As a cat owner, you might sometimes wonder, “Can I leave my cat alone for a week?” This is a common concern, especially when planning a vacation. While it’s natural to worry about your furry friend, it’s important to understand that cats are independent creatures.
Cats can adapt to being unaccompanied as long as their basic needs such as ample food, engaging cat toys, and comfort are met. They may form strong bonds with their owners, but they don’t experience separation in the same way humans do, making it generally acceptable to leave them for a week.
So, Yes, it’s generally okay to leave your cat unattended for a week, but there are essential preparations to ensure they stay happy and healthy while you’re away. Let’s explore everything you need to know including how long cats can be left alone, tips to keep them safe, and what to do if your plans change.
How Long Can You Leave a Cat Alone?
The duration you can leave your cat alone depends on factors like their personality, age, and health. Independent cats may cope well alone, while sociable ones may feel distressed. Kittens require frequent feeding and monitoring, and senior cats may need additional care due to health concerns. If you have multiple cats, they can keep each other company as long as their basic needs are met.
According to Brookhaven Animal Hospital, a healthy adult cat can typically be left alone for 12 to 48 hours without any major problems. However, it’s advisable to have a friend or cat-sitting service check in daily to ensure they have food, a clean litter box, and some playtime. If you’re going to be gone for more than 48 hours. It’s really important to arrange for someone or cat sitter to visit your furry friend to provide food, fresh water, and a little companionship.
How Long Can Cats Go Without Food and Water?
Cats can typically survive no more than 3 days without water and only a couple of weeks without food. However, the timeline can vary based on factors like age, health, and environmental conditions. For instance, dehydration can set in quickly, especially in hot weather, leading to severe health issues such as kidney failure or urinary tract problems. Signs of dehydration include lethargy, dry gums, and decreased skin elasticity, which can escalate rapidly if not addressed.
To ensure your cat remains hydrated and well-fed during your absence, ensure your cat has access to clean water bowls and consider placing multiple sources around the house. Using an automatic or slow feeder can help dispense food regularly. It’s also wise to arrange for a cat sitter or a friend to check in daily or every other day. This way, they can replenish supplies and monitor your cat’s well-being, addressing any issues before they escalate into stress or injury. Regular check-ins not only provide peace of mind for you but also help keep your cat comfortable and secure.
What Happens When You Leave Cats at Home?
Have you ever wondered what your cat does while you’re away? Sirin Kale from The Guardian set up cameras and found that her cat mostly maintained its usual routine, possibly sleeping a bit more.
Each cat reacts differently to being left alone. Some may show signs of distress after just a few hours, while others might not react until a longer absence. Understanding your cat’s experiences is crucial for managing anxiety and stress, as neglecting their emotional and physical well-being is not acceptable.
Cats may experience separation anxiety, leading to concerning behaviours. These behaviours can vary based on the cat’s personality, age, health, and how often they’re visited while you’re away. A cat experiencing separation anxiety may show this common behaviour:
1. Destructive Behaviour
Separation anxiety and stress can be the driving force behind destructive behaviours such as tearing up furnishings, especially if you notice the behaviour coincides with periods when you are away.
2. Crying and Howling
If your cat is used to having company, especially if you are it’s only human or pet friend,they may cry or vocalise loudly in an attempt to call you or locate you.
3. Peeing or Pooping outside the litter tray
Sometimes, a cat may eliminate outside of the litter box when they feel anxious or stressed. A stressed cat may also start spraying around the house to mark its territory and feel comforted by its own familiar scent.
4. Hiding
A stressed cat may hide away because they no longer feel safe in their environment.
5. Changes in appetite
If your cat is really suffering being left alone, they can even start to show signs of depression, such as eating and drinking less and sleeping more.
Do House Cats Get Lonely?
According to the Boston Veterinary Clinic, while cats are sometimes perceived as aloof, they do experience physical stress when kept apart from their owners, though those symptoms usually decrease upon reunion.
However, loneliness isn’t the same as separation anxiety, and it’s worth asking whether cats can get lonely by themselves in your absence. While anxiety stems from feeling unsafe, isolation comes from being without companionship.
When you’re away, your feline may initially feel unsafe. Still, with proper care such as access to food, water, and safe spaces. They can adapt quickly and regain their sense of security.
Smart Tips for Leaving Your Cat Alone on Vacation
Once you have understood the specific needs and temperament of your cat, you can go ahead and start planning for how these will be managed during your absence. Here are some tips for keeping cats healthy and happy while you’re away.
1. Automatic Feeders and Water Fountains
These are excellent items that can be relied upon for up to 48 hours. However, after this period, you should ensure that someone is available to check the food and water supply and provide wet food to supplement the typically dry food found in automatic feeders.
2. Secure the environment
Ensure your cat home is thoroughly checked for escape points before you leave. Creating a safe environment for your cat is essential to prevent accidents or escapes. They should have access to familiar spaces, as confining them to one room can lead to boredom and distress. If you restrict their roaming, make sure you have a trusted house sitter to monitor their safety and comfort. This way, your furry friend can feel secure and content while you are away.
3. Sensory enrichment
Cats require various opportunities for both play and interaction. Leaving cat toys, boxes, scratching posts, platforms for climbing and jumping or having a regular visitor to play with your cat is a great way of reducing stress and boredom in your cat.
4. Maintain comforts
To ensure your cat doesn’t suffer in adverse weather conditions, consider putting heating and cooling on a timer, and providing necessities such as shade for summer and warm cosy bedding for winter.
5. Litter box management
If you have an indoor cat, you will need to ensure their litter box is cleaned regularly while you are away. You can get fancy and invest in an automatic litter box, although you may want to test it with your cat first. However, most people get by with enlisting a friend or a pet-sitting service to visit regularly and attend to litter duty as well as other tasks. It may be worth investing a few more litter trays to ensure your cat has access to clean litter if they are being left alone for a while.
6. Turn off appliances and cover electrical cords
Without your company cats might decide to investigate things they would usually ignore. Before you leave it’s a good idea to make your home safer by switching off powerpoints and covering up cords.
7. Access to sunlight
Enrichment toys are great investments for cats that will be home alone for a while, but simple access to a safe outdoor space with sunlight, warmth, sights, and sounds can be the best sensory toy you can provide. An outdoor cat enclosure is a great way to keep your cat safe and happy while you are away.
8. Set up a camera (or 3!)
To ease your worries while you are away, setting up cameras that can be accessed from a phone app is a great way to keep an eye on your cat and ensure they are happy and well.
9. Update Microchip details
Make sure your cat’s microchip has the most up to date contact information so you can be sure of a notification if Kitty somehow manages to escape the house.
10. Enlist a trusted friend or neighbour
Probably the easiest way to make sure Kitty is happy and well is to get a friend to make regular visits for feeding, litter cleanup, water top up and playtime. If you can’t find anyone, consider trying a cat-sitting service to hire someone experienced to care for your cat and your home.
11. Boarding Houses
Deciding to put your cat into a boarding house for the duration of your leave may be an option open to you. Before making this decision, be sure to visit the accommodation and ensure that it will meet your cat’s needs, as some cats can get very stressed in this kennel-style housing.
12. Vet checkup
Before leaving, it’s a good idea to get your cat checked by a vet to ensure there are no health issues that could become a problem if your cat is left alone without the proper care or supervision.
13. Turn on the Radio or TV
Cats get used to having us as part of their world, and they get comfort from our voices. Having a TV or radio on a timer can be reassuring for your cat and a good reminder of your continued presence.
14. Leave your scent behind
Having worn clothes and used bedding around will ensure your scent is still present in the home and will give your cat a sense of comfort.
What to Do if Your Return Is Delayed?
We know that the best-laid plans can fall apart at the last minute, so having a backup strategy in case you are delayed is a very good idea. Here are some emergency plans and backup care options to ensure your cat remains healthy and happy while you’re away longer than expected.
- Check with your friend or pet sitter about their availability to see if they could extend their stay if your return is delayed.
- Ask a friend or neighbour to be on standby in case of emergencies.
- Leave detailed feeding, water and tray management instructions so a new sitter has everything they need to continue the care of your cat.
- Use a key lock box to leave a spare key for anyone that needs to get access into your home in order to provide care for your cat.
- If applicable, leave extra medication or supplies to cover any delays in your return.
- Ensure to provide the contact details of the vet so that pet sitters can easily reach out for any questions regarding the best care for your cat.
How a Cat Enclosure Can Eases Your Worries When You’re Away
Cats are relatively easy to leave at home when you’re away, as long as their basic needs like food, water, a clean litter box, and companionship are met. However, ensuring they get enough mental and physical stimulation can be challenging, especially if someone isn’t available to interact with them regularly.
Providing a secure outdoor cat enclosure is an excellent way to keep your cat enriched and active in your absence. Equipped with features like climbing structures, viewing platforms, scratching posts, and toys, these enclosures allow your cat to safely enjoy grass, sunshine, and plants while reducing risks like escaping, disease, or injury. A proper enclosure also prevents cats from roaming freely to find companionship elsewhere, which can be risky when you’re not home.
For a reliable cat netting solution, choose Kittysafe, Perth’s cat enclosure specialists. With over 3 years of experience and hundreds of custom enclosures, we create safe and stimulating environments for your cat’s well-being. Our exceptional customer service, affordable pricing, and five-star Google ratings reflect our commitment to quality. Contact us today to design a safe outdoor space for your cat while you’re away.
FAQs
Is it OK to keep a cat in one room?
Maybe for a few hours or a day if there is a reason for it, but generally speaking, cat’s should have enough room to jump, climb and run, as well as have access to natural sunlight, and be a free range member of your family home.
How long can you leave a cat alone?
Independent and adaptable, cat’s generally do well for 12 – 48 hours on their own, depending on factors such as age or temperament. When leaving your cat alone, be aware of stress or anxiety signs and set up a care plan that includes regular visits from a friend or pet sitter.
Do cats get lonely?
Probably not in the way that humans do, but cats can certainly feel distress and anxiety if separated from their owners or home for long periods of time. The extent of the distress will vary from cat to cat, depending on their sociability, independence, confidence, and what they are used to.
Do cats get sad when you leave?
Probably not sad, but they can definitely get stressed and anxious if they are particularly social and attached. Most cats cope fine with separation from their humans, and any initial stress responses such as crying or vocalising will settle down quickly as they adapt to the change in their environment.
Is it OK to have just one cat?
Cats are solitary creatures by nature and, therefore, generally not fussed if they are the only cat in the house. Domestic cats can form strong bonds with humans and other pets but will still be content enjoying your company when you are around and chill out and fly solo when you are away.
How long can a house cat go without food?
Cats can go up to 3 days without water and around 2 weeks without food, but these are far from ideal conditions. Dehydration can set in quickly and lead to serious health problems, especially during hot weather. That’s why it’s so important to leave your cat with plenty of fresh water and enough food before you head out.
How can I keep my cat entertained while I'm away?
Keeping your cat entertained is easier than you think. Interactive cat toys, puzzle feeders, and safe climbing structures are great ways to keep them busy. And for a little extra comfort, leave some soft background noise, like a radio or calming music, playing while you’re away.
