Most owners do not know how long they can leave a cat alone without harm to its health, so they prefer not to leave the house for more than a day. This kind of care for your pet is wonderful, but you still shouldn’t deny yourself the pleasure of vacationing abroad or visiting old friends living in another city.
With proper preparation, a mustachioed pet can easily survive a temporary separation from its owner, since for most cats, a familiar environment helps them live peacefully without their beloved owner.
How long can you leave a cat alone at home?
Veterinarians agree that the optimal period for keeping a cat alone is no more than 3 days. Despite this, it is worth taking into account individual characteristics. Some breeds are very attached to humans - they begin to get bored at the end of the first day. If there are several pets, they will endure separation much easier.
From 1 to 2 days
Don't worry if the separation time is exactly one day. With enough food and water, the cat will spend most of its time sleeping. On the second day, the person’s absence will most likely become apparent, but the presence of toys and clean trays will prevent stress for another day.
A week
A week is too long. During this period, dry food may run out, and natural food may deteriorate. Prolonged absence of the owner is fraught with psychological trauma.
During a long trip, it is better to entrust the care of your mustachioed pet to other people. If he is strongly attached to you, then such a replacement will not eliminate the melancholy from separation, but will smooth out the possible consequences.
From 2 weeks to a month
Veterinarians and animal psychologists do not recommend performing such experiments on poor animals. Such a long period of loneliness can result in death from hunger or dehydration, as well as serious mental disorders.
How long can a pet be alone?
So, when deciding how long you can leave your cat alone at home, you need to rely on the time period for which you intend to leave the house. Up to a year old, they easily tolerate loneliness throughout the day. But it happens that the baby needs to be left alone for an indefinite number of days.
The picture below shows a feeder that will allow the kitten not to be hungry for several days. There is the same one for water.
convenient cat feeder
Two days
Considering that cats sleep most of their lives, you can safely leave your baby for 2 days in a room familiar to him. Such a period of time will not be disastrous for him. The main thing is to make sure that the bowls are filled with food for a couple of days, and the sand tray is clean. If you have to periodically leave your kitten alone for short periods of time and you are afraid that this will have a bad effect on the animal, then get a kitten who will become his friend.
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Three days
If you leave a cat in an empty room for 3 days, keep in mind that he will certainly start to get bored. This will affect his behavior. Think about his safety and check how safe it will be to be alone. Don't forget to eat and drink enough.
A week
Being left completely alone for a week is a serious challenge. But if you still decide to leave the animal alone for 7 days, make sure that one of your friends or acquaintances visits him. Even one hour a day spent with a person will cheer him up and help him feel cozier and more comfortable.
Month
But one living being cannot survive a month alone. To leave him indoors for a month means dooming him to death. If you have to leave for such a period of time, invite close people to look after your pet, or better yet, give it to temporary foster care. Longing will make the four-legged wild and aloof, take this into account when leaving. There are no guarantees that after a month, he will be as affectionate as before or will recognize you right away.
How long can you leave a small kitten at home?
Breastfed kittens are cared for by their mother. Despite this, someone must take care of her too. In the first 2 months, a nursing cat should not be left alone for more than half a day. Until this time, it is better to refuse vacations.
Grown-up kittens over 2 months old can be left for a couple of hours. A longer interval may frighten babies or disrupt their feeding schedule. By six months, the periodic separation time increases to 8-9 hours.
Feeding
Dumping a bag of food into a basin is a bad idea. Out of boredom, a pet can eat dry granules, and it’s good if it just makes you vomit. The safest option in case of leaving and working from morning to evening is an automatic feeder. In it, food is protected from insects, does not ventilate and has almost no contact with oxygen, which means it stays fresh longer.
Bulk automatic feeder for cats
Bulk feeders for cats are filled with dry granules. For canned food, plates divided into cells are used. Six cells are enough for three days with a twice-daily feeding schedule. This is more than enough for an adult pet. But canned food will not last three days in the heat - it will spoil. Therefore, either dry food or ask your friends to fill the bowl daily.
Preparing for host absence
Before departure, it is necessary to take care of sufficient food and water, hygiene, safety and comfort. For your own peace of mind, it is better to equip your apartment with video cameras to monitor what is happening even from a distance.
Food supply
If the cat is left alone for a day, then it is enough to feed it twice: before leaving and immediately after returning. In case of a longer absence, it is necessary to pour food in reserve in one place or in different parts of the apartment. The second option is suitable for obese animals that do not feel full.
The most reliable option is an automatic feeder. She pours out the required portion of food at a certain time, eliminating starvation and gluttony. Food from an automatic feeder retains its freshness for a long time, which is especially important for picky pets.
When feeding “natural” it will be more difficult. Such food spoils quickly. Remembering to feed your pet before leaving, put frozen pieces of meat in her bowl. It will take half a day to defrost them, so the cat will remain full for a day. She will have to fast for the next 12-24 hours, but such a break is not dangerous for predators. You or your friend must return by the end of the specified time.
Drinking water supply
Water is much more important than food, so it must be poured in plenty. Place several bowls of water around the house and connect a drinking fountain. These devices will last for 2-3 days. After the specified time, water supplies must be renewed. Otherwise, bacteria will begin to develop in them.
Do not use water directly from the tap. It is full of salts and heavy metals, which is fraught with the development of ICD. To clean, use a filter or just buy bottled water.
Keeping the Tray Clean
Most cats are reluctant to repeatedly go into a litter box filled with feces. For this reason, there should be 2 times more trays than usual. For 2 days you will need 4 trays, generously filled with high-quality filler. Good odor absorption increases the likelihood of keeping the floor, sofa and other places in the apartment dry.
It is worth taking care of fixing the door. Without reliable support, a cat may accidentally slam the door to the toilet and be left without trays.
If the period of absence exceeds 2 days, you will have to invite an assistant. He must take care of changing the filler and washing the trays.
Safety and comfort in the apartment
Place all breakable, sharp, unstable and poisonous objects out of reach of the animal. Place medicines, household chemicals and flower pots in a separate room or hide them in a closed closet. Additionally, it is recommended to remove the curtains so that the cat does not tear them off on his own out of boredom.
Open windows are dangerous, but without regular ventilation, a pet can die from stuffiness. Summer time is especially dangerous, when the temperature in the apartment rises above 25°C. The safest thing to do is to install protective nets - “anti-cats”. Unlike a flimsy mosquito net, the “anti-cat” net can easily withstand the weight of an adult Maine Coon. This strength prevents falling from a window and lack of oxygen.
Leisure and toys
Interactive puzzle toys will help diversify your mustachioed pet's leisure time. Most of them can be used to hide food. After such an exciting hunt, the cat will remain full and satisfied.
Of your favorite toys, those that do not contain feathers, laces, bells and other small parts are safe. Left unattended, the animal can swallow them and choke. The safest toys are cardboard boxes. They will brighten up your leisure time and give you a feeling of security.
CCTV installation
Buy several webcams and install them in different parts of the apartment to capture all possible areas. The image from the cameras is transmitted directly to the phone. Thanks to this, you can watch your pet online.
Pure water
The best automatic drinkers are fountains with a carbon filter. Each cycle the water is cleaned of dust and debris. Thanks to circulation, it does not stagnate and remains fresh longer.
But even with such a drinking bowl, it is better to provide a reserve - a couple of large pots or buckets in places chosen by the cat. You cannot leave water in bowls or mugs - bacteria multiply quickly in a small container. Drinking dirty water, especially in summer, can lead to serious poisoning!
Automatic drinking bowl for cats
How to prepare if your pet will be visited
After learning how to leave a cat alone at home for a week, do not forget about the importance of human communication. A neighbor or other friend who is willing to visit your cat is needed not only for feeding and changing trays. The presence of a person calms pets, letting them know that they have not been abandoned.
If the pet is not familiar with the visitor, then leave her favorite treats for her. In this case, it will be easier for a stranger to gain trust. Ask him to play with your cat's favorite toys to further strengthen their bond.
Before leaving, make sure that:
- A sufficient amount of food was left. Familiarize your assistant with the frequency of feedings and portion sizes. Remind them to change the water regularly.
- There will be enough filler to spare. Tell us about the nuances of cleaning the tray and the frequency of changing the filler.
- You exchanged phone numbers with the future “nanny”. A telephone conversation will help resolve possible force majeure even at a distance.
Write all necessary instructions on paper. Not all people perceive information by ear and have a good memory. Such a safety net will eliminate misunderstandings.
Why shouldn't a cat be left alone for a long time?
Both adult cats and kittens need games and entertainment, and even just ordinary communication. They need to hear their person's voice, see him and smell him. So what should you do, what should you do to avoid harming your furry friend?
See also: How to stop a cat from climbing on the table
The most acceptable option is for a family friend or relative who knows the pet to visit him during the entire separation from his owners. Feeding, changing or cleaning the litter box and spending at least thirty minutes with your cat is not difficult. It's good if there is a person you can trust with your pet.
However, not everyone has this opportunity. The question arises:
How long can you leave a cat alone without harming its health?
Alternative options
If your own apartment is not suitable for some reason, then there are several other options where you can leave your cat during your vacation. The most comfortable of them is the one that involves living with a familiar person. Despite this, other options are also acceptable, since they all provide for regular feeding and safety.
Give the cat to relatives or friends for a while
The main disadvantage of such a solution is the possible presence of other pets at the receiving party. Once on foreign territory, the cat will experience severe stress, and additional aggression from the four-legged owner will aggravate the situation.
It is better to introduce pets in advance on the cat’s territory. If the acquaintance went smoothly, then you don’t have to worry. If the future neighbor is aggressive even on someone else’s territory, then the animals will have to be kept in different rooms.
When choosing from possible candidates, give preference to the main favorite of your pet who loves cats. This will prevent mistreatment and reduce the stress of temporary relocation. Be sure to give your cat's personal belongings to your relatives or friends. A familiar smell will help him calm down faster in new conditions.
Another option is for someone to live in your apartment with the animal or to periodically spend the night here. For many cats, this is enough to feel comfortable.
Give the cat to a zookeeper or for foster care
A pet sitter is a person who cares for pets in their own apartment while their owners are away for a fee. You can find a pet sitter through a large company or private advertisements.
In the first case, the cost of overexposure will be higher, but you can be sure of the safety of your pet.
When meeting, make sure that you have your veterinary passport checked. This will reduce the risk of transmission of infection from other guests. Some pet sitters agree to send daily photo or video reports, but this method of information is not very reliable.
The main disadvantage of a pet sitter is the high probability of keeping several pets at the same time. This is fraught with conflicts and infection, so agree in advance that such an action is impossible or contact a pet hotel.
Hotel for pets
A pet hotel is a more reliable option than a pet sitter. Guests with mustaches are guaranteed veterinary care, so there is no need to worry about their health. All cats are kept in separate boxes or enclosures and are checked for mandatory vaccination. This eliminates territorial conflicts and contamination.
Owners can watch their mustachioed guests online via web cameras installed in each box or enclosure. Thanks to the video surveillance system, you can check the correctness of feeding and the condition of your pet.
All premises undergo mandatory disinfection, and a contract is concluded with each owner. Despite this, be sure to read reviews of each pet hotel you like. There are scammers in every field. Beautiful pictures on the site are not an indicator of comfortable conditions. Before giving your pet away, check its future place of residence for cleanliness and spaciousness.
Shelter or volunteer help
Volunteers working in shelters care for homeless and abandoned animals. Their main goal is to place the “foundlings” in good hands. They can only be contacted in case of force majeure: emergency hospitalization or other urgent circumstances.
If you live in a foreign city without relatives and friends, and are also experiencing problems with money, then turning to a shelter is the only possible solution. However, do not forget that it is temporary. Cat shelters are always overcrowded, and the living conditions of the animals leave much to be desired. Try to get your cat home as soon as possible.
Male and female: who tolerates loneliness better?
Cats cannot be divided into “good” and “bad”. They have different characters, behavioral characteristics and tastes.
When you decide to leave a cat with a stranger, consider the characteristics that distinguish females from males. So, cats are more peaceful and affectionate. They are playful and will try to make contact with the person they like the first time they meet. Each individual is individual, but in the majority, cats are drawn to outside affection and love to be pampered themselves.
Cats can do this
Cats are more wary of strangers. As the “king” of his home, he will growl when you try to get to know him, be uncommunicative, and even hide. Males are very gentle and loyal, but for this a person must earn their trust.
When leaving your pet, be prepared that cats have a heavier and unpleasant odor. Therefore, stale indoor air is one of the problems of a male staying alone in an apartment. If a cat is left during the mating season, he will most likely mark valuables, furniture and carpets.
Cats and cats, despite the well-known myth of natural aloofness, remain dependent on people. This manifests itself regardless of their gender or breed.
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What to do if an animal has a disease?
Sick animals should not be left alone under any circumstances. For chronic diseases, treatment is continuous, and a break can aggravate the condition. For a couple of days of absence, seek help from a veterinary clinic with a paid hospital.
In other cases, the responsible person who decides to babysit your cat will have to be provided with all the necessary medications and familiarized with the treatment plan. Just in case, leave him the phone number of the nearest veterinary clinic and the attending physician, as well as money for possible force majeure.
Try not to leave your pet for more than 2 days. If the departure is long, look for a reliable human company that is ready to take care of your pet on its territory. Consider all alternative options only as an exception, since an unfamiliar environment is the least preferable option for a cat family.
Entertainment
Scatter paper (not cellophane!) bows around the house, plastic Kinder eggs with food granules inside, balls without accessories. Toys must be safe - nothing can be chewed off or swallowed.
No feathers, taffy, fishing rods with threads or anything that can get tangled in or eaten, or that can break a tooth or claw. Pay attention to interactive toys for cats - they will definitely not let your pet get bored.
Leave your cat safe toys
It would be great if someone checked at least once a day to see if everything is okay. If not, well, an automatic feeder will solve the most pressing issue. And the rest can be solved on your own and with available means. The main thing is that the cat is in a safe space and strictly no longer than a couple of days.
Cat hotel or cat nanny
You can find a place where your cat will be taken care of by people you can trust. Veterinary clinics usually have advertisements for cat hotels. You should definitely check reviews about such a place, available documents and, of course, visit the hotel in advance.- Now there are some kind of nannies for cats. Such a person will look after the cat when he comes into the house. Of course, it is necessary to have letters of recommendation. And it is necessary to carefully check such a person - documents, existing certificates. A cat is like a child. No one leaves a child for a month with a stranger. And you shouldn’t leave the cat either. But if there is no way out, then candidates are checked carefully and scrupulously to avoid unpleasant consequences.
