pea RIP (2004?-2014) Puddles RIP (1996-2014) Snowball RIP (1991-2005) In a cat's eye, all things belong to cats.-English Proverb “While we are free to choose our actions, we are not free to choose the consequences of our actions.” Stephen R. Covey |
#7
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I always leave the radio on for my cat, whenever I leave my place. As for the poster that says cats don't care when you are gone. I disagree. Cats do get lonely and miss their owners.
I am sure your cat will be fine. you have your friends coming and looking out for him, who I am assume your cat knows and is comfortable with them. |
#8
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Cat or Kitten? Cats are more passive, I find kittens get into mischief more. That is what I question. They are definately more comfortable left at home. Home checker is great.
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#9
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Several years ago, we boarded two of our cats & left the third one home alone for a week. The cats survived, but we know better now. If we can't get a cat sitter, I stay home.
Everyone who still thinks it's okay to leave a cat alone for more than 12 to 14 hours should check out this major reason (cats can suffer & die from this) not to do that. Photos & info site by Dr. Lisa Pierson who wants to see improved welfare for all cats - stray, feral & companion animals alike. - See "Urethral Obstruction - Opie's Story" - http://catinfo.org/?link=urinarytracthealth
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What part of "Meow" don't you understand? We can be part of the problem or part of the solution. Inaction is part of the problem. Please advocate for animals. |
#10
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In the original post she said kitty was 3 and a half.
__________________
Assumptions do nothing but make an ass out of u and me. We can stick our heads in the sand for only so long before it starts choking us. Face it folks. The pet population is bad ALL OVER THE WORLD! |
#11
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I leave my 7 guys here at home when I visit the in-laws or go away, my parents come in once a day to do litter boxes and put down new food and water....and they also stay for 1-2 hours just to play and give the kitties some lovin...and I do the same for their cats when they're away. See if your sitters mind staying for more than just to feed/scoop.... that way they are also more likely to notice if something is wrong with your kitty. Before I go away I make sure all fans etc are off, put one light on a timer, and my neighbours have mine as well as my parents #'s in case of emergency. I always come home to a hairball or two....but no poop or anything like that. And they are always waiting in the hallway for me when I get home, so I like to think that ya...they missed me.
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Windy~Smoke~Buddy~Palomine~Fagan~Asker~Mickey Blue Eyes Venus “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated” -Mahatma Gandhi "We're the renegades, we're the people; With our own philosophies; We change the course of history; Everyday people like you and me"- R A T M |
#12
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Quote:
We have not, either of us, had bathroom horror stories. One of mine almost either flooded the house or burned it down and it was only while I was at work but that's another freak story. Lots of good ideas up above. One more idea. My friend and I leave each other notes on what happens each time we visit. If it's a long time away, like 10 days, we phone home to see how things are going. One thing we notice? Dirty rotten cats are like school kids with the substitute teacher. "Mom lets me up on the kitchen counter, she does so. The dining room table too." "I am so allowed to climb the potted palm, I am so." They do these things right in front of us. |
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