Question
Whenever I go on vacation I leave my 1-year-old cat with my friend, who also has a cat. My cat and his cat HATE each other, and I was wondering if I can leave my cat alone at home. I plan to be gone for multiple weeks.
Is he old enough to stay home alone?
How long can he stay alone?
How much food would I need to leave with him?
Should I ask a neighbor/friend to come over to check on him, and if so, how frequently?
Answer
It's not really about age once they get past 6 months, and it depends on him.
If he's the reclusive sort that doesn't want or expect a lot of attention, you can have a friend come over daily to make sure he's got food and water and a little play time, and tend to the litter box as it needs it. It's good to have feeding systems that store enough for a couple of days no matter what, you never know when something might come up.
If he craves attention and actively seeks it, you probably don't want to leave him at home alone for a protracted amount of time, or no longer than twice the length of time you'd normally be gone. That could be quite a bit of stress on him, and that can lead to undesirable things. He'll need a couple visits each day you're away.
If you don't have a friend that you trust with a key, consider a good cat kennel where he'll have plenty of room and opportunity to interact and play with people. Just check them out first, the best ones are those that come recommended by other cat owners you know.
Answered By - Tim Post