Mary Allen
Cats are considered to be independent beings who get along well independently of us humans and seem to act at their own discretion anyway. So it might make sense to leave the Minitiger at home alone for a few days and provide it with an extra-large water bowl and a dry food dispenser during the personal short trip. But is that really a good idea or does our long absence harm the cat?
Whether and how long a cat can get along without us humans depends on many factors. If she is used to being outdoors via a cat flap and is not too tied to us humans, she usually gets over it quite easily if she is provided with food, water, and a cleaned toilet by a friend every day while we are away, and if she is petted and petted. However, it is generally not a good idea to leave the cat all alone for several days. Even if she has enough variety in her free time and is taken care of by a feeder & Co., someone should check on her every day in order to be able to act in time if she has a health problem or, contrary to expectations, stress with your absence. At least one neighbor should keep an eye on your mini tiger’s health and have an emergency number on hand to provide quick help if needed.
Indoor Cats and Races with an Affinity for Humans Suffer Faster
It looks more complex with indoor cats or breeds that are very much oriented towards us humans. Sacred Burma or even oriental races like the Siam, for example, suffer quickly if they don’t have someone who spends long periods of time with them every day and who gives them the usual amount of attention and affection. Pure physical care is not enough. If your cat needs some time to warm up with a stranger in her vicinity, she should also be introduced to her carer at an early stage. Only then is the time with him or her really quality time and no additional stress from a (stranger) person in the apartment.
Suitable Entertainment in Your Absence
As in the rest of your everyday life, make sure you have enough variety and an exciting environment during your absence. Various – self-made – fumble boards can be filled regularly by the catsitter and offered in other places in your apartment. Individually laid out delicacies or dry food on the corners of the room, on chairs, and window sills also invite you to roam the apartment repeatedly. Of course, window shutters should still be open during the day so that your cat not only gets daylight but can watch the hustle and bustle on the street from the window. Grains offered in front of the window attract songbirds, which are a special highlight for your cat who stayed at home. Place a bushy, non-toxic plant or unbreakable decoration at the window so that your little hunter can watch the interesting goings-on in a protected place.
If your cat is not too anxious, the caregiver can make small changes to individual elements of your home while you are away. A dining room chair in the middle of the hallway and a blanket over it quickly becomes an adventure playground while you are not at home. Test beforehand whether your cat enjoys this offer or whether it reacts unsettled to this unusual change. In this case, they should first be introduced to this form of employment carefully and can then ensure more variety in the apartment in the long term.
Professional Catsitter – Care at Home
If there is nobody in your circle of friends who can take care of the care or only individual visits, there are mobile catsitters as an alternative who take care of the care professionally for a relatively small fee – at your home. Clarify in advance what exactly belongs to the services and have pictures or short videos sent to you via smartphone during the care in order to get a feeling for the individual care. Maybe there are even reference customers you can talk to about their experiences. In the often low basic price, only a quarter of an hour of care time is calculated, which is just enough for feeding, cleaning the toilet, and speaking to your cat very briefly. If you want more individual time for your velvet paw, discuss these expectations and the associated costs with the catsitter in advance in order to avoid misunderstandings and to receive a fair offer for both parties. Perhaps you can also divide the care so that a catsitter takes over the basic care and a neighbor concentrates on having fun with the cat.
Cat Boarding – a Good Alternative to Being Alone?
As territorial animals, cats usually appreciate staying within their own four walls, even if human affection can only be guaranteed to a limited extent during your absence. Another option for cats who are particularly people-oriented and who do not have too much trouble changing territory is cat boarding houses, which are available in many cities and some rural areas. Even animal shelters sometimes offer boarding houses. If this solution is an option, take a close look at the accommodation and the staff there in advance. The rooms should be comfortably furnished and the feline holiday guests should make a relaxed impression. Only small groups of cats should be accommodated in the rooms themselves and there should also be the option of a single room if your cat does not get along with (strangers) conspecifics – which is the case with many. You should also question the real-time your cat has been cared for. Just because she is housed in a guesthouse and – in theory – someone works there during the day, unfortunately, that doesn’t mean that he also deals with the cats. Each retired animal should be given adequate time for individual activity and cuddling, which you can get an impression of when you get to know each other personally on site.
Have Your Emergency Pass Ready
Regardless of whether your cat is cared for in their home or in a boarding house, have everything necessary for the time you are away. In addition to the usual food, it is advisable to provide a particularly popular variety in case the pain of separation should hit the appetite. An emergency pass should contain all important information:
- old
- Vaccination status
- Any illnesses
- Your cat’s intolerance
- Your veterinarian’s contact details
In the best case, you also write down what she particularly likes or what you should avoid with her. These documents not only help your representative to get an overview, but also to have all the relevant information at hand in an emergency.
If you are unsure how your cat will react to your absence, start slowly and only leave it for one night at first. Webcams not only calm you down during this time but also give you the opportunity to check whether your cat is reacting with stress and what could possibly help it. So you can approach this special time for each other together.