Question about leaving cats alone?

[2kitties]

I always felt guilty with Taz, even just for the day. That's why we got Rocky in the first place. Now, I feel very comfortable leaving them alone. 4 days is a stretch, though, I'm not sure, I'd have to think about it.
But we've done three day weekends with no problem. I just make sure there are several feeding and watering stations.

Anything longer, I've got a great neighbor.

But my boys are very independent. Some cats are moreso than others.

[jazzcat]

I just remembered something about leaving Ripley alone. The first time we did this was in 2001 when we went to the beach. We left Monday afternoon and got back Friday afternoon. Ripley had not touched his food and had lost weight. I was worried about him but he recovered quickly. The next time we left him like that was the following year for 3 days and he ate everything in sight.

We always leave several bowls of food and several bowls of water around the house. On top of that I leave the two bathroom sinks full of water because those are his favorite places to drink anyway.

Up until 2001 (from 1992-2001) my parents would come and house/pet sit for me. They called it there mini- vacation. Unfortunately due to their health problems they are no long able to do that. I've had to board Disney at a kennel and leave Ripley alone but now with two more cats I'll have to rethink that plan.

[Fox-Gal]

A long time ago we went away for the weekend and a friend was to come over and check on my cats. Well she thought is was the next weekend so she didn't show up.

We get home and the water bowl was knocked over and no food in the other bowl. I was so upset. Then I noticed that they had riped open the cat food bag. I set it out on the table, for my friend to feed them and.....for the first time... happy that my husband left the toilet seat up, that how they got a drink. Not the best drinking water, but better then nothing.

So no I wouldn't leave them that long, you just never know what can happen. I just think thats to long to leave them. A short over night is all I have ever left my babies without someone coming over to check on them, even then I worry.

If you can, atleast tell them to set out several bowls of water and a big bag of food. And to leave the toilet seat up. LOL

[NoahsMommy]

Originally posted by gini
I just wondered if I am the only person who is so protective.

Nope, you aren't the only one. I swear I piss my cat sitters off as soon as they read my two paged (typed) instructions on how to make my cat's lives perfect while I'm gone....

They are my children and deserve the very best, with or without me at home.

[krazyaboutkatz]

The longest that I'd leave my cats alone is overnight. During my last vacation, I had a co-worker coming over every day to feed them, clean their litter boxes, play with them etc. On work days, she was coming over during her lunch break.

One day only Sky came to greet her and she thought that this was strange. Well some how Storm, Sunny, and Cirrus had gotten locked into my spare bedroom. The door must not have been shut the whole way and one of them must have pushed it open. Thank god they were found by my pet sitter.

I don't know how long they were in there but it was long enough for them to try to dig there way out. They had clawed at the carpet under the door to try to get out or maybe Sky was trying to dig his way in.

I have a roommate now so if I go away, this kind of thing wouldn't happen again. I also consider my cats to be my children and I want them to have the best care when I'm gone. Luckily I'm not gone very much.

I am totally with you Gini!!
A few monthe before our Sydney died, we went away for 4 days too, and left him upstairs with plenty of food and drinks. He was okay; but when he died four months later, it gave me such a bad feeling that I had left him on his own...! What if it had happened then??? Horrible feeling!!
I swear you, I will never ever do that again, not even for 2 days!!

[Barbara]

I have no idea how many litterboxes I'd have to put in, 3 per day I suppose.

I never let Filou and Tigris alone not even overnight -mostly because if Filou doesn't like the litterbox he looks for other places (he did not do that for 4 years now so I am very proud of my cleanliness but when we are here he asks us to clean it )

When we are in holidays, they get 2 visits per day and they get along very well - up to three weeks. For a longer time we had my parents come over. This is no longer possible as F+T don't accept my parents' dog -so we won't leave longer than 3 weeks.

[momofcats]

I agree...weekend isn't so bad when you have multiple cats.
The max I have left my two alone is four days...and again my mom coming in and spending some quality time with them.

Be prepared even with visitors stopping by with them, to have them keep you up that first night. Mine act as though they have been deserted for years by the time I get home on a Sunday night after leaving Friday night.
They spend the night fighting to sleep on my back, head, anywhere they can snuggle up to make sure I will be there when they wake up.

[Cataholic]

Overnight is one thing. Longer than 24 hours without a visit just wouldn't sit well with me. With Tex and his 2xday meds...well, it just wouldn't work.

[Felicia's Mom]

I would not leave my cats alone for 4 days without having someone check on them once a day.