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.
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.
Yes, cats do get lonely. Even though they are extremely independent creatures, they can feel sad and lonely while their owners are away and they are left home alone during the day or over a vacation. They may not show it much, but they do, and just because they don't seem to be lonely, it doesn't mean they aren't.
Leaving a cat alone in your home might be suitable for a short trip away, but leaving cats alone for 2 weeks is never a good idea.
Even though cats are pretty self-sufficient, you shouldn't leave your cat home alone for more than 2-3 days maximum. If you have a young kitten, an older cat, or a solo cat, that time should be more like 1-2 days but you know your cat(s) the best.
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.
Leaving a cat alone for a week can end in a disaster.
If you have to go away for the entire week, you must find someone to at least check in on your feline. A friend, a family member, or a pet sitter are all viable options. If no one is available, consider a boarding facility.
Provide Your Cat with Attention without Returning Home
If you have a cat sitter supervising them for an hour or two per day, you can safely leave them for up to a week. Any longer than that and your kitty will surely miss your constant presence at home!
We don't recommend leaving your cat alone longer than 24 hours because cats are social creatures that need their owner's attention to feel safe and comfortable. They rely on you to make sure all of their care requirements are being met.
However, cats should not be left alone unattended for more than one day. While each cat's individual needs vary, it's important to not leave them alone for prolonged periods of time to minimize risk of separation anxiety, medical issues, and frantic attempts to escape or avoid abandonment.
Yes, your cat can get depressed. Some possible situations that lead to depressive signs in cats include: Loss of a family member. Moving to a new house.
Delgado is a cat expert at Feline Minds and a postdoctoral fellow School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of California, Davis. “Cats also have emotional and social needs that can't be met when they are left alone for extended periods.”
Vacations are meant to be fun for people, but due to the change in routine, they can, unfortunately, be a cause of stress for cats and result in behavior problems and separation anxiety.
Put your cat's food inside a puzzle feeder or treat dispenser to stimulate them and give them something fun to do while you're gone. Provide a stimulating environment for when they're alone: think hideaways and tunnels, cat trees and perches, hanging toys with catnip and interactive toys.
While the number of hours a cat can remain alone might vary, experts advise against ever leaving a cat on its own for more than 24 hours. If you need to leave your cat for extended periods of time, then check out the alternatives to leaving your cat alone.
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.
While a lonely cat can be difficult to identify, severe loneliness or cat separation anxiety could cause house soiling or other behavior changes in response to stress, says Dr. Heather Graddy, a relief veterinarian and cat behavior consultant in Englewood, Colorado.
Prolonged periods away could rub even the coolest cat the wrong way. If you don't want your furball to turn into a neurotic stress ball, it's best to keep your kitty's temperament in mind and generally stick to the above guidelines of a maximum 24 to 48 hours solo time.
Cats get very attached to their families. When left alone, they can get lonely, depressed, and even anxious. It's a misconception that cats aren't social beings. They need their daily dose of love and attention to stay happy and healthy.
In most cases, it's fine to leave your cat at home if the home is secure and safe. The challenge with keeping your cat at home is finding someone to check on your cat regularly—which is a problem you don't have when you decide to board your cat.
And so I tell prospective clients just that: Pet Sitters need to visit kitties at least once every 24 hours, and pups at the very least twice per day.
In general, vets say it's okay to leave your cat alone for up to 24 hours at a time. As long as they have a clean litter box, access to fresh water, and a full meal before you go, they should be fine for a day. Any longer than that, though, is pushing it.
Will cats miss you after a week? Research has shown that cats don't show signs of separation anxiety when their owner is away. Some cat owners know this: you return from a holiday but your cat acts pretty indifferently! Other cats even behave like they are "offended" and pretend not to see you at all.
The bottom line is most cats can be totally happy living indoors – but owners need to put in the effort to provide for their environmental and behavioural needs.