When the owner is away, a cat left alone for days will suffer
The other day while standing in line, I couldn’t help but overhear the couple behind me discussing their upcoming trip to New Mexico and what they should do with their cat (there’s not much social distancing anymore).
The husband thought the cat would be fine if they left enough food and water out for the week. The wife disagreed and wanted someone to check on the cat daily.
In this instance, the wife was right. What’s wrong with the husband’s plan? Leaving the cat alone for a week with no one to check on him is not how responsible pet parents look after their pets.
While cats may be lower maintenance than dogs, they crave affection just like dogs and will begin to feel your absence before the end of the first day, especially if they are used to you being home every day. Days with no human contact can cause anxiety and/or separation anxiety for your cat, which can result in behavior issues, like litter box problems, excessive grooming and increased vocalizations.
If you leave out enough food and water for an entire week, your cat could overeat or tip over the water bowl on the first day, leaving your feline without water until you return.
Your cat could get injured or ill while you are away. Once I had a cat “throw a blood clot” while I ran a short errand. When I returned home, I found my pet in excruciating pain. Imagine if something like that happened while you were away for a week.
What happens if the power goes out? Is there air conditioning or heat in the home? Could your cat accidentally close himself in a closet?
How long can you leave a cat alone? Not as long as most people may think. An adult cat
should not be left alone for more than 24 to 48 hours, depending on your cat, without someone checking on him. If the adult cat has lived in your home for less than six months, don’t leave him or her alone for any longer than your normal absences. That means asking a friend or hiring a pet sitter to check on him more frequently.
As for kittens, don’t leave them alone for hours any longer than their age in months. That means checking on a 2-month-old kitten within two hours, a 4-month-old kitten within four hours, etc. Stick to this routine until they are about 8 months old.
Don’t let kittens roam freely when you are not home, either. Whenever you leave home to run an errand, place them in a cat-proofed bedroom with food, water and a litter box.
All pets should be checked on daily, especially when you are not nearby.