How to Make Preparations For Your Cats Before Going on a Vacation

Many people board dogs or find housesitters when they have them to go out of town, but cats usually get left behind with nothing but some extra food. Learn what to do to prevent your cats from damaging property and becoming distressed when you go on vacation.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Plenty of food to leave
• Some assistanct from friends, neighbors, and family
• Compassion for your pets

1. First of all, you can't leave your cats with no interaction at all. Domesticated animals tend to panic after a certain amount of time (2 - 3 days) without human interaction. This is because, unlike humans, they can't understand that you're coming back. They may resort to wild behavior thinking they're abandoned.

2. Also, as we all know, cats need a litterbox. This needs to be scooped daily, every two days at the most in order to prevent a bad odor in the house or bacteria contaminating your home. Also, when the litterbox is full, cats will look for another place to use the bathroom, i.e. your carpet or corners.

3. Cats shed more when they're stressed...so unless you want a houseful of fur, don't leave them alone.

4. Most of all, cats need to be checked on in case of emergency. What if your pet falls and breaks a leg? What if they run out of food, become ill, or something goes wrong in the home? Aside from needing to check on the actual cats, it's wise to have someone to check on your home as well.

5. I've given reasons to not leave your cats alone during your vacation. So what can you do? Hire a housesitter, have a friend or neighbor scoop the box and check the food and water every day, or invite friends or family to house-sit. It's better for the safety of your pets and prevents vacation theft. (Come one...you've seen "Home Alone".)

6. Also, know that your pets may behave differently when you return home. Don't punish them for this, remember, they don't have the same thoughts and feelings as humans. There's no logic in their behavior...remember, they may have reverted to some kind of stressful or nervous state via the survival instinct. (Hey, I never claimed cats were tough.)

7. If you are going to be gone for only a couple of days and don't need a sitter, leave more than enough water by filling mixing bowls with water and placing them near their normal bowls. (You have to account for evaporation and spills. Always best to play it safe.)

8. Give the cats a good brushing before you go and talk to them nicely. It doesn't matter what you say as long as you use a comforting voice. Giving them some extra attention before you leave will give them a longer time before they stress out. Again, this means less shedding or damage.

Tips & Warnings

• Clip their claws before you leave if they still have them.
• Leave plenty of food in an automatic feeder.
• Never bathe a cat immediately before a trip, they will consider your absence a punishment. It's animal training 101.

[Panda229]

on 7/10/2009 5* Great article!