As much as your cat may act like it doesn’t care whether you’re around or not, the truth is that when you go away, they do notice! It’s important to make sure that they still have human company while you are away to make sure that they are happy.
However, cats are also quite territory oriented, so if you were to take them out of your home and put them in a cattery while you were away, it’s quite likely they wouldn’t like that. Obviously, this is very dependent on the individual animal, but in general, it’s good to try and get your cat looked after within your home.
Company
The ideal situation when you’re going out of town is to have a friend come and stay in your house or look in on your cat a couple of times a day. This way you can rest easy knowing that someone you trust and who your pet probably already knows is taking care of things.
If, however, it’s not possible to get a friend to do this, you can achieve the same thing by engaging with a professional house sitter. Professional house sitters won’t require payment; they are benefitting from the arrangement because they don’t have pets of their own and love the opportunity to hang out with yours and because they want the opportunity to travel to a new place.
Another option is to simply pay someone to come in and feed and play with your feline friend a couple of times a day as well as deal with cleaning the litter if they are an indoor cat — it really depends what feels right for you and your pet.
Entertainment
While you are away it’s really important that your cat doesn’t get bored, otherwise you will very likely return to shredded curtains! As well as making sure your cat has company, it’s also a good idea to make sure that they have plenty of toys to play with.
Make sure that as well as a good quality scratching post, your pet has access to a puzzle type toy that will keep them occupied. Kitty Reporter has reviews on a range of toys to help you find the best one for your pet.
Food and Water
It’s important that your pet continue to be fed the same amount as they usually would be. Many well-meaning friends are likely to over feed your pet to make sure they get enough, which can make them quite sick. Be sure to make clear how much food your pet needs to whoever is looking after them for you, so that they aren’t persuaded by the inevitable mewing for more! Also be sure to emphasize the importance of fresh water. Your pet’s water should be changed at least once a day — more often on warm days. You can also buy a pet fountain, which keeps a supply of fresh water circulating and can be a source of entertainment for your kitty.
