How Long Can You Leave Your Cat Alone?

There are many reasons why you have to leave the cat alone. But how long can you leave cats alone and be sure they’re okay? Find out all the essentials here and offer your darling all-around comfort!

Many cat owners are concerned with the question of whether they can leave their darling alone for a certain amount of time. If they actually bring themselves to do so, they are often mentally with their cat on the go and not sure if everything is ok at home. Therefore, below are some useful tips and options on how you can best proceed in different situations.

How long can you leave cats alone?

In general, it depends on the cat and its age how long you can leave it alone. You should leave your four-legged friend completely unsupervised for a maximum of 48 hours. However, if it is a very trusting cat, the maximum should be set at 24 hours. If, after returning home, the apartment looks significantly different than before, for example by rioting or places not kept clean by the animal, you should be away for a day at most without assigning someone to supervise.

“As a general rule, you should never leave your cat alone (unattended) for more than 24 hours at a time. Only in absolute emergencies may it be 48 hours.”

Settling-in period and measures to get kittens used to being alone

Just as young cats should not be left alone outside immediately, cats should not be left alone for any length of time right from the start. When a cat is new to something, it often maneuvers itself into an awkward, often fatal, position. Even if several pets live in the same apartment, it is advisable not to leave the cat at home unattended for at least two to three weeks. This makes it easier to observe how she adapts to the new situation and how she deals with her immediate surroundings. After that, it is important to gradually get used to being alone.

It would be fatal to plan a week’s vacation right away. Instead, it’s useful to put a full bowl of food in front of the animal the first time, and then just leave for a few minutes. If the four-legged friend behaves in an exemplary manner, he should be praised. In this way, the cat will know in the future that everything will be fine if someone is absent for a while.

That’s exactly why you shouldn’t intervene immediately when the cat howls. Only after the animal has calmed down for the first time should you reappear on the scene. Otherwise, the pet will be falsely classically conditioned and will always try to get her way by begging.

The absence is then extended by a few minutes each day. During this time, the cat needs various occupations. For larger cats that have been left alone before, the whole process goes a lot faster. So it only takes a few days for the four-legged friends to be able to act independently without constant caregivers.

Leaving the cat alone – precautions

When the time comes that the pet actually has to be left alone for a certain period of time, it is also necessary to take some safety precautions. Because cats are very experimental and rummage through everything they can find. This can lead to accidents that could have been avoided if the right measures had been taken.

No poisonous plants

If you have a soft spot for plants, you should find out in advance whether they can be poisonous to your four-legged friends. We found a very good article about poisonous and non-poisonous plants at Cat’s Best. There you can read which plants are particularly dangerous for indoor tigers and outdoor tigers.

Cats are unable to tell if a plant is dangerous to them. Therefore, it happens that they unknowingly play around with the leaves and, in the worst case, may even eat some of them.

For this reason, it is not enough to just lock the plants away when you are not at home, but it is strongly recommended not to have any poisonous plants in the household. Because even if a person is at home, they cannot monitor a cat’s activities 24 hours a day.

But not only poisonous plants pose a danger, but also cacti, for example. If the four-legged friends come into contact with the thorns, external injuries are often inevitable.

No bottom-hung windows

A problem that could possibly be underestimated are bottom-hung windows. Even if you don’t intend to stay away for long, the cats can climb around in the window cracks. This could result in them getting trapped and unable to get out on their own. Due to internal injuries, which can also be caused by fidgeting in the unfortunate situation, the pets often even have to lose their lives. Even if they initially survive the situation, the resulting paralysis often means that the animal can only be put to sleep. If you still don’t want to close your windows completely, you should get a cat protection provided for this purpose.

“When trying to climb through a bottom-hung window, many cats slip and get stuck. Only rarely do they manage to free themselves from this predicament.”

No draft

It is just as unfavorable if a potential draft can move open doors. Just when a cat notices that a door is about to close, it may try to get out of the room quickly. She can get trapped at the speed of the closing door. This can range from losing the tip of the tail to breaking the neck. In order not to have to lock the animals in a single room, it is advisable to install door stoppers that prevent a violent impact.

Remove leftover food

If you leave the house and have cats at home, you should not leave any leftovers anywhere. Because the animals will find everything after a certain time. The problem, however, is that some foods are toxic to cats. This is the case, for example, with chocolate; in the worst case, the four-legged friend dies after eating it.

But even ingredients that are actually non-toxic can be life-threatening. For example, if the cat finds sharp remains of bone, it can both injure itself with them and choke on them.

Caring for the cats

Before leaving the apartment, the most important things should be checked. So it is essential that the animal has enough water available. In our article: “Cat does not drink” you will find out how much liquid your cat needs and how you can encourage it to drink. If you’re going to be away for a long time, it’s worth considering an automatic feeder that works on a timer. In this way, it is possible to avoid that the four-legged friends overeat themselves with a portion. Integrated ice packs ensure sufficient freshness and a defense against flies, for example. Ultimately, the litter box should also be cleaned and littered. Otherwise, since the animals prefer clean places, they may prefer to do their business in flower pots or something similar.

Note: Feed the cat before work

Feed the cat before work? Yes, but please only one meal. Many new cat owners mean well and put all their food in front of the cat. However, most cats cannot ration the food, eat it straight away and then throw up. If you would like to learn more about cat food, then please have a look at our article: “Good cat food”. There you will find out which brands are of high quality and how to recognize them.

5 tips when absent for professional reasons

If you have to leave the cat alone during work, there are many great ways to shorten the waiting time for the cat in a meaningful way. Some ideas are listed below.

Varied environment

Even before the cat has to be left alone at home, it is advisable to make the indoor environment suitable. This means, among other things, that there are sufficient play options available. For example, many cats enjoy boxes that they can climb in or rustling paper that they can pounce on.

In order to be able to scratch yourself regularly, scratching trees that extend over several levels, offer berths and sufficient climbing options help. In addition, to compensate, there should be various comfortable sleeping places for the animal. So the cat can rest peacefully after a lot of exertion.

Second cat

The animals feel least lonely when they have another cat as a playmate. Because the second creature provides each other with more liveliness, which also leads to more fun. The two can jokingly chase each other, groom each other or cuddle with each other. The more cats or other animals in the house, the less bored a single cat will be. Of course, it is important to make sure that all animals living in the household get along with each other.

“Basically, there should always be at least two cats in a household.”

Seat at the window

Because cats love to observe what’s going on around them, they often sit in front of the window and look outside. So it would make sense to ensure that the animals can reach the space in front of the window. Plants and other objects should therefore be left sparsely there. Because the four-legged friends can possibly pursue this hobby of looking out of the window for several hours. The cats are also happy about a comfortable blanket that is ready for them on the window sill. If the window sill itself is very small, a window sill extension can be attached, which is clamped under the window sill.

Treats in the apartment

Just as children like to take part in scavenger hunts, cats can also be enthusiastic about this game in a similar way. In this case, treats or other dry food should be laid out in a wide variety of places throughout the apartment. With the help of the animals’ keen sense of smell, they then follow the trail. Depending on how much has been dealt, this keeps them busy for quite a while. Another positive side effect is that you don’t have to have a guilty conscience because your four-legged friend hasn’t been fed yet.

Taking care of the cat after returning

To show the pet that you definitely don’t want to neglect it, it helps to deal with it as soon as you return. Cats appreciate it when they get fed right away. When they are full, they like being petted extensively. Even small games with the four-legged friend are conceivable and varied.

Are you interested in employment opportunities, play ideas or tips to make playing with your cat even more exciting? Then you will like the following article: “Keep a cat busy – useful ideas for employment & lots of tips”.

Leave cat alone overnight

If you only have to travel for one night, you would be overdoing it if you gave the animal somewhere. If you have already trained the cat to stay alone for individual phases, you can start the brief departure without any problems. The main requirement is that there is enough water for the four-legged friend and that the inside temperature is comfortable. A cat can usually stay at home alone for a short time without any negative effects.

Leaving the cat alone over the weekend

If you have to leave your cat alone over the weekend, it is best to use a timed feeder. Because if you just provide all the food, the animals will not be able to estimate the maximum amount they should actually eat at once. Instead, they will usually take whatever is offered to them.

For this reason, an automatic feeder that dispenses several small portions throughout the day is essential. However, if the cat requires medical care, it should never be left alone for several days.

Note: Test electrical helpers in good time

Before you leave feeding your cat to an automatic feeder, you should familiarize yourself with the device in good time. It is best to test the use a few weeks in advance. This is how you can tell if the device is working reliably. If the cat is afraid of the automatic feeder, you will recognize this in good time and can act accordingly.

Absence for more than three days

If the absence lasts longer than three days, it is no longer acceptable to leave the cat completely on its own. For this you should consider whether you should hire a cat sitter for the period of time, give the four-legged friend to another family or ask at a pension. Then it is ultimately also possible to leave cats alone for 14 days.

“With sufficient preparation, it’s also possible to leave cats alone for long periods of time.”

Take your cat with you on vacation

If you take your cat with you on holiday, you don’t need to worry whether everything is still okay with the animal at home. Because you always have your four-legged friend in view and can go about your activities carefree. The cat also knows that it has not been forgotten by its owner. However, if leaving your cat alone is out of the question for you, the following points should be considered:

• Cat Passport: Before traveling it is important to check if a cat/pet passport is required.
• Vaccinations: In some places, various vaccinations are also required. The most important travel vaccination is rabies. Here it is important to inform yourself sufficiently.

If it is only a short holiday, it is not worth taking the animal with you. A longer drive or even a flight into the unknown would not be proportionate to that. Cats are not usually used to traveling long distances by car or plane. Then it can happen that they behave strangely and show physical stress reactions. This, in turn, can also not lead to a relaxed journey.

Advantages & disadvantages at a glance:

Advantages

• you always know how the cat is doing
• the cat does not have to get used to a new person
• the cat does not feel abandoned by the owner

Disadvantages

• Car trips & flights always mean stress
• stressed cat could become behavioral problems (unclean, aggressive, anxious)
• Cat could be experiencing some kind of trauma and continue to act strangely at home
• medical care is not very good abroad
• Food, litter box, cat litter, scratching facilities, toys, etc. would have to be taken away or bought new on site

Cat sitter and housekeeping

Just as a babysitter takes care of babies or a nanny takes care of children, someone can also be arranged to fill in as a cat sitter. It would be advantageous if the selected person, who may be from family, friends or the neighborhood, also lives in the household during this period. So the animal would not have to be left alone at all. But it is just as legitimate if the cat sitter checks on everything, feeds the four-legged friend and checks that everything is ok at least two to three times a day.

Ideally, the representative doesn’t just stop by, but takes some time for the cat. In this way, the period in which the pet has to wait for its owner is reduced again and again. If you don’t know anyone who can take on this task, you have the option of looking for a cat sitter online. Here you will find professional agencies, but also hobby sitters, for example on ebay classifieds.

They will take care of your cat while you’re away and come by several times a day. Extra requests are usually not a problem here either. For example, you can have pictures of the velvet paw sent to you regularly to make sure that everything is ok. Of course, such extra requests must be agreed in advance.

In case you don’t want to entrust your darling to someone who has no cat experience, the following solution could be interesting. According to the motto “you take my animal, I’ll take your animal” there are portals in which people can support each other. However, this assumes that you are also willing to look after the other person’s cats while they are on vacation.

There is also the option of having a stranger live with you to take care of the cat. This is called housekeeping. There are many providers for this, probably also in your area. However, letting a stranger into your own four walls and your beloved animal is not for everyone and should be carefully considered. On some platforms, cat sitters can even be overrated. If you choose a cat sitter with a lot of positive reviews, you minimize the risk of getting a bad cat sitter.

If you decide to entrust your cat and your home to a stranger, a pet camera would be worth getting. Here you can monitor your cat around the clock and check if you have a bad feeling.

No matter what form of cat sitting you choose, you should definitely make arrangements several weeks before you leave. We have listed a few providers below for all 3 types of care.

Donate to friends or relatives

So that the cat generally does not have to bridge the time alone, it sometimes makes sense to leave it with friends or relatives. This solution is often more practical, especially if the caregivers live further away. This way, they don’t have to travel a long way to check on their pets regularly.

However, there are also some organizational aspects to consider: Not only does the cat have to be delivered there, but also all accessories such as the litter box, bowls, food, scratching posts or toys. What is even more important, however, is that cats do not like to leave their familiar surroundings.

Even so, temporary housing with people who are also known to the cat itself is still better than entrusting them to complete strangers. However, the procedure is useless if you only have to leave the cat alone for the weekend or a few days.

Because there is not enough time for the animal to get used to a different environment. This option should only be considered if the absence is more than a week.

Animal pension

If you personally cannot find any contact persons who can take care of your four-legged friend, you still have the option of contacting an animal boarding house. The positive thing about such a facility is that the employees are prepared for care and can act competently. In addition, nothing has to be given apart from the food. Disadvantages are higher costs and a changeover to a different environment. Above all, animal boarding houses are often designed in such a way that many animals have to share certain rooms. If you are dealing with a rather shy cat or one with very behavioral problems, the boarding house is not necessarily the most ideal solution. Here you can find animal boarding houses near you.

Checklist for the cat sitter

Of course, the person taking care of the animal needs to know exactly what to feed the cat. The frequency of feeding is also relevant. In addition, the sitter should also know which treats the four-legged friend eats, tolerates and should get as much as possible.

It is also very important that the caretaker has the veterinarian number and, if necessary, immediate access to the vaccination card. Therefore, he must also be informed if the cat needs medical care. It is also always good if the pet sitter is informed about the daily rhythms and habits of the four-legged friend. Because that way he/she doesn’t have to worry if the animal is out for a longer period of time at a certain time.

If the cat is chipped, the person watching needs the number as well. In general, all information should not only be communicated verbally, but also be available in writing.

It is advisable to draw up a contract so that all parties can still agree later. This certifies, for example, that the cat does not have any contagious diseases and that all relevant vaccinations have been carried out. Conversely, it is also liberating for the cat sitter to have official permission to consult the vet in an emergency.

• what cat food & how often?
• which treats & how much?
• Inform about intolerances (e.g. allergies to certain protein sources).
• Have the vet phone number ready
• Prepare vaccination card
• Ensure medical care
• Inform about daily rhythms & habits (very important for outdoor cats)
• Write down the chip number (for day leavers)
• Set up a contract (optional)

Which Cat Breeds Are Good At Being Alone?

Since the following cats are clingy animals, it is better not to leave them alone for very long: Maine Coon, Siamese, British Shorthair, and Longhair, Egyptian Mau, Balinese, Devon Rex, Abyssinian, Ragdoll, Persian, Bengal, and Spynx.

In comparison, autonomous cats don’t mind being alone for a while. This applies to European Shorthair, Manx, American Shorthair, Ocicat, Angora, Russian Blue, Norwegian Forest, American Wirehair, and Scottish Fold cats, among others.

Are Cats Sad When They’re Alone?

There are several signs that cats can tell when they’re sad when they’re alone. It can be seen that they seek particularly intensive contact with their owners if they have been absent for a long time. Studies also show that many of these cats suffer and become behavioral problems by choosing unusual places to do their business, meowing particularly loudly, showing aggression or just seeming apathetic.

Leaving a cat alone: what needs to be considered?

Outdoor cats can generally be left alone for a little longer than indoor cats, because they always have the opportunity to look for food outside and to do a variety of things.

However, it should be noted that even such cats could injure themselves in the worst case. If no one is there then, it is possible that no one will notice the problem in time. Therefore, care should also be taken with such cats that someone checks on them at regular intervals. So you can leave the cat alone without having to worry all the time.

Conclusion

As you can see, it is possible to leave the cat alone during working hours without any problems. However, she should be used to it beforehand and there should always be enough food, water, and activity available. If you want to leave your cat alone for longer than a weekend, you should definitely ensure that the cat is cared for and looked after beforehand. If you cannot find a suitable cat sitter in your private environment, there are plenty of other ways to find a minder for your velvet paw. In some circumstances, it may also be possible to take your beloved four-legged friend with you on holiday, but this should be carefully considered.

How long do you leave your cat alone? What experiences have you gained? Feel free to write it in the comments.