Can I leave my cat home alone for 6 days without someone checking on her?

Question

She is 2 years old and has been left home alone for 4 days before and numerous weekends. I'm just wondering if anyone thinks 6 days is too long. She's not a cat that will eat all of her food at once and she usually has food left when we return.

Answer 1

NO!!!!That will kill it.

Answer 2

Don,

I have a cat, two dogs & goldfish at my house (and three boys LOL). If four days hasn't been a problem in the past with your autofeeder & autowaterer (actually some food/water left over and above what you would consider "bone-dry"), or you have room & could add two more days worth to them -- I say why not. My cat was fine after 4 days & could probably handle a week if I filled the water & food feeders to the top, she just would be very loving & affectionate when we came home because she missed me (and my boys). The dogs are an entirely different matter & need to be fed & let out twice a day. The goldfish can have one of those autofeeders placed right in the tank. The cat will be fine.

I hear all those cat lovers ... "Oh that's so mean & cruel, etc." Sorry, my cat is pretty independent & would do fine for that long. So it depends on your cat & if she can tolerate four days, with nary a problem two more days would be easy.

If you have any doubts or concerns about the cat, or the "naysayers" out there, then have someone stop on by that likes your cat and is familiar with her already. In that case, I would say, ask them to stop on by every other day just to check on her & make sure she's ok (having enough water & food & the litter tray isn't overflowing). Have a good time!

Answer 3

Yes you can, but as so many people have said having someone come in once, if not twice or more to check on the cat would be best. The food, water, and litter box need to be kept fresh and changed when able. But if you don't have a lot of money and this is something you know you'll be back from within the time frame have someone come by the first, third, and last day. They'll check the food, pet the feline for awhile, and make sure everything is tidy for you and your cat for when you get home. $10 - $50 would cover it but if you get a kid of the neighborhood to do it you should be fine with at $15 tip. Good luck and have a safe trip.

Answer 4

Hi there, While your cat is used to being alone for one day, a cat should not be left alone without some kind of supervision for any longer than a usual work day. 17 weeks is barely a cat, by the way. This is a young kitten that needs attention. You are right that it is better to keep a kitty at home. They do feel much more comfortable and safe in their own surroundings. Anything can happen when a cat is left alone. They can get into something and get injured. They can fall, they can get sick. Anything is possible. That cat tree could topple over on top of her. It is far too dangerous. Try to get a licensed pet sitter to take care of her while you are away. She should have FRESH water available all the time. Would you like to have a glass of water that is standing for three days? I don't think so. Your kitten could also become very frightened being alone. That is enough reason itself to have a sitter or a friend come in twice a day to play with her, feed her her fresh food that she is used to, and clean her litter box. If you cannot find someone, ( call your vet and ask if a tech would be willing to kitten sit- or recommend someone) then it is far safer and healthier for her to be in a cattery where she will be supervised. Yes, it costs, but that is what we commit to when we bring a kitty into our household. Also find out if your vet boards cats. Ours does, and charges only for the time that the cat is being cared for, by the day. Do not leave your kitten alone please. Condsider how she will feel being "abandoned" and not understanding why she is left alone. Troublesniffer Owned by cats for over 40 years Member: Cat Writer's Association

Answer 5

6 days seems a pretty long time. My kitty misses me terribly, even when we go away for only 1 or 2 days. If she's used to being left alone for 2-4 days, I would have someone come by half-way through just to check on her food, water, litter, and give her a little company. It really could be just about anyone, a neighbour, a neighbour's kid, a friend, or family member. Most people will be willing to do it for nothing, but it would be nice to offer them $10 or so.

Make sure to have them over before you go so you can show them where everything is.

Answer 6

Leaving your cat alone for more than 2 days at a time is really taking a chance. Having someone check on her every two days (I have someone come in every day for my cats when I'm gone.) is probably fine. Six days can seem like a lifetime to a cat, I'm sure you wouldn't want her to think you're never coming back!

Answer 7

I have heard of people that do this and their cats seem fine, but personally, I won't never think of leaving a cat alone for more than 24 hours without having someone drop in to check up on them. First of all, owning a pet carries with it the responsibility of taking good care of them. Secondly, there are cases where cats have been injured or died as a result of being left alone. One cat got tangled up in a window shade cord and strangled. Another died of carbon monoxide poisoning from a faulty furnace. Another died of a broken femur bone when it apparently fell off of a piece of furniture. Also, if you are leaving your cat alone with an open supply of food, I assume you are feeding a diet of dried kibbles - not the best food for a cat.
It's not big deal to get a friend, family member or someone in the neighborhood to stop in to check on her, feed her and provide fresh water. Most won't even expect money for it, they would be glad to help.

Answer 8

It sounds a little long, but not impossible. There are some feeders that will release the food gradually as she eats it. You must leave a lot of water bowls and a few litterboxes, so that they remain decently clean. But it's best if someone could check on her on the 3rd day for example, so that she doesn't freak out.

Answer 9

Anything can happen, she can tip over her water dish, get stuck somewhere, ingest something and have an obstruction, etc. I would not feel comfortable for more than 3 days without someone checking up on her.

If you are going to leave her alone pretty frequently, you can hook up an internet camera so that you can see her remotely. They are fairly inexpensive these days and, over time, much less expensive than boarding your cat.

Answer 10

Do not leave your cat alone for that long. I left my 2 cats alone for 4 days with lots of food and water and they poohed all over the kitchen floor. They were also very frightened about what was going on. My husband ended up in the Intensive Care Dept at a hospital far from where we live. I stayed at the hospital for 12 days and the first 4 days when I came home my poor baby kitties were a mess. I then made sure that someone came in to give them company, to feed them fresh food and water every day until I came home. They were then wondering where their Dad was. Sleeping in bed with me every night. When their Dad came home, our kitties were all over him.

Answer 11

6 days is too long. The box will be a disaster, and you're inviting kitty to use the rest of your house as substitute. Get someone to check in on day 3 at a bare minimum (daily is obviously preferable). Kitty won't die with a dirty box or a several day shortage of food, but she could be in serious trouble without water. Even if you have an auto-filler bowl, you should have someone make sure that it didn't get clogged or tipped over.