WHAT TO DO WITH YOUR CAT WHILE YOU ARE AWAY?

If one could sum up five things that are most important to your cat, they would probably be:

• You (their owner),
• Their home environment,
• Their food and water,
• Their security,
• A predictable routine

The question that then needs to be asked is whether, when you’re away, it is in your cat’s interest to deny him those other value-aspects, as well, by placing him in a cattery, or leave him at home in his familiar environment? Catteries may not like the answer.

Quick Links to Page Contents:

• The Solitary Cat
• Anxiety, Boredeom, & External Threats
• Hiring a Cat Carer
• Cat Boarding
• Short vs Long Stays

THE SOLITARY CAT:

So, how does your cat spend its day? If he wasn’t snuggled up asleep beside you overnight, your first sighting of him would probably be in the morning as you step into the kitchen and he comes trotting in after you with a vocal greeting and castigation that his breakfast was not yet prepared. Once having eaten, and were he an outdoor cat, he would then most likely saunter outside (inclement weather notwithstanding) to patrol some of his familiar haunts, before finding a comfy and familiar spot to laze away the morning. He may poke his head in at midday to see if you’re about, but then hurry back out to repeat his ritual from the morning. Dinner time, and he will come back calling, if you haven’t already taken steps to summons him. And then depending on his age and prey-drive, he may disappear back outside at dusk to scout around for dessert or lie in with you as you yourself settle down in front of the TV or computer.

And then chances are that the next day he will do it all over again.

An indoor cat would probably follow a similar routine, except that their patrol routes and nesting spots would be located inside the home. The point of this is to say that your cat has an established routine, and it is very much built around his environment. The other important thing to note is that for much of the day your cat will spend it alone, and that what little social interactions he does engage in will be with those with whom he shares his home or that he sees on a daily basis.

ANXIETY, BOREDOM, & EXTERNAL THREATS:

Cats can suffer from stress when their basic needs are not met or when something in their environment is either lacking or negatively impacting upon them, and these need to be factored in when considering what to do with your cat while you are away. In certain instances, dealing with the issue so that your cat may remain in its home environment would be preferable than adding to that stress by taking him to a cattery but in other respects the latter may prove the wiser course of action.

Before we consider these possible stress points and how they might inform your decision, it is worth considering how to spot whether your cat is feeling at ease in his territory.

Anxiety can be expressed in many forms and have a range of causes: From separation anxiety in cats that have become too attached to their owners, territorial anxiety brought on by either direct or indirect conflicts with other cats in the neighbourhood or from within the same household, and illness or old age, where the cat is in pain or feeling unwell, or is suffering an age-related disability, including general cognitive decline.

On first thought it might seem the sensible approach to board such an anxious cat. After all, does your cat not deserve a holiday away from its daily stresses, just as you embark on your holiday to do the same? The short answer is no. For the cat that is suffering from separation anxiety, the upset he will feel from your absence will now be compounded by his separation from his territory, with all its security and positive associations. For the cat that may be feeling anxious about other cats in the neighbourhood, while that feeling may be temporarily ameliorated, the return from the cattery will have that problem compounded, as the cat will not have had the opportunity in that time to maintain his scent even within a tiny pocket of that territory, and he will now feel even more isolated than before. And for that cat suffering from ill-health or cognitive decline, the disorientation of being removed from his familiar haunts and nesting spots may in fact hasten the progress of any pre-existing condition.

The best solution would be for an anxious cat to remain at home, ideally with a cat carer or someone who could check in on him regularly while you were away. It would also be advisable that an effort be made to reduce anxiety before your going away.

For the cat that suffers separation anxiety, it would be worth getting him used to your absence for short periods of time each day. By keeping your cat indoors as you step out of the house for only a few minutes, making no fuss of him as you leave nor upon your return, and then gradually extending that time alone, you will be able to wean him off his over-dependence on you.

For the cat that suffers territorial anxiety, efforts should be made to make him feel more secure within his home. Initially it may require keeping him indoors, even with some curtains drawn should his anxiety be caused by other roaming cats he may spy through the window. By taking a rubbing of his scent and then transferring it around the house – on furniture and surfaces around his head height – you will help him to rebuild his confidence in his own space. You may then want to consider keeping him indoors while you are away, after which you will have the time to rebuild his confidence outdoors upon your return.

An unwell or elderly cat suffering from Cognitive Dysfuction Syndrome would equally not benefit from a stay at a cattery. A cat suffering cognitive decline is especially in need of maintaining his preferred routine, for to disrupt that would exacerbate his condition and create even greater anxiety. Here, though, a cat carer or a family member or friend who could check in on the cat at least two or three times during the day would be recommended. Ensure that his food, water, and litter tray are all easily accessible, and limit access to areas, such as the bathroom, where your cat need not go while granting access to areas he may want to relax, such as your bedroom.

Another reason an owner might consider boarding their cat is fear of boredom, but few would wish to replace that boredom with stress. Rather than change your cat’s environment, why not fill that space with distractions, such as toys and puzzle feeders that may keep your cat entertained? By hiring a carer to visit your cat on a daily basis, you will be providing plenty of opportunity for them to spend some quality time with your cat, interacting with the toys and reseeding the feeder to keep your cat engaged while you are away.

Depending on where your home environment is located, there may be a number of external threats to your cat, from road traffic to neighbouring cats and even predators, such as foxes. You may be concerned that with your absence your cat may roam further and for longer, which might bring him into danger with any one of these threats. If you are concerned, then keeping him indoors for the duration that you are away would be a far better option than removing him entirely from his territory, but be sure to introduce this restriction gradually. A month before you are due to leave, consider keeping him indoors overnight before letting him out the following morning, extending that period by letting him out later and calling him back in sooner over the course of the following weeks. This will give your cat time to adapt to being indoors, finding nesting spots inside, and perhaps even adapting to having his litter tray being brought into the home if it were normally kept outside.

HIRING A CAT CARER:

Regardless of whether your cat is anxious, bored, or threatened, nor if you are even only going away for a day or two, we would strongly recommend that for the time that you are away a carer be brought in or a family member or friend be present to provide for your cat and ensure all is well. This may involve them housesitting for you at the same time or simply popping in once or twice during the day to see that all is well.

Of course, it would be preferable that the person involved is someone with whom your cat is familiar, but if you are hiring a carer that has not had the opportunity to meet your cat we would recommend that they do so before you head off. This will not only give them the chance to meet and interact with your cat while you are present but also provide you the opportunity to go through important information regarding your cat that the carer should know, as well as provide them with a set of keys.

The ideal cat care candidate should have at least a basic understanding of feline behaviour, to know when and when not to approach a cat, as well as to be able to spot any sign of abnormal behaviour for a cat of a certain age. If your cat is unwell or elderly, it would be recommended that the carer have some means of transporting your cat to the local vet, in case of an emergency.

If a friend or family member is simply dropping in to check on your cat, they should do so at least twice a day – once in the morning and evening – to replenish food bowls, provide fresh water, clean out the litter tray, and give your cat at least half an hour of social interaction, which can amount to play or simply petting.

CAT BOARDING:

So why, then, are there catteries, or, more to the point, when should you ever consider using one?

If you are unable to find a suitable and reliable candidate to house sit or visit your cat on a daily basis, you may have no choice but to board your cat, especially if you are planning to be away for an extended period or if your cat requires constant supervision.

If this is the case, then what factors should you consider when selecting a cattery and what questions should you ask before you make a booking?

• Does the room in which your cat will be housed provide ample space, as well as ramps and elevated perches?
• Does the room contain a mix of sunshine and shade, so that your cat may bask in the sun as well as cool down under cover?
• Does the room contain a scratching post, not only for your cat to transmit its scent but as a necessary grooming aid?
• Are you allowed to bring your own preferred food for your cat, or if not, what food does the shelter provide? Bear in mind that cats are notoriously fussy eaters, and so there is the risk that something that is not familiar to their palate may go uneaten. If the food is complete and nutritious, perhaps purchase some and gradually wean your cat over to it prior to their stay.
• Is there a veterinary surgeon on-site, or if not, what is the cattery‘s policy should a veterinary surgeon be required?
• Is the cattery licensed and fully insured?
• What is the cattery‘s vaccination policy, and does your cat’s current level of vaccination meet those criteria?
• What are the staffing levels at the cattery? Will the same member of staff be responsible for your cat throughout the duration of its stay, or will that change on a daily basis?

Even if your cat comes from a mixed species household and gets on well with dogs, you should nevertheless consider only those boarding establishments that cater solely for cats. Even those kennels that house each in separate areas cannot prevent the constant transmission of barking from the dog enclosures into the cattery, and for a cat to be constantly exposed to that sound in what would already be unfamiliar territory would simply be an additional stress on its system.

SHORT vs LONG STAYS:

If you are planning to use a cattery on a regular basis for your times away from home, it is advisable that its first stay be a short one of no more than a day or two. Under no circumstance should your cat have his first experience of a cattery last as long as a week or more.

Judge how your cat is doing at each pick-up and at any point that you feel there is an issue have a conversation with the staff or carer. If the matter is not dealt with satisfactorily, then simply look elsewhere or reconsider keeping your cat at home.

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