what is the longest you have left your cat home alone?

Question

I am needing to go on vacation and I have heard of people who have left their cat home alone for long weekends with plenty of water, food, and litter boxes in several rooms of the house. I don't know that my cat would do well boarded in a kennel and thought she'd like it better at home. What is the longest you have left your cat home alone and how did your cat do? Any other tips on how to make it best for the cat and for you when you return?

Answer 1

A week... BUT! Open every closet door. Make sure all air vents are closed. Leave toilets open.

Open the closet door and close the vents because my cat when we left her for 3 days crawled through an air vent, and got stuck in a closet. So if you open all closets and doors he wont get stuck. Except the doors that lead outside.

Leave the toilets open if your cat ever runs out of water and wants a drink. My cat never drinks from bowls. She loves the toilet.

If you leave for more than a week, get someone to check up on her/him.

Answer 2

One weekend we left on a Friday afternoon and returned Tuesday evening, that was the longest I've ever left the animals without someone looking in on them. When we got back the cats look like the had just run out of food but everyone had water.
They have those food and water containers you can buy at most pets stores.
We leave our animals for a day or so fairly often and they are fine.
Some anmials like to have a radio, or a nice warm blanket that smells like you but everything should be fine.
I've left the animals alone for a week before but I always had someone look in on them since no matter what happends the fat cat will always eat way more than his share of food.

Answer 3

I have left my 2 cats at home for 8 days. They love the house, so I agree, its better on them than being in a kennel. I know how much food they eat daily, and then I double (really almost triple) it. They usually share a litter box, so I set up an extra one, and had them both as full of cat litter as I could get them (yea, there was some on the floor when I got home, but it was a minor mess to clean up), and then I leave water bowls everywhere, large ones. I also turn the TV on, so that they have the sounds they are used to during the day. They are very content, and were sleeping on the bed when we returned home. I actually think they figured they got a vacation too - with us and the dogs all gone they had the place to themselves.

Answer 4

Best case scenario is to have them at home and have a friend/neighbor/family member come over and feed/water/play with them so they have human companionship at least once a day. I've gone away for 3 weeks at a time with a "sitter" in place, and they've been fine. I've also had to leave for a 3-day weekend and left tons of food an water out, and they've been fine, but I always have a back-up. In case I get delayed, I want someone over there to check them. I also want a neighbor notified so that just in case something bad like a fire, etc. happens -- somebody knows to save the kitties!!
I think they always do best in their own homes. However, some cats "travel" well, so in that case, taking them to a trusted friend's home to stay while you're away can also work. I've babysat several friends' kittens/cats when they've gone away and it's worked out well. My cats would never deal with a kennel situation - they'd be miserable!

Answer 5

No more then 2-3 days - for a show - leave on a Friday, return home on Sunday night or first thing on Monday morning. Cats should never be left alone longer then 3 nights (4 max) without someone coming in to feed/water and scoop the pans and check on things.

Answer 6

I left my cat alone for 2 1/2 days. I left him with a huge bowl of water and food and a fresh clean litter box. Made a few phone calls to say hi by talking to an answer machine. I felt pretty dumb, but it made me feel less guilty leaving him behind. He's my babe. what can I say? Oh yeah, I left the television on for him so there would be constant noise. I think it went well. He was definetly happy to see me when I came home. I gave him all of my attention and gave him a long scratch with lots of kisses. If you are pretty tight with your cat, you will be alright.

Answer 7

You have it right. The longest I have left them is 3 nights and 4 days. I bought an automatic feeder, put some water, put a new kitty litter and left them in the garage. They did pretty well. If I have to leave them for longer periods, I have a friend come over at least every two days and let them wander outside for a few hours and then back to the garage.

Answer 8

A week. We have three cats, and three litter boxes. All needed cleaning big time when we got home. And all needed lots of loving.

Just be sure to leave out lots and lots of water. Cats like fresh water, but will drink stagnate water if they have to. Just don't do this too often, it wouldn't be good for their kidneys.

Cats also do very well in large crates on vacation, that is to say, taking the cats with you and keeping them in a crate. You can do this in the bedroom you are staying in and keep their kitty box with them. Just be sure they have ample room to get around it. Go to www.drfostersmith.com or other pet supply company and see the various portable pens to take on trips. We take our cats camping!

And also, they have harnesses for cats. It takes them a little longer to adjust to the new lifestyle of traveling, but they do adjust. And they are usually happier being with you then left at home, or heaven's forbid, a boarding kennel!

Answer 9

I usually have a friend feed them and change the litter and stuff. They come about once a day. I usually pay them 5-10 dollars. The longest I left my cat alone was 1 week.

Answer 10

We've left our cats at home for four days by themselves with an automatic feeder, water and dry food out. They also had two litter boxes to use. They didn't seem to be traumatized at all. There are pet sitters that you can hire to come every day or even every other day to check on your place and take care of your cat. Cats are usually much happier if they stay home.