When holiday time comes around – or if you just need to leave your kitten for a few days – you’ll need to think about the best way to take care of her while you’re away.
For most cat parents, their precious ball of fur is no less than their own child. So, when it comes to leaving their little feline munchkin in the house to go out for business or leisure trips, it completely breaks their hearts. In addition, cat parents are also continuously concerned about the safety and well-being of their dearest fur baby, and leave no stone unturned to make sure that their fur kiddo stays protected and happy during their absence. New cat parents might find leaving their furry felines at home all the more difficult as they are continuously faced with questions about cat sitting while they are away. Although saying goodbye to your adorable furball never gets easy, this quick guide is for new cat parents, familiarising them with some effective ways of taking care of their kitties when away.
Cat sitting has emerged as one of the most popular and convenient ways for cat parents to look after their cats while they are away. Cat sitting generally involves a commissioned service for a trained individual to be present at your house while you are away, and is responsible for looking after your cat. Cat sitting services are convenient because they ensure that your fur baby gets to stay in their home. Most cat sitters are available for drop-in services as well as for overnight stays. Drop-in visits generally refer to services when the cat sitter visits the house for an agreed-upon time to feed and interact with the cat. Overnight services refer to those where the trained professional cat watcher stays at the house for the entire duration of the cat owner's absence, making sure their precious furball is hale and hearty.
As convenient as cat-sitting services are, they are extremely expensive. Even drop-in services can pinch your pockets hard. If you are planning to be away for a long period of time, one of the most affordable yet safe options is to look into pet-sitting arrangements with your family and friends. It is not just cost-effective, but since your cat is likely to be accustomed to the presence of your close friends and family members, it might have an easier time with them being around. Cats often take their time opening up to new people, and the familiar face of your family and friends can help them feel comforted when they miss you. Close friends and family members are best suited for the role of a cat watcher as they are also likely to know about your kitty's preferences too and hence can help to avoid stressing them out.
Catteries are establishments specifically designed for feline boarding. Communal catteries have become much-favoured options for cat parents as they also offer shelter to other cats. So, at communal catteries, your kitty can play, mingle, and interact with other cats. Since most cats are not always comfortable with the idea of shifting to a new location, communal catteries can help reduce stress because of the presence of other cats. Communal catteries are also budget-friendly and provide all the services required by cats during their stay. However, if you send your feline buddy to a cattery while you are away, it is crucial to take all the necessary precautions beforehand like getting them vaccinated and having them checked by a professional veterinarian afterwards to ensure they have not caught any contagious feline disease.
If you need to be away from your fur baby for a few hours, such as for work every day, you can monitor your feline with a cat camera while you are away. In addition to allowing cat parents to be able to see their cat at all times, cat cameras are excellent for surveillance purposes, making sure your home is perfectly secure in your absence. Cam for cats is also available embedded in collars, which allow you to monitor your kitty 24/7 and view the world through their eyes. Pet camera can also be programmed with several quality-of-life features, which make it considerably easier for you to interact with your feline munchkin while away from home. The most favoured features that come with the latest cat camera models include motion detection, night vision, audio alerts with two-way speakers, treat dispensers and interactive laser toys to keep your kitty stimulated.
Every time you are away from home, it is most likely that your fur baby misses you. However, cats are also wonderful foodies and food is one of the best ways to alleviate their stress while you are away. Cats love a variety in their everyday meal, so you can always keep their favourite cat food and treats stored at home where they can be easily accessed to make sure they are well fed. Opting for automatic cat food dispensers that let out cat food in controlled portions for your kitty to feast on is a great way of making sure they are sufficiently fed till you return.
Cats need to drink sufficient amounts of water to keep up their well-being. But since cats and water don’t really get along, cat parents frequently worry if their feline buddy is well hydrated. Furthermore, the water your kitty drinks need to be replaced every once in a while, to avoid the risks of contamination, and might prove to be a difficult task for cat parents to stay away from their dearest munchkin. So, investing in an automatic water dispenser is a wise idea if you are planning to leave your cat alone at home. Automatic water dispensers pour out sufficient amounts of water for your cat to drink after a set interval of time It also automatically drains and replenishes the water bowl to make sure your cat is hydrated and has easy access to fresh water at all times.
To ensure your fur buddy stays healthy while you are away, you can opt for a cattery or cat-sitting service. Also, remember to take the necessary measures to make sure they are well-fed and hydrated while you are away.
While it is not recommended, you can leave your fur kiddo for 2-3 days alone at home without any supervision. Just make sure there are sufficient food, fresh water, and litter tray with enough litter available at their disposal.
Cats are territorial and independent, but they are also incredibly affectionate and loving and miss their loved ones in their absence. So, you do not have to worry about your cat forgetting you when left alone for a few days.
