Mary Allen
Cat owners don’t have to do without a weekend trip or summer fun outside the home. All you have to do is placate the cat.
Plenty of sun, mountains full of fragrant flowers, enticing hiking trails, friends who invite you to go on a bike tour, lakes at a pleasant temperature, and all those super-cheap weekend flights…
Why should cat owners be any different than the rest of the big city dwellers who just want to get out, switch off, and escape their own four walls? If it wasn’t for the guilty conscience. How will the cat react? Does she feel abandoned, and mistreated? Does frustration drive you to misdeeds, and does stress weaken your immune system? And: How long can a responsible cat lover leave his companion alone anyway?
Of course, there is no universal answer to all these questions, because cats are and will always be personalities, one cannot be compared to the other. But they all have enviable qualities in common. You can occupy yourself very well on your own, never get bored and live in the present. When you’re gone, Kitty will take note, when you’re back she’ll shamelessly exploit your attempts to make amends in any way she can.
Leave Nothing To Be Desired
If no sitter is available or is not wanted, you must of course ensure that there is sufficient fresh drinking water available – in several bowls, boiled or as still mineral water. On hot days it is better to put dry food in the bowls – enough for the whole period of absence. Or in the dispenser, which is equipped with a timer and gradually releases the chunks of food. Also, think of a few scattered treats for kitties to find and nibble on when they go out on their turf. And think about hygiene. There must be a sparkling clean toilet with enough litter every day, otherwise, your cat will rightly wrinkle its nose.
Keep the feline senses busy with a window seat where she can “watch TV.” With a self-service carillon that can consist of wooden balls on a rope or a ball filled with pebbles. With a few herbal pillows that you put out in your favorite spots. This will animate the eyes, ears, and nose.
What’s still missing for cat happiness (besides you) is an imaginatively designed scratching and play tree, which is equally suitable for romping around, for body care, sleeping, and as a lookout tower. And an extra hour of play and petting when you get back.
Plenty of sun, mountains full of fragrant flowers, enticing hiking trails, friends who invite you to go on a bike tour, lakes at a pleasant temperature, and all those super-cheap weekend flights…
Why should cat owners be any different than the rest of the big city dwellers who just want to get out, switch off, and escape their own four walls? If it wasn’t for the guilty conscience. How will the cat react? Does she feel abandoned, and mistreated? Does frustration drive you to misdeeds, and does stress weaken your immune system? And: How long can a responsible cat lover leave his companion alone anyway?
Of course, there is no universal answer to all these questions, because cats are and will always be personalities, one cannot be compared to the other. But they all have enviable qualities in common. You can occupy yourself very well on your own, never get bored and live in the present. When you’re gone, Kitty will take note, when you’re back she’ll shamelessly exploit your attempts to make amends in any way she can.