It just didn’t seem like enough. Rule out any physical problem. When you return home, your cat's behavior, appearance and environment will all be especially telling when it comes to her feelings regarding your absence. If a boarding facility, what is the temperature control like? If it’s a question of cost, don’t put your cat’s health and life in jeopardy by trying to save money—at minimum have a reliable and responsible neighbor or friend come to your home daily to feed your cat, provide fresh water, clean his litter box, and play with him to give him some company and attention. Or what if your cat got sick and no one was there to help him? Naheed Akhtar, 41, … When we got her. If your cat has a favorite toy, the sitter could also offer to play with it, again while not looking directly at the cat. For us, keeping our cat at home and hiring a pet sitter works well for short trips. Some breeds are also more prone to separation anxiety issues -- Siamese and Burmese felines among them. Pets should never be left alone for extended periods of time, particularly social animals like dogs. Personally, I like it when all of my kitties are here to greet me. She sounds like an only kitty, she could be lonesome, afraid, bored, have anxiety about your being gone. ~ Mahatma Gandhi, “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” ~ Mahatma Gandhi, “A man can live and be healthy without killing animals for food; therefore, if he eats meat, he participates in taking animal life merely for the sake of his appetite. It’s your responsibility to keep your cat safe, healthy and happy, so why would you take a chance on something happening to your cat, compromising its health or well being? Indoor-only cats that escape often go into defense mode, especially if they are timid. You will fnd out many apps and activities your cat take part in while your away. Your cat's behavior could be a cry for help. But maybe a neighbor could feed him wet food? This just helps to keep your cat’s surroundings more familiar, and ensures they feel safe while you’re away. Cat’s worry like we do and can feel abandoned and increasingly nervous the longer we’re away. We have done this before when we were away for a few short days. All of these signs point to a kitty that is very unhappy about being left alone. They are unfriendly and fearful of other people. But you should NEVER expect that they do. Unlike dogs, cats usually have a reputation for being independent, tough and cool-headed creatures. I just want whats best for him. Conjunctivitis is her only issue. Also cats get bored quickly without enough stimulation, and can develop behavior issues if left alone too long. Will my cat feel abandoned while I'm on vacation? What to Do If Your Cat Is Missing. I think that is the best thing you can do. Unless your cat is very sociable and adapts easily to different … I'm currently talking to a potential adopter who has another cat and I'm wondering if it would be better for him to go to a home with another cat. Wet food spoils. With a pet sitter or boarding facility, your cat will get the personal and medical care it needs, and you will have peace of mind knowing your cat is being well cared for. Devastation: For some clients, a therapist's vacation feels traumatic . What safety precautions does the pet sitter or boarding facility take? 15. The peace of mind is worth every penny! Science is based on facts, and the facts are that cats simply treat us like they do other cats, but there may be much more to it … How large is the staff? Her stress and behavioral problems before and during your vacation may not be because of separation anxiety at all. Here are three possible choices for your cat, dog or other pet when you're on vacation. I do have a mattress pad. I would leave multiple water bowls in the shade. Cats are emotional creatures. You will know instantly whether or not she enjoyed her time alone. Finally, observe your cat's coat. When cats are left alone for longer than a day, our absence causes them stress and anxiety. I’m not what most people would call a "globe trotter" but I do travel a reasonable amount — maybe 5 to 6 times a year. With excessive licking, patches of hair tend to fall out -- yikes. Can you physically see and visit the kennels? Sounds like you have done all the right things. Some states and counties don’t require a license for pet boarding or pet sitter services, so there may not be any minimum standard level of care, quality, safety, competency, or reliability required. What is their reputation? Cats may be independent, but they don’t do well left alone for multiple days, they get lonely and anxious without their human companions—especially with the increasing time we’re away from them. You think by taking him to your friend's home your cat won't be stressed but that's not true. If you’re leaving home for more than a day, you really want to get a pet sitter or consider boarding your cat. For in-home pet sitters, will they provide any additional services—like watering plants, taking in newspapers and mail, turning lights on and off for home security? He likes to stay outdoors and I bring him inside at night when it’s cold.. We have bought those big water and food dispensers that can last a week so when we are gone for a weekend he sleeps under our pergola on our outdoor furniture.. All of the information shared on this website comes from a combination of both hands-on experience and meticulous research. Never Leave Your Cat Home Alone, Preventing and Treating Fleas in Cats – The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, Rescuing a Cat With Special Needs – A Story of Transformation, Medicating and Pilling Cats – How to Make it Easier, Safer and Healthier for Your Cat, How to Find a Great Veterinarian For Your Cat, How to Afford the Cost of Veterinary Care, Treating My Cat’s Severe IBD and Gastrointestinal Inflammation, Treating and Preventing Feline Herpes Virus Infections, Second-Hand Cigarette Smoke Causes Cancer in Cats, Pet sitter – For either overnight stays or daily visits, Ask your neighbor, relative or friend – Make sure they are responsible, reliable and willing to give the time and effort, Veterinarians – some offer boarding services, Cat groomers – some offer boarding services, Boarding facilities – local pet boarding kennels, pet hotels, pet lodges or catteries. Keep them inside when you are away from home, if possible, and seal pet doors. You’ve cleared your schedule, made vacation reservations, and set up everything for your cat. Also, some states or counties don’t mandate a legal requirement for worker’s comp insurance or liability insurance that may be important to you. Unfortunately it soaked through. Creating a positive association Since all the signs are pointing to you going on vacation, you can help your dog feel … I have a neighbor that comes that she knows and is the only person she will come out for when I am away. Now nobody said it would be easy, as cats need to have their space supervised to feel safe, but we’re also not saying it’s impossible. We found homeless newborn kittens in an abandoned building. National Association of Professional Pet Sitters, Need a Pet Sitter? Because it got used to getting food and shelter for free I.e. Place some food down, and as the abandoned cat eats it, put more food down on the floor.Doing this will make the abandoned cat feel somewhat confident and … Or have a friend/relative come stay at your house while your away, at least she’ll have company and some normalcy. She very loving but only on her terms (more than normal for a cat) lol. How many times do they feed? DEAR JOAN: I go to a local park and feed the feral cats daily. If you’re thinking about hiring a pet sitter, you want to look for one that is recommended, reputable, responsible, licensed and has experience with pet sitting. This means they will hide even when called. Some pet sitters and boarding facilities are better than others. Leaving for 12 days in nov & I don’t know what to do. The more you do that, eventually your lonesome pup will learn to keep his cool when you're gone. ~ Anatole France, "I hold that, the more helpless a creature, the more entitled it is to protection by man from the cruelty of man." She still won’t even let me pick her up. When I do travel, I’m usually gone for a few days to as long as a week. We welcome your donation to support this website for cat parents. While this is an issue that most cat owners think of well in advance of leaving for a vacation, it’s still something that causes quite a bit of worry. by doing nothing, in wild they have to search for it,steal it or sometimes fight for it, if another cat wants the same. Foreign travel and cats If you have cats, you’ve likely wondered what to do with them when you’re away from home on a vacation or business trip. Maybe it’s the first time you’re leaving your pet with a sitter overnight, or maybe you’ll be on two-week excursion—either way, you’re feeling bad about it. What we do now when we go on vacation is we look for family members or friends that are willing to come to our house to watch them periodically throughout the day. As long as your neighbor is responsible, mature, dependable and you trust them, you should have no problem. I do go on vacation but my mom stays with him for the entire trip. :lol: If cats weren't so sensitive about abandonment, I could have a life! With the halcyon days of summer upon us, maybe you’re thinking it’s time to get away and take a vacation. I cover the bed with a tarp when we go on vacation. You mentioned you’re only gone a weekend, which since he’s comfortable outside, and you leave food and water–is probably ok. Have the sitter prepare and set down the cat’s food while you’re there, too. In spite of that, your sweet feline is also prone to the angst -- and possible behavioral issues -- of separation anxiety when you're away from home for days at a time on vacation. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! The pet sitter should offer favorite treats to your cat or play with them and their favorite toys. Things just feel different and chaotic, and the sight of a big, conspicuous suitcase in the middle of the living room floor is a pretty big hint, too! Travel with cats. If you have a backyard, create a protected enclosure for them to roam safely in. What level of care will they provide your cat? Especially when you are planning a vacation, it is always best to think about your cat. To do this, stand far away from the kittens — 35 feet or more. If not, what are the hours someone is on-site? Is it noisy or loud? Always keeping cats indoors is the safest way to go, but many cats enjoy an indoor/outdoor lifestyle. So, when you board your dog and don’t come back for her in the evening, she will know that something is different this time. Is it clean and sanitary, do they clean it daily? I'm currently talking to a potential adopter who has another cat and I'm wondering if it would be better for him to go to a home with another cat. There are always many risks leaving cats outside — poisons, dogs, feral cats and cat fights, disease, cars, getting injured and foul play. You shouldn't feel guilty for this- you're making the right choice. Don't make a big production before you leave, for example. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. So what do you do with indoor/outdoor cats when you go away? Often cats don’t do well when their people are away. Make sure your dog or cat has updated pet ID tags. A cat may have such a problem if she was weaned early or perhaps even if she was separated very early on from mama. Cats can gorge on dry food and eat too much not leaving enough food for later. Learn from your kitty's difficult experience next time you go on vacation. What To Do With A Cat While On Vacation Cats while on vacation give our life meaning, but sometimes we want to use vacation to… You need to ask for consent before you go there. But despite being ready to go and knowing your pet is in the best possible hands, you still have a nagging feeling of anxiety about leaving your cat or dog behind while you head out on a fun trip. You miss them when you're gone, and it's not like you can call to talk to them when you're feeling particularly sad about their absence. When they poop like that it can mean they are uncomfortable, in pain, suffering — or unhappy. Naturally, Mittens will pretend he hasn’t noticed your absence when you return, but that’s because he’s a cat! Keep the environment as stable and normal as possible so kitty doesn't feel confused and scared. Cats do miss their owner! You wrote asking how you can make your cats most comfortable while you are away. If you leave longer, consider getting a pet sitter. However, it falls to me to figure out what to do with “our” cat when we travel for long periods of time, move across the … I can get a sitter twice a day. Be safe rather than sorry. She has a condo that she doesn’t use, toys she rarely blinks at. Jennie Richards is a board member of the Community Concern for Cats rescue group and is a trained Animal Disaster Rescue worker for the Humane Society of the United States, Red Rover, and Noah’s Wish. By Allen Kim, CNN. One of the best ways to identify a reputable one, is to ask for recommendations from your veterinarian, local cat groomer, cat rescue group members, pet sitting associations or kennel associations, and then follow up with Yelp for online reviews and visit the Better Business Bureau and the California Department of Consumer Affairs online for any complaints that have been filed. Yes, cats who are abandoned - or feel they’ve been abandoned - can become sad. Reply; Cathi July 20, 2020 at 12:31 pm (7 months ago) ... Nerina is a Greek rescue cat who was abandoned by her mother at a very early age with a bad eye infection. I will taken her again in November when she is due , but me just picking her up stresses her out, so I don’t go more than I have to with her. Unlike dogs, cats do not need humans to feel safe and secure, preferring to look after themselves ... And abandoned or feral cats get on just fine on their own. In fact, some become completely devastated and that is no exaggeration. If your cat indeed has separation anxiety, try to make your next absence as trauma-free as possible. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Me and my husband are going away for 20 days and I am not quite sure whether I should leave my cat behind or take him along. But dogs observe our routines. Suggestions? Sounds like you have an excellent option given your neighbor is willing to cat-sit. Cats get accustomed to routine, but they can also adapt when they need to. If the supposedly abandoned cat isn't safe where you found it, you need to work to gain its trust and get it to come with you - or at least, to not put up a fight when you pick it up. So be sure to ask about these. Consider cat behaviors if you go on a Holiday. As the owners of a loving, older cat and former dog owners, we know all too well the hassle of trying to figure out what to do … Felines may be too dignified to shout their love from the rooftops, but your pet could very well miss you while you are away soaking up the sun on that beach vacation. Here’s a list of minimum standards of care by Cat Fancier’s Association for commercial catteries. He is an indoor cat and very much attached to me. FACT: Much of what a cat likes and doesn’t like depends on their prior socialization, positive experiences with people and with new adventures. I don’t really know anyone in town since I moved here only a couple of months ago, so having her in a boarding facility will let me know that she’s being fed and kept safe until I come home. Is it hot, cold or comfortable? I have the option of leaving him at home and having my kind neighbor who he loves very much check up on him 2-3 times a day. Once you know what behaviors you should expect to see in your cat, you'll be better able to identify any changes that may be a cause for alarm. If you’re planning on taking a vacation this summer or fall, one of the things you need to do before leaving is figure out what’s going to work best for your cat while you’re gone. And to act so is immoral.” There are many good reasons not to leave your cat home alone, here are some reasons why and how to find a good pet sitter or boarding facility. I can’t live my life always worried. She eat & seems happy as long as I am playing with the laser light with her. You’ve cleared your schedule, made vacation reservations, and set up everything for your cat. First, I would suggest you take your kitty to a vet for a routine physical checkup, with a full blood panel and urine test. What Are the Causes of Pacing & Circling in Cats?→. This causes the liver to become overwhelmed by fat, and results in a dangerous condition called Hepatic Lipidosis or Fatty Liver Disease—leading to liver failure. You always want to visit the facility first and take a tour. They may not want to show themselves. Is the pet sitter or pet kennel insured? Yes, cats who are abandoned - or feel they’ve been abandoned - can become sad. Note whether your cat was uncharacteristically excited upon your return. You need to be patient and have some spare time. For information on pet sitters you can check the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters (NAPPS) and the Association of Pet Sitting Excellence (APSE) and Pet Sitters International (PSI). 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