How to Leave a Cat Alone for a Weekend

Need to go out of town for the weekend, but don't have anyone to look after your kitty? Luckily, felines are independent animals and can fare just fine on their own for a few days. Follow these steps and you'll come home to a happy cat!

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Leave plenty of food and water to last your kitty through the weekend. To be safe, fill a few extra bowls of water in case your cat knocks one (or two) over. It's a good idea to put these extra bowls in multiple rooms so that kitty can hunt to find them.

2. Hide a few cat treats in various rooms so that kitty can hunt for these surprises for an added challenge.

3. Leave a few cat toys for kitty to play with, especially those with catnip to keep her attention.

4. Consider leaving a TV or radio on to help comfort her if your cat is used to a lot of noise throughout the day. While most people would pick the obvious Animal Planet channel to keep kitty company, remember that the shows with sounds of animals in distress may actually frighten your cat and cause her to behave badly. It's best to stick to a radio or a non-animal television network.

5. Keep at least one window blind open so that kitty can look out. Not only do cats love to soak up the sunlight, but they also are natural "onlookers" and love to see the outside world--whether they can see people or other animals from their point of view.

Tips & Warnings

• If your cat just experienced a life change, such as a new baby in the family or a move to a new home, it is best to wait until the cat adjusts to her new surroundings before leaving her alone for more than a day at a time.
• If you will be out of town for more than a weekend, consider hiring a pet sitter or boarding your cat to ensure she has the interaction she needs.