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I don't agree that she will enjoy her people free time and she might very well get a little lonely, and her routine will still be disrupted, so there may still be some stress.
Cats like routine and they like their people to come and go as they normally would.
But that is far better for her than a week of stress and fear that she would feel living in a strange house with a strange person. Cats are very attached to territory. It is always better for them (except as someone mentioned, a young kitten) to leave them in their home, all their smells around them, with someone coming in to care for them and provide company, if they want it.
I don't know what you mean by "old," but our 19 year old has some dementia and would be very confused if left at a new place. I voted for keeping the kitty at home.
We take a long trip every year (5 weeks). I am lucky to have someone who will come to the house the everyday (he is the person we got Josette from). He works around the corner from the house and comes on his lunch break. He is also kind of enough to take Electra (who is 18 & 1/2) to the vet twice a week for fluids. I also have my cleaning woman come in once a week and she is kind enough to change the catboxes so my catsitter doesn't have to. Yes, I feel guilty about leaving them for so long but I do it for my husband.
Do you think an old cat would be happiest boarding at a stranger's home for a little over a week, or would a kitty prefer staying home and having someone visit them once a day for 1/2 hour?
I already picked an option for my kitty, but wondered if there's a general consensus.
They’re ALWAYS happier in their own familiar home
I don't agree that she will enjoy her people free time and she might very well get a little lonely, and her routine will still be disrupted, so there may still be some stress.
Cats like routine and they like their people to come and go as they normally would.
But that is far better for her than a week of stress and fear that she would feel living in a strange house with a strange person. Cats are very attached to territory. It is always better for them (except as someone mentioned, a young kitten) to leave them in their home, all their smells around them, with someone coming in to care for them and provide company, if they want it.
I agree; I'm not getting this "cats don't get bored or lonely" line at all! Of course being left at home is the lesser of the two evils if the alternative is uprooting it to an entirely new and strange environment, but sitting in an empty house alone for 23 1/2 hours a day is hardly ideal. My own cat has become withdrawn and depressed just from losing his feline companion. They are very sentient -- and very sensitive -- creatures. Personally, I won't travel as long as I have pets, but very few pet owners let that stop them, I've noticed...
We take a long trip every year (5 weeks). I am lucky to have someone who will come to the house the everyday (he is the person we got Josette from). He works around the corner from the house and comes on his lunch break. He is also kind of enough to take Electra (who is 18 & 1/2) to the vet twice a week for fluids. I also have my cleaning woman come in once a week and she is kind enough to change the catboxes so my catsitter doesn't have to. Yes, I feel guilty about leaving them for so long but I do it for my husband.
Cat
My cats would be very unhappy with only a weekly cat litter clean up.
My husband argues that she'll feel lonesome and bored...
Doubtful. But even if she is a bit bored or lonesome, that's much better than being stressed (which can affect her health).
Quote:
Originally Posted by Threestep2
She will enjoy her people free time and might consider letting you back into her good graces once you grovel a bit after your return. Please it is considerable less stress on her to be at home the to have to adjust to new surroundings just to be sent home in a week.
The amount of effort you will have to make to get back into her good graces, totally depends on how long you were away. Be advised they can be little Drama Queens when they think they're being neglected by their staff.
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