You might think that your cat prefers to be left alone, but our kitties love spending time with their people. Here, you'll find advice from our Fort Worth vets on leaving your cat alone, including how long you can leave them, and how to help them feel less lonely while you're away.
Can I leave my cat home alone?
Though healthy adult cats may be fine with being left at home alone, kittens, senior cats, and those with medical issues might need extra attention and care during the day. This doesn't mean you need to be home full time, and solutions are available. you might choose to have a family member or neighbor stop in, hire a cat sitter, or bring your cat to a professional cat boarding facility.
Do cats get lonely?
In many cases, the answer is a resounding yes. While some cats may genuinely seem to prefer their own company, others will happily greet their owners at the door when they get home from work each day, then follow their person around the house meowing. So, some cats will likely adapt better to time alone than others based on their personalities. However, all cats need their people; some just need their people more than others.
After some cats follow their owners around the house meowing as if they're summarizing the day's events, they curl up in their cat parent's lap the minute they sit down. These cats are more likely to feel lonely when left alone.
On the other side of the spectrum are the cats that simply glance in the direction of their owner every once in a while as if they are checking in to see they are behaving themselves. These more independent kitties may do fine spending more time on their own.
What do cats do when they are alone?
Many cat parents wonder what their cat will do during the time they're alone. There are a few activities that seem to be favorites among feline family members.
After you've left the house, your cat may hop onto a window ledge to watch nature and people passing by. If you have other pets, playtime may be on the agenda. Some cats enjoy watching TV or listening to a radio that's been left on. Don't forget to leave some toys out for your kitty to play with.
Some cats will let a case of the zoomies propel them around the house at full speed, so don't be surprised if you come to find a knick knack mysteriously knocked off a table or some furniture scratched up.
Of course, you might also come home to a lazy cat who's spent the day doing nothing other than napping in a beam of sunlight.
How long can my cat be left alone?
Very old and very young cats tend to be more vulnerable and need more attention than middle-aged cats. The same goes for cats with health concerns. So be sure to take extra care when leaving cats with health conditions, kittens and senior cats alone.
Kittens
If you have a kitten they will likely need to be fed three or four times a day until they are about six months old. This will dictate how long you can be out of the house.
Kittens also tend to get into mischief when left unsupervised. So, kittens under four months old shouldn't be left on their own for more than four hours at a time. If you know your cat will need to get used to being alone because of your lifestyle, start training them by gradually increasing the amount of time you are out of the house. When you take your kitty in for their routine kitten vaccines and examination, ask your vet for more detailed instructions. Your vet can provide advice on how to get your kitten used to being home alone.
Once your kitten is six months old, if you have to be away for an extended amount of time, we recommend having a friend or family member take your cat to their house to care for them. If that's not possible, have someone pop by your place once or twice a day to check in on your young cat to make sure they are safe, have enough food to eat and get some social interaction to relieve boredom.
If you have a kitten and need to be away from home for more than two to four hours, cat boarding is the ideal solution. Many boarding facilities offer high-quality care for cats of any age, complete with lots of love and attention.
Senior Cats & Cats With Health Issues
Older cats can be very sensitive to routines, which means that changes to their normal day can be stressful for them to handle. Stress can lead to an increased risk of health conditions and tummy issues. It's also common for senior cats to require extra feedings or medication throughout the day.
For these reasons, leaving your senior cat alone overnight may not be a good idea. Many pet boarding facilities provide round-the-clock care for animals in need of a little extra TLC while their owners are away, making pet boarding an ideal option for senior or unwell cats. If your cat must stay home alone, have someone visit your house twice a day to check on your senior cat.
Your vet knows your senior cat best, so speak to your vet about how long they believe your cat can safely be left alone.
Middle-Aged Cats
Under some circumstances, leaving your healthy, adult cat alone for 24-48 hours may be ok. Of course, this will depend upon a number of factors, including your cat's personality, your living conditions, and whether they are used to spending time alone. If your cat is going to be left on their own for a day or two, be sure that your home's temperature isn't too hot or too cold, and that there is enough (dry) food left out for your cat to eat while you're away, and that there is plenty of clean drinking water! It's also a good idea to make sure that the litter box is completely clean before you leave.
You can help prevent your cat from feeling lonely or getting into mischief by taking them to a trusted pet boarding facility in your neighborhood. Pet boarding offers you peace of mind knowing that your kitty is safe and being well cared for while you are away.
Is there some way I can help my cat feel less lonely while I'm gone?
If you are planning to be away from home, here are a few tips to help ensure that your cat stays safe while you're gone.
- Speak to your vet to find out if they have any concerns about your cat being left alone. Your vet knows your cat's health concerns and is in the best position to give you advice on your cat's well-being.
- We strongly recommend that you have someone check on your kitty once or twice a day while you are gone, to ensure that your kitty is safe and has enough food and water for the duration of your absence.
- Make sure that your thermostat is set so your home will remain at a comfortable temperature while you're away.
- Provide your cat with enough food for the duration of your time away. You may want to invest in an automated pet feeder to ration the food and keep it fresher.
- Ensure that your cat has plenty of clean water in a bowl that will not tip over and spill. Cat water fountains are available from pet stores. These handy devices can help to keep your cat's water fresher and cleaner while you're gone.
- If your cat is particularly fussy about their litter box, you may want to leave two fresh, clean boxes of litter for them.
- Consider leaving a radio or TV on so that your cat hears voices while you are away. It may help to relieve your cat's boredom.
- Take your cat to a local pet boarding facility. Cat boarding facilities can offer your kitty a clean and bright place to stay where they will be well cared for and provided with plenty of human interaction.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.