Help - Leaving A Cat Alone

Hi! I need advice and quick - what is the longest that it is safe to leave my cat at home do you think?

I'm going on vaca on Sunday and will return on Friday so it's 4 days of being completely alone. with tons of water, food and a clean box, do you think my cat would be okay?

I cannot board him - long explanation!

TIA!

Re: Help - Leaving A Cat Alone

Four days is a bit long. See if you can have a friend or neighbor stop in at least once during those 4 days to check on food, water and litter.

Re: Help - Leaving A Cat Alone

I think thats way too long to leave the cat. Overnight is ok, but anything more than that is too long. You don't know how much food or water he will consume in the first day or two, and then what if he runs out? And thats a long time for the litter not to be cleaned - you are going to run the risk of having poop/pee all over the house when you get home.
Is there someone who can stop in and feed/check on the cat?

Re: Help - Leaving A Cat Alone

I would just try to have someone stop in.
4 days is long the max I would do is 2

Re: Help - Leaving A Cat Alone

The most I would do is 2 days and even then I like to have someone at least walk in my house and check on her.

Re: Help - Leaving A Cat Alone

Re: Help - Leaving A Cat Alone

That's a bit long. If you have to do it, try getting an extra litter box too.

Does your cat drink water out of the sink? Mine do and I always leave a facet on for them when we are gone overnight.

Re: Help - Leaving A Cat Alone

We've done two sets of 3 days in a row.

Our kitty is too antisocial to be boarded; and the only person that can come by to take care of her lives an hour away. So we need to plan our vacations so that the person can come 1x while we are away. So she is usually alone for 2 days, the person comes on the third, and then we are home on the 6th day.

She's OK with it. I wish it was easier. I spend 3/4 of vacation worrying about her.

Message edited 9/30/2008 7:50:57 PM.

Re: Help - Leaving A Cat Alone

is it an automatic litter box ?

If you have one of those things that constantly recycles/refreshes the water and food I think u would be ok.

I know my cats would definately eat all the food before the 4 days.

I think they would be fine with being in the house alone for 4 days, if you're sure the water/food would stick around.

Maybe someone can come in every 2 days ?

it sounds like more like 4 full days and 1/2 day on Sunday and Friday too ?

Re: Help - Leaving A Cat Alone

I agree with the pp. My cat would eat all the food in a day or 2, probably throw up from overeating, and then have nothing left to eat. Unfortunately they do not know their limits when it comes to food.

Re: Help - Leaving A Cat Alone

I think it depends on your cat. My cat is not needy and kind of bit*hy. Once I had to leave her for 3 days, she was fine. I put out 2 litter boxes just in case, 2 big bowls of water and 2 bowls of food.

My cat does not eat until the bowl is full though, she only eats a little and leaves the rest.

So if your cat is the kind like the pp that will eat the whole thing and throw up, see if you can get a neighbor to pop in.

Re: Help - Leaving A Cat Alone

I left my kitties for 3 1/2 days once, and had someone come over (who "doesn't do litter boxes" lol) and they were fine when I go back home....but now I'm going to Mexico for 8 days and got him a sitter lol