Cat owners

[bicker]

I guess different people have different ideas of what is and is not expensive.

 

[MistressMerryweather]

I'm a tad scared to post, but we always leave our cat/cats for 2 weeks at a time. They have been left longer than that. We used to have a sitter(single friends) come and stay the whole time we were gone, but my girls were so not happy about that. They would pee all over every crack and crevice of the couch. It was terrible. After that happened twice, we decided no way. We have a giant feeder and a giant waterer. A plethora of litter boxes and we leave the radio on downstairs for some noise. They are extremely self-sufficient and mellow. They haven't ever gotten themselves stuck or in trouble in the 12 years we have had them. I'm sure there is that rare chance that it could happen while we are away, but not likely. Now that we live close to my parents, my mom comes to check on my cat(we have just one now) when we go away. Kitty knows her very well and doesn't protest at all except for some barfing here and there to make her point. LOL

 

[minniecarousel]

This is a new dilemma for us. When my Mom was here with us, one of my sisters would come and stay here while we went away. They would keep an eye on the cats, and scoop the litter boxes. We'll be gone for 5 days later this month. I'll have someone come in on day three to check on them and scoop. Ours actually do better without a stranger in the house. One is extremely skittish. Thank heavens, they have each other!

 

[WDSearcher]

I guess different people have different ideas of what is and is not expensive.

Well of course they do. That's the whole point of "value", "moderate" and "deluxe" resorts!

 

[WDSearcher]

I'm a tad scared to post, but we always leave our cat/cats for 2 weeks at a time. They have been left longer than that. We used to have a sitter(single friends) come and stay the whole time we were gone, but my girls were so not happy about that. They would pee all over every crack and crevice of the couch. It was terrible. After that happened twice, we decided no way. We have a giant feeder and a giant waterer. A plethora of litter boxes and we leave the radio on downstairs for some noise. They are extremely self-sufficient and mellow. They haven't ever gotten themselves stuck or in trouble in the 12 years we have had them. I'm sure there is that rare chance that it could happen while we are away, but not likely. Now that we live close to my parents, my mom comes to check on my cat(we have just one now) when we go away. Kitty knows her very well and doesn't protest at all except for some barfing here and there to make her point. LOL

Wow. I'm glad it works for you, but I could never do that. First, I'd want someone checking the house anyway if I was gone that long. Making sure everything is okay, that no one has tried to break in, that lights are on and pipes okay, etc. I couldn't leave for two weeks without anyone checking anything.

Second ... I just don't think that's fair to the cat(s). Particularly when there's only one. I mean ... poor cat, ambling around a big ol' empty house by itself, not knowing when or if anyone is ever coming back? Nope. Couldn't do it. If I could figure out a way to tell my cats "I'll be back on the 15th -- don't worry!", and know they understand ... then maybe. But without them able to understand that I will eventually return, I couldn't.

I know that I could never spend two solid weeks alone in the house with no one to talk to and nothing to do but eat and sleep. I mean ... think about it. For two solid weeks ... no other people, no interaction ... just a radio, food, a place to pee and somewhere to sleep. I shudder to think of it!

 

[DMRick]

I guess different people have different ideas of what is and is not expensive.

That's correct. When we take on our pets, we know there will be some expenses (although I pay someone to come to my house, because I need the house checked on as well, but I have been in my fair share of boarding places, mostly because they have helped out, when foster homes were full..haven't seen one rife with disease yet that stayed open). We write that into our vacation expenses. My point was, in any case, that there is no reason to leave your pet in a kennel rife with disease, when you have choices (I would find one that was clean), and certainly the people run it, should at least be able to count on a a salary and have the bills paid.

I can't imagine leaving a cat for a couple of weeks alone with no one checking to make sure the heat didn't go off, or the cat died, or whatever, while I was away.

 

[Angelhalo]

They'll be absolutely fine. I used to leave my cat home when we'd go on vacation and I never had anyone come check on her because I didn't know anyone. The longest I left her was 7 days. She was always fine. I'd just leave out an enormous amount of food and an insane amount of water, and I'd put out 2 litterboxes instead of one. She was always fine and dandy upon my return.

 

[Angelhalo]

Look in the "phone book" -you can do it on line google pet sitters- I'm sure there are some professional pet sitters in the area. These people are not strangers they are insured and bonded.

I would hire a professional pet sitter before leaving mine for 5 days. That is what I did when we moved to a new area of the country. found someone with insurance and references. It isn't that hard.

I just would not hire anyone I don't know to enter my home when I am not there. I don't care how many references they have. My cat was always just fine when I went on vacation.

 

[FlyingDumbo]

I just went down to the shelter to meet the "cat lady" to see if she was normal. She is 76 years old but I have to tell you I never would have known that if she didnt tell me. Ill have to ask her later what her secret to youth is.

Anyway she was very nice, seemed totally normal. She charges per visit and will come as many times as I need. She lives only 2 miles from me, so I think this is going to work out! She is coming by Thurs for a meet & greet with the kitties and to pick up a key.

So how many visits? We leave Friday night and return Wed night. I am contemplating having her come Sunday Monday & Tues just one visit per day. Hubby wants to have her come just once or twice.

I feel like its a good vaca to "test" her out so if we ever take a longer vaca we wont have to worry about the furbabies. And even though the cats would prob be fine without a sitter, I will enjoy our time away much more knowing they are ok.

 

[UnderTheMistletoe]

I know you said you didn't want to give anyone the key, but is there a trusted friend or a family member nearby that could drop in on them even once? My concern is the water dish running out....

 

[roscoepc1]

I see no problem with it since they will be fed and watered. I'm assuming you'll give them a fresh litterbox or two as well.

I only feel comfortable with about 2-1/2 days for mine, but I don't have the automated stuff...my Dad is always happy to check in on them.

 

[PatsGirl]

This is a very interesting thread for me I'm new to this cat thing ~ well, not that new, he's now 18 months old but the reason I didn't get a dog was so that I could go away for hours at a time without worrying about a pet. I had also heard that you could leave them for the weekend (or more so it seems, lol) without any real worries or pet sitter.

I've been lucky so far that my ex takes the cat whenever we've gone away overnight. I agreed to let DD get a kitten because the deal was it would go with her to her weekend visits and school vacations with Dad and that has worked out really well. He also takes him if I take DD away

It hasn't worked out that I've been away from the home for more than 12 hours or so at any given time but even then the cat is waiting for us and looking for attention. Now I'm not so sure I could leave him for more than one overnight at a time. He's an indoor/outdoor cat so he craves outdoors when he's stuck inside all day and wants to come in if he gets stuck outside all day

Is it common to leave an individual cat alone for a long time as well? If he had a playmate (and that ain't happening) it wouldn't bother me so much but, like a pp said, it doesn't seem fair to leave him all alone...

Oh yea, to the OP (sorry about the hijack), I wouldn't leave for that length of time without having someone stop by every day. Anything could happen. I know my cat would hide so I'm not sure how it would help having someone come by but at least they could check to see if the food/water was eaten and the litterbox used?

 

[torinsmom]

I wouldn't leave mine for more than 2 days. I would be worried someone would get sick or hurt. Besides, I can barely stand the litter boxes when I scoop them once a day. I know some say they have the automatics, but they can clog or the bin could overfill.

As for the person who left the cats for 2 weeks, what did you do about litter and how much food did you leave? My cats empty two automatic feeders in about 5 days.

I'm sorry but the title of this thread is wrong.
Cats do not have owners, it's dogs that have owners.

Cats have staff.

ford family

LOL, so true! I always tell my son cats have it made. Someone to feed them, rub them, and scoop their poo. They sleep all day while we're at work/school too! What a life!

 

[HeatherH]

I just went down to the shelter to meet the "cat lady" to see if she was normal. She is 76 years old but I have to tell you I never would have known that if she didnt tell me. Ill have to ask her later what her secret to youth is.

Anyway she was very nice, seemed totally normal. She charges per visit and will come as many times as I need. She lives only 2 miles from me, so I think this is going to work out! She is coming by Thurs for a meet & greet with the kitties and to pick up a key.

So how many visits? We leave Friday night and return Wed night. I am contemplating having her come Sunday Monday & Tues just one visit per day. Hubby wants to have her come just once or twice.

I feel like its a good vaca to "test" her out so if we ever take a longer vaca we wont have to worry about the furbabies. And even though the cats would prob be fine without a sitter, I will enjoy our time away much more knowing they are ok.

I am SO glad you found her! I would never, ever leave my cats alone for that long. DEFINITELY have one visit a day, just so she can be sure everything is okay, the litter boxes are scooped, and can give them some TLC if they are social.

My cats are like DOGS, they are both extremely social and outgoing and would be devastated if we left them even for three days without someone checking on them daily. I pay a small fortune for my pet sitter to come twice a day AND spend every other night with them because they both like to snuggle up in bed.

Yes, they are spoiled, but they are completely worth it. I have one cat with chronic health issues as well, and there is just no way I could enjoy my vacation without knowing they were being well taken care of and loved while I was away.

Good for you for finding a sitter that may work out in the future too!

 

[lulubelle]

I would be more concerned about the litter box. Can you have someone come in just once to clean it out?

That's my big concern. I have two cats and would not leave them alone for more than two nights. The food and water lasts, but they have two boxes and I scoop daily so by the third day, it's pretty bad. I wouldn't leave them for that long. I have a 5 day trip coming up (annual girls only trip to DL, it's a blast, check out our thread on the DL boards!) and I am having a problem finding someone. They are both shelter cats (both declawed/fixed when I got them) and don't go outside at all. I will call the shelter and see if they have a reference for me. Thanks OP for the idea!

 

[Simba's Mom]

Our cats seem to much prefer to be left alone in the house. We used to have a friend or relative come in, but a couple years ago, one of our cats started turning into a "watch cat" and chasing, hissing, and spitting at people who come into the house if DH or I isn't here. There are two cats and they keep each other company. They're fine when we're gone.

 

[lrichardson]

I really think they will be fine. It is not that long of a period of time and if you have left them for a weekend before it will be okay. My stepdaughter left her kitty for 5 days over the Xmas holidays. Her catsitter has moved and she had no one. She was concerned but her kitty was fine. Plus you have two and they will keep each other happy. I wouldn't listen to people saying things about a pipe bursting or the cats getting sick that could happen at anytime. Plus you said you work an hour away and you can't live your life worrying. They will be fine. Go and enjoy your vacation and when you get back it will be like you never left. I have three indoor cats and four outdoor cats and a dog so lots of people ask me to pet sit or stop by too bad we didn't live closer.

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

They'll be ok. The biggest thing you'll need to worry about is if they will do anything in retribution. My parent's cats would pee in their bed if they were gone for more than 4 days.

 

[FlyingDumbo]

Ok here is what we have decided:

We leave Friday night.

No visit on Sat
Petsitter will come by on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday
We get home late Wed

So kitties will be looked after, even thiough my husband thinks I am being neurotic.


I will worry less about my kitties. I will worry about having someone in my house, but she seems like a very nice lady. I told her she can stop by anytime on those days, she said she stayes 45 minutes - hour and will play with the cat toys and such.

Haha I am this bad with cats just wait until we have children!!

 

[nathalee81]

Ok here is what we have decided:

We leave Friday night.

No visit on Sat
Petsitter will come by on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday
We get home late Wed

So kitties will be looked after, even thiough my husband thinks I am being neurotic.


I will worry less about my kitties. I will worry about having someone in my house, but she seems like a very nice lady. I told her she can stop by anytime on those days, she said she stayes 45 minutes - hour and will play with the cat toys and such.

Haha I am this bad with cats just wait until we have children!!

I'm glad you found a better solution that makes you feel better! Have a fun trip!