We all miss our cats when we go away, but do house cats get lonely, too?
Maybe this has happened to you. You return from a vacation, your heart eager and longing to see your little friend’s cute furry face, but when you step inside and call their name, Kitty pops out from behind the sofa, gives you a long blinking stare, and then turns abruptly and walks away with their tail high in the air as if they didn’t even notice you were gone.
Despair! Are they angry? Have they forgotten you? Don’t they love you anymore? Have they ever loved you?
The problem lies in giving cats human characteristics. Cats really do form deep and genuine bonds with their owners, but they are also biological loners who don’t think about the future or dwell on the past like we do. They enjoy you when you are there and adapt well to being alone as long as their catty desires of playing, sleeping, staying warm and eating are met. So, while they genuinely love and enjoy your company, they are also able to enjoy their own company.
This combination of independence and adaptability is why it’s actually OK to leave your cat alone for a week when you need to travel, but there are some very important things to put in place to ensure kitty is as happy in the home with you, as they will be without you.
Do Cats Get Lonely?
According to The Boston Veterinary Clinic, although cats have a reputation of being uncaring and aloof, they do experience physical stress symptoms when they are kept apart from their owners, and those symptoms decrease when they are reunited.
But separation anxiety is not the same thing as loneliness. While anxiety is a result of not feeling safe, loneliness is a state of feeling abandoned or without companionship. When you’re away, your cat might initially feel unsafe, but once they know they have a trusted and caring companion, access to food and water, stimulating interactions and opportunities for play and outdoor time, and a warm, safe place to sleep, they should adapt quickly to the new conditions and feel just as safe as before.
On your return, you may notice your cat acting a little weird. The cat may not be that excited to see you, or they may even hide from you or be aggressive. This isn’t because they are mad at you for leaving them. It’s because your cat has adapted so well to your absence that they need a little time to readapt to your return! Giving them a bit of space and time and it shouldn’t take long for them to reestablish their bond with you and pick up right where you left off.
How Long Can You Leave a Cat Alone?
How long you can leave your cat alone will depend on a number of factors. Firstly, the personality of your cat. While some cats are aloof and independent, others are more sociable and thrive on your companionship and would feel distressed being alone too long. Kittens have feeding requirements and can get into trouble if left alone too long, and similarly, older cats may have health problems that require someone to be around or just rely on you more for a sense of safety. And if you have more than one cat, they may be happy being left alone as long as they have each other for company and all their other needs are met.
According to Brookhaven Animal Hospital, a healthy adult cat can typically be left alone for 12 to 48 hours without significant issues. However, they recommend having a friend or cat-sitting service check in daily to ensure the cat has food, a clean litter tray, and some playtime.
However, engaging the help of a sitter or friend to visit your cat for periods over 48 hours is not optional. Feeding, litter cleaning, fresh water, and playful interactions are important things to have in place when leaving your cat for a long period of time.
What Happens When You Leave Cats at Home?
Have you ever wondered what your cat gets up to while you are gone? When Sirin Kale from The Guardian got curious and set up some cameras to observe her cat’s behaviour while she was gone, she discovered that they pretty much carried on doing exactly what they always do, but maybe just slept a little bit more. Of course, this would be different for each cat, depending on factors such as their personality, whether they were being regularly visited, how much time they usually spend alone, and their age and health.
However, if your cat is having trouble feeling safe in your absence, it may be due to separation anxiety. Separation anxiety can lead to the following behaviours:
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.
Of course, every cat is different, and the extent to which your cat will start to show signs of distress will depend on many factors. Whether your cat is unhappy when you leave for 6 hours or only shows signs of distress after 48 hours, it is important to know what your cat experiences so that you can ensure anxiety and stress can be managed safely while you are away. To allow a cat to suffer physically and emotionally amounts to nothing less than neglect.
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
Cat’sCat should have access to the spaces they are used to while you are gone. Check carefully for any escape points to ensure your cat does not run away or get lost during your absence. And it’s never OK to keep a cat in one room while you are away, as this will lead to boredom and distress. Consider restricting your cat’s ability to roam freely while you are away unless you have a house sitter who can ensure your cat arrives home safely every night and take immediate action if they notice your cat has been missing.
3. Sensory enrichment
Cats require opportunities for 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, you can try a cat-sitting service and hire someone experienced to look after 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.
How Long Can Cats Go Without Food and Water?
Like humans, cats will not be able to survive more than 3 days without access to water, or more than a couple of weeks without food. Dehydration and stress can happen even quicker if the cat has been left without water in hot weather conditions.
It’s not really a limit that should be tested, as a thirsty and hungry cat will become very stressed very quickly.
The best way to ensure your cat stays hydrated is by leaving a good supply of food in an automatic or slow feeder, and a good source of water. Secondly, get a pet sitter or friend to visit everyday or every second day to top up supply and ensure any problems are fixed before your cat gets stressed or injured.
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 your friend or pet sitter’s 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 Eases Worry When You’re Away
As long as your cat has access to food, water, a clean litter tray, regular companionship and some good physical and mental stimulation, they are probably one of the easiest animals to leave at home when you go away.
And while it’s easy to get someone to pop in and fill the food bowl, it may be harder, or more expensive, to have someone spend quality time playing and interacting with your cat while you are gone.
One of the simplest ways that cats can feel enriched and have access to natural exercise opportunities is by providing access to an outdoor cat enclosure. Outdoor cat enclosures, equipped with climbing structures, viewing platforms, scratching posts, grass, sunshine, plants and toys, can help your cat stay mentally and physically healthy while you are away.
Of course, it’s important that this outdoor access is secure, so you can be sure they won’t get out and then be at risk of cars, getting into fights, diseases or getting lost. Allowing your cat to roam freely while you are away is a double danger, as without you in the house they may not feel the same connection to the home, and may wander further away to find another friendly human to give them pats and belly rubs.
Kittysafe are Perth’s cat enclosure specialists, with over 3 years of experience and hundreds of successful bespoke cat enclosures designed and installed. Our incredible customer service, affordable products and five star Google ratings is why people trust Kitty Safe to be their outdoor cat enclosure professional in Perth.
Contact us today if you want to start the ball rolling on designing your very own outdoor cat enclosure, ready to provide a safe, stimulating addition to your cat’s world while you are away.
