# What do you do with your cat when you go away? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 3, 2009, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-with-your-cat-when-you-go-away/484176 "2009-02-03T00:11:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2009, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-with-your-cat-when-you-go-away/484176/21 "2009-02-03T16:48:39Z")
> [@zamboniracer](#): > > Do not hire my friend Lisa’s brother in law to house/cat sit. He sent my friend Lisa the following FALSE text message: > > 😃 My brother was house/cat sitting for his girlfriend, and the cat really did die! He didn’t know what to do because he thought she might want to say goodbye, so he put it in her freezer til she returned home.:eek: ---
**Author:** ![Walkabout](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/46a35a/32.png) [@Walkabout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walkabout)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2009, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-with-your-cat-when-you-go-away/484176/22 "2009-02-03T17:39:25Z")
Like most of the people here, for short trips of two, maybe three days, we’ll just leave extra food out. For longer trips we’ve tried a number of different things. We had a friend or neighbor kid feed them quite a few times over the years, and that’s a fairly cheap alternative. You can never be sure what quality of care you’re going to get, though. Later I used a professional pet sitting service; a bit more expensive, but more thorough caring for both the cats and the home. They did stuff like water the plants and bring in the mail, as well as play with the cats every day and keep a daily diary of how the cats were doing. When one of the cats later required regular medication, I hired a vet tech to come in, which was a lot more money, but I knew the cats had the medical treatment that they needed at the time. Finally, the last time we went away we took the cats [here](http://kountrykittyinn.com/kki_v1r2_032008_002.htm). The worst part about that place was the trip there: it’s about 45 minutes from our house, and the cats did not enjoy the car ride. They were well cared for, though, and I liked the “kitty cabinets” they stayed in. ---
**Author:** ![schnuckiputzi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecb155/32.png) [@schnuckiputzi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/schnuckiputzi)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2009, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-with-your-cat-when-you-go-away/484176/23 "2009-02-03T17:45:10Z")
Wow, we must have been really lucky. We’ve gone on extended vacations every summer, and have always hired a teen or two to house sit/take care of all the animals. However, I must say, that they are always either kids I have taught and know well, or friends of my kids. We fill the freezer with pizzas and ice cream, and make sure the Xbox/Wii is stocked with games. We’ve never lost a pet, or had anything else destroyed. However, one boy nearly killed himself accidentally when he decided to get some fresh eggs from the chickenhouse and came back with a rotten one. The house had to be aired out, and we tossed the pan out that he used. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2009, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-with-your-cat-when-you-go-away/484176/24 "2009-02-03T17:52:18Z")
At first, I boarded my cats at the vet. After that, I had a professional pet-sitter come and take care of them. > [@Minnie Luna](#): > > I suggest calling your vet and asking if any of the technicians/assistants do that sort of thing. I’m sure you can find someone trustworthy through the vet and ask if the person is bonded or has insurance. That’s how we found our professional pet-sitter. It wasn’t one of the vet techs, but it was someone the vet recommended. When we moved to Pittsburgh, the neighbor’s then-12-year-old daughter was looking at our cats in their carriers. She now comes over to take care of our cats when we go away. She loves my Katya, because Katya is playful. Her family has a cat, but it doesn’t like to play with toys so much. Katya loves to play with toys. I think having someone come over to play with Katya sometimes has made her get friendlier. > [@CairoCarol](#): > > I love returning to my cats after a long trip. Usually the older one, Gecko, is too jealous to stay in bed with me if the other cat joins us - she stalks off in a huff, so I’m limited to one cat at a time. But Gecko is so grateful to see me after I’ve been gone that she’ll even put up with the other cat. So for a couple of nights, I get TWO cats sleeping in bed with me at the same time. The Neville kitties are always extra-clingy and extra-purry when we come back from a long trip. > [@zamboniracer](#): > > Do not hire my friend Lisa’s brother in law to house/cat sit. He sent my friend Lisa the following FALSE text message: I hope she insisted on a jury at her murder trial, and that there were some people on the jury with cats. They probably wouldn’t convict. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2009, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-with-your-cat-when-you-go-away/484176/25 "2009-02-03T18:06:46Z")
Looks like hiring a professional sitter for a long trip is the choice. Suggestion: If you’re going to get a cat, get two. Often, you can adopt 2 litter mates at once–although unrelated kittens adopted simultaneously will think they are related. They will keep themselves company while you’re gone–whether they’re alone, with a sitter or relaxing at kitty kamp. They will _still_ put you on a guilt trip when they see you packing, though… ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2009, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-with-your-cat-when-you-go-away/484176/26 "2009-02-03T18:26:29Z")
[“You don’t want to come back from Sorento to a dead cat. It’d be so anticlimactic.”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crIJvcWkVcs) ---
**Author:** ![Jenaroph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Jenaroph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenaroph)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2009, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-with-your-cat-when-you-go-away/484176/27 "2009-02-03T18:42:58Z")
> [@XaMcQ](#): > > I’ve been a professional pet sitter for close to eleven years now, and I really recommend you hire one, unless you can find someone _really reliable_ to help you out. > > You wouldn’t believe some of the horror stories I’ve heard about people who asked teenagers, neighbors and coworkers. Of course, I’m sure this works out, a lot of the time, but just a few of the worst ones are: > [several horror stories follow] :eek: Now I know neighbors and family keep asking me to watch their pets - I can’t imagine anyone being that callous about taking responsibility for somebody else’s baby oozee woozee snookums whosagoodkitty yesyouARE! Ahem. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2009, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-with-your-cat-when-you-go-away/484176/28 "2009-02-03T20:14:14Z")
I’d left my two cats for as long as 6 days with extra food and water (several large dishes), but felt nervous about anything longer than 5 days. Years ago I went for a week and a half, asked my brother in law to check on them, he said yes, and I came home to empty water dishes and food bowls. Seems he’d completely forgotten to stop by and check on them. :mad: Never again. If I had to go longer, I know of a cats-only vet place that takes them in. The only problem I’d have with them is that I don’t think they provide them with enough room. They have a wall of these glass cages and I dunno if they ever get out of them. Of course, my old girl (since gone) once spent several days locked in my bedroom with no food, water or box while I was on a trip, because apparently at some point during my five day trip, the wind kicked up and slammed the door shut on her. Yes, she peed on my bed. But I don’t blame her, she had nowhere to go. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2009, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-with-your-cat-when-you-go-away/484176/29 "2009-02-03T20:21:53Z")
I say 3 days without a sitter. They are fine for that long. Plenty of food, extra litter box, and as **WhyNot** sez “a bowl of water kept under the dripping bathtub faucet” ---
**Author:** ![Contrary](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/db5fbb/32.png) [@Contrary](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrary)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2009, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-with-your-cat-when-you-go-away/484176/30 "2009-02-03T20:52:39Z")
Unless you have a gorger and a nibbler. Actually I have one gorger and two nibblers so leaving them unattended means the gorger eats all the food on day one, throws it up and then everyone is miserable including me when I come home to dried puke We have a Cat Nanny. Gawd I love Boston. She nuttier about cats than I am and that’s saying something. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2009, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-with-your-cat-when-you-go-away/484176/31 "2009-02-03T21:02:30Z")
> [@Bridget\_Burke](#): > > Suggestion: If you’re going to get a cat, get two. Often, you can adopt 2 litter mates at once–although unrelated kittens adopted simultaneously will think they are related. They will keep themselves company while you’re gone–whether they’re alone, with a sitter or relaxing at kitty kamp. I’ll second this. Two cats isn’t much more work than one, and it’s nice for the cats to have some company if there are no humans at home during the day. Plus it’s fun to watch them play-fight and chase each other. The Neville kitties were roommates at the no-kill shelter where we got them, though they are not littermates. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2009, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-with-your-cat-when-you-go-away/484176/32 "2009-02-03T21:20:35Z")
We usually leave the cats at home and have someone come in to feed them and scoop the litter boxes every couple of days. But, on one occasion, we left our ailing cat Midnight at a kitty kennel. ---
**Author:** ![TroubleAgain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e480ec/32.png) [@TroubleAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroubleAgain)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2009, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-with-your-cat-when-you-go-away/484176/33 "2009-02-03T21:38:03Z")
I have two neighbors I love and we all switch out pet-sitting duties. Robbie (one cat) and Nancy (two dogs) trade back and forth, but if they’re both gone, I’m in charge. When I leave, Robbie takes care of mine (three cats, one dog, one lovebird.) **If you leave your kitties at home, folks, make sure you don’t have a Roomba scheduled to run while you’re gone. My boss did, and the Roomba pushed the bedroom door shut, trapping Gizmo in her bedroom with no food, water, or litterbox for at least 4 days. He did recover…** ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2009, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-with-your-cat-when-you-go-away/484176/34 "2009-02-03T21:43:27Z")
[quote] If you leave your kitties at home, folks, make sure you don’t have a Roomba scheduled to run while you’re gone. My boss did, and the Roomba pushed the bedroom door shut, trapping Gizmo in her bedroom with no food, water, or litterbox for at least 4 days. He did recover… [/quiote] Even Worse, this may happen: [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQ-jv8g1YVI) Seriously (and more likely), if you’re gfoing away and leaving windows even cracked open a little, be sure to brace the doors open with some sort of doorstop to prevent the doors from closing. Our cat Midnight was really smart for a cat, and knew how doors worked. As long as the latch hadn’t locked, she could still pull the door open and get out. But our current cat Hestia has no idea how doors work, and her idea is to always _push_ on them until they open. She’d be in bad shape if the wind or a Roomba shut the door. ---
**Author:** ![Risha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5fc32e/32.png) [@Risha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Risha)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2009, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-with-your-cat-when-you-go-away/484176/35 "2009-02-03T21:52:37Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Even Worse, this may happen: > > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQ-jv8g1YVI](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQ-jv8g1YVI) Or this: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTxW3GWZ5hI](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTxW3GWZ5hI) ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2009, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-with-your-cat-when-you-go-away/484176/36 "2009-02-04T03:35:56Z")
> [@Contrary](#): > > Unless you have a gorger and a nibbler. Actually I have one gorger and two nibblers so leaving them unattended means the gorger eats all the food on day one, throws it up and then everyone is miserable including me when I come home to dried puke\ We have a gorger and a grazer, too - I’m fairly sure that the huge amount of food left for a long weekend is gorged down by the gorger pretty quickly. Oh well - cats can live for a weekend without food with no problems (it’s all feast and famine in the wild for cats). Although without us around, they probably do nothing but sleep and wander over to the dish occasionally, so it might last a little longer. We only leave them alone for a long weekend, too. When we take a longer vacation, we know that the girls get lonely for human company in the house (reported by reliable sources). ---
**Author:** ![Mikkel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikkel/32/13151_2.png) [@Mikkel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mikkel)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2009, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-with-your-cat-when-you-go-away/484176/37 "2009-02-04T13:42:59Z")
If possible I bring it with me. It’s good in a car, just sit and look out the window or lie down to sleep in its transport box. I bring a litter box and it would never go anywhere else. If that isn’t possible I ask my daughter or one of my neighbours to feed it every day. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-with-your-cat-when-you-go-away/484176.md?page=1)