Cat -vacation?

[PLUTO2]

I was talking to a friend about trying to find someone to watch my cat for 10 days while we are away and she said that the cat would be fine if we left enough dry food and water for him. How long have you left your cat alone while on vacation? Thanks for your help.

 

[Bashful2]

I might leave my cats for a day or two, but after that I can imagine the litter boxes would be pretty nasty. We've always been lucky enough to have a neighbor who would come over and take care of it for us.

 

[KatelynnsAuntie]

10 days??? No way. I'll leave mine overnight for one night alone and that's it.

 

[WatchinCaptKangaroo]

After a day or two their litter boxes would be nasty and the water and food would be stale.

Someone should come in at least once every other day but I spoil my babies and have someone come in once a day.

 

[chyam]

I have heard of people doing this but for me personally I wouldn't do it for more than 2-3 maybe 4 days at a time. After that I would make sure someone would come in and check on things. Cats do not overeat like dogs do so most do fine if left enough food and water and a couple of clean litter boxes. Couldn't you find someone to come every 2 days to check on things, they could also bring in your mail and make sure things are ok in the house. Do you have neighbors that may have a child old enough and responsible enough that may want to earn a little cash? My neighbors children are 12 and 14 and their other neighbors just hired them to keep an eye on their cat and it worked out fine.

 

[poohandwendy]

A weekend would be fine, but 10 days is way too long. I would see if you could get someone to come over every other day or at the very least, every few days.

We have a dog too, so we have always had someone go over at least once per day.

 

[sPaRkLeSpAz]

We don't have a cat anymore, but my Grandparents accross the street do. When they're away they have someone feed Buzz once a day. He's an outside cat though.

 

[Poohbear123]

The most Miss Tiggy spent alone was for 4 days, and she ate ALL the dry food in all 3 BOWLS! I guess she was so bored, she had nothing better to do! Try and leave a full bowl of food when we are home, she eats a little of it but by 3:00pm she wants FRESH!

 

[PLUTO2]

I have heard of people doing this but for me personally I wouldn't do it for more than 2-3 maybe 4 days at a time. After that I would make sure someone would come in and check on things. Cats do not overeat like dogs do so most do fine if left enough food and water and a couple of clean litter boxes. Couldn't you find someone to come every 2 days to check on things, they could also bring in your mail and make sure things are ok in the house. Do you have neighbors that may have a child old enough and responsible enough that may want to earn a little cash? My neighbors children are 12 and 14 and their other neighbors just hired them to keep an eye on their cat and it worked out fine.

Unfortunately we are new to our neighborhood.

 

[luvwinnie]

I hope your friend hasn't actually DONE this to her poor cat. I did it once for 2 nights because we didn't live near family at the time and I worried the entire time. What if one of them got sick, I kept thinking? Seriously, cats can get urinary tract blockages (esp males) and could die without help. Please hire a pet sitter.

 

[Aidensmom]

I've done it for the weekend several times, once for 4 days, but never would I for 10 days. The litter box can't last that long, and honestly I think the cat would start to get anxious.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Unfortunately we are new to our neighborhood.

Pluto2, we had this exact same dilema. We had a trip planned right after we moved into our new home, and we didn't know anyone in our new neighborhood. And we don't have any family within a thousand miles. We finally decided to leave our 2 cats in the house for 5 days. We left 4 water and food bowls-in 2 different rooms-and 4 kitty litter boxes, also in a couple different rooms. Maybe because the two cats had each other to play with, but they were find when we got home-it's like we went out the door and then we came back in the door. They've never been comfortable when strangers come in the house. I still sometimes wonder if we did the right thing, leaving them alone, but they certainly seemed OK. My parents have left their cat alone for 2 weeks, but I'd hesitate that long-heck, I hesitated about 5 days! Maybe we were lucky!

 

[Lil_Tink]

 

[Mimi Q]

10 days is definitely too long to leave the kitty by itself. Why can't you board it at a vet? That's what my sister does when she goes on vacation.

 

[sha_lyn]

With our older cat we could leave her for 2 days or so. With the younger one, we have to have someone in every day, 2x a day if possible. She will not use a litter pan if any "waste" is in it. She'll poop on the rugs and pee in the sink. Luckily my mom lives about 15 miles away and she can stop by on her way home from work. When she out of town with us I have a friend who will come by.

 

[minniecarousel]

2 nights is the most we'll leave our cat alone. Maybe find out if a pet-sitter can come in once a day.

 

[HeatherH]

I have a VERY social cat, no way in hell would I leave her for even a WEEKEND, I hire a pet setter to come in twice a day to feed her, play with her, do the litter box scoop, etc. On extended trips I pay to have her spend the night here as well. She is like a DOG in many ways, and no one would EVER think of leaving a dog alone, even for a weekend.

I know all cats are different but honestly I think it's ABUSE to leave a pet alone for TEN DAYS! The litter box alone would be horrendous.

Get a friend to come in and watch her or hire a pet sitter, they are not THAT expensive. Anything else is cruel, in my opinion.

 

[tubachick]

Wow, thats a long time to leave any living thing with a bowl of food and water!!! Someone comes every day to check/play/feed my boys!!!!

 

[epcotfan]

NO no no!!! Too many things can go wrong leaving any animal alone for that long. They could get shut in a room without access to food or water. They could injure themselves, etc...A cat should be checked on at least once a day. Hire a reputable petsitter that cares about animals that will visit them daily.

 

[debden]

Pluto2,Please don't leave your kitty for that long alone! The poor thing.I could not even imagine leaving my animals without care for a couple of days much less 10.
Do you have a local vet? Or even a place that boards pets to take your kitty while your away?
There are always people around willing to be pet sitters....even having someone come in once a day is a better idea than no companionship for this cat for ten whole days.
Please check in your local phone book and see if you can find a way to make you kitty safe and happy for the time your on vacation.
If you want I would be more than happy to help you look?? Just tell me the city/state you live in and I'll start looking....Really...I would be more than happy to help.
Debbie