DON’T LEAVE CATS HOME ALONE TOO LONG
by Ruth
(England)
People planning on going away for a few days break need to make arrangements for their cat’s care for while they are gone.
I find it shocking the number of people who think it’s acceptable to leave cats alone for 2 days or more without having anyone to pop in, see to their pet’s needs, make sure they are well and also to offer a bit of company to them.
Poster by Ruth
Young cats and old cats in particular need to be checked on twice a day, in fact ideally no cat should be left alone for a long period of time.
Cats can become ill very quickly and they may develop serious health problems if they have nothing to eat for 2 days.
Litter boxes soon become unpleasant and unusable. Cats are very particular and most won’t use dirty litter. Some out of desperation mess on the floor, some become constipated or develop bladder problems by holding off as long as they can.
Food goes stale, water can be spilled and even if not, it’s not nice drinking stagnant water.
Accidents can happen, a declawed cat especially can slip when jumping to a height and can break a bone.
There are many household hazards too, a bored lonely cat might be in danger by investigating an electric lead or he might pull at a thread in a blanket or fabric and get it stuck around his teeth or in his throat.
A home alone cat is vulnerable to any random burglar, he could not only be physically hurt by the intruder, he could run outside through the smashed door or window and be run over or lost miles away by his family return home.
I’ve heard of people who leave their cat flaps open or even their cats shut outside all the time they are away. I really don’t know how they can go off and enjoy their break without a thought to the danger their cat could be in.
Far kinder to ask a trusted friend or a neighbour to look after the cat in the pet’s own home, or if no one is willing, to pay a professional Pet Sitter to call twice a day. Making sure of course the cat meets the sitter before the days away so that he/she isn’t entirely a stranger.
The best option of course for longer holidays is a good cattery for the cat to stay at. Make sure to inspect the place first, a cattery owner with nothing to hide won’t mind anyone who wants to check on it and see that the cats boarding there look well cared for and that the place is clean and the cats not cramped in small cages.
The main thing to remember is to make some arrangements for the cat in good time and never to simply go off leaving him home alone thinking he will be OK.
Maybe he would be, but maybe not.
I would never risk our cats being hungry, thirsty, ill or injured because we’d left them alone too long.
Cats have emotional needs too.
Long lonely days and nights while their humans are enjoying their break is no way to treat a loved feline member of the family.
They deserve better.
Great story. I never want to go away for too long a time. I always make sure, if im going away that sometime looks in on the animals. In our house they are most welcome to sleep whereever in the house and will only go for a week at a time.