Most felines will be perfectly content being left alone for up to 8 hours while you're at work. As long as fresh water is available, some cats can be left alone for up to 24 hours. However, longer or more frequent periods of time away, such as full days or nights away from home can be more disruptive.
Most cats are fine with short separations where they're left home alone during typical 8-hour work days. “It's absolutely okay to leave cats alone for short periods — in fact, just like us, they need some alone time,” says DeVoss. “Even the most social cats need some moments by themselves.”
If you leave your cat alone for too long it can cause boredom, stress, separation anxiety, and unwanted behavior – not to mention the risk of accidents or illness. Kittens need more care and shouldn't be left alone for longer than 4 hours.
Short answer: yes. When their needs for companionship are not met, cats can become depressed. They can also get separation anxiety. Unfortunately, feline separation anxiety often goes unnoticed until it becomes severe.
Many cats will be fine on their own for up to two days. However, you need to ensure they have access to fresh food and water at all times. For a one-day trip, filling up their food and water before you leave should be sufficient. But for anything longer, you'll probably want an automatic feeder and waterer.
No matter how independent your cat is, we do not recommend leaving your cat alone without daily visits from a friend or a professional cat-sitter for more than two or three days. Today, there are many options to care for your cat while you are away. Keep in mind that, cats tend to be independent, territorial animals.
How long can cats be left alone? Most felines will be perfectly content being left alone for up to 8 hours while you're at work. As long as fresh water is available, some cats can be left alone for up to 24 hours.
While it may seem that cats are better off in their own home while you're away, they're actually more likely to be better off with a boarder or cattery. Because cats are so independent and easily frightened into hiding, they benefit much more from a controlled environment where they can be closely monitored.
Cats are naturally solitary animals and are often happy without the company of their own species. They are territorial animals who don't like conflict with other cats.
One of the things many people find very appealing about cats is that they can be left alone for longer periods than dogs. Even with the convenience of a litter box and an endless supply of food, cats left alone for long stretches of time, day after day, can suffer from loneliness, boredom and even separation anxiety.
If your TV is on all day when you're home, leaving it on while you're gone may be calming for your cats since it mimics what things are like when you are there. However, if they're not used to having background noise all day, you may be better off leaving the TV off.
Yes, you can keep your cat in the cat cage while you are at work. If your cat is litter box trained, they can stay in the cage all day without having any accidents. Make sure to provide plenty of food and water to your cat while they are in the cage.
If you are moving home and you know your cat is likely to become stressed by all the disturbance and commotion this may bring, it may be better for them to stay with a friend or in a good cattery during this period.
Pairs Make Happier Pet Owners
Because two cats tend to live happier and healthier, there's less chance of bad or destructive behavior, which means less damage to furniture and belongings, and happier pet owners. But the best reason of all to adopt a bonded pair: double the affection.
Most cats prefer warm, dry places, and by the end of the winter, yours could be converted to life indoors. If you want your cat to have safe, limited access to the outdoors, consider building an outside enclosure or run.
They might not be as demanding of an owner's time and attention as dogs, but cats are social animals with important needs. In fact, when they are apart from the people they love, cats feel separation anxiety, just like dogs and other pets.
Experts recommend not leaving your cat alone for more than 24 hours. If you go away for a prolonged period, you should hire a sitter to keep your cat company. Delgado recommends not leaving “a cat alone without a person to check in on them for more than 24 hours.”
Signs of a Depressed Cat
Changes in body language, including ears held back, tucked tail, and hairs standing on end. Meowing more or less than usual or making low-pitched, mournful meows. Lack of energy or a decrease in activity level. Retreating from humans or other family pets.
The truth is, though, cats have plenty of different personality types, and many of them do experience separation anxiety. This is particularly true of cats who were orphaned. And with many of you going back to work if you haven't gone back already, it's a good idea to know the signs of separation anxiety in cats.
"Domesticated cats are used to being with people on a day-to-day basis. I don't recommend leaving a cat for three months. The long absence might take a mental toll on the cat which could lead to urinating out of the box or even becoming anti-social."
Twice-daily visits are ideal for cats who eat two separate meals in the morning and evening, cats who take medication, and for kittens and seniors who would benefit from being checked on more often. Again, they can be shorter or longer visits depending on your cat's needs.
Cats can meow for a variety of reasons, but if your noisy little feline is being particularly disruptive at night when you're in bed then it could well be because they're feeling lonely. Those cries for company won't quieten down either until you find a way to keep them stimulated.