Finally it’s that time of the year to go on a vacation. Planning a trip when you have a beloved feline companion requires careful consideration and preparation. The comfort of your cat is a top priority and with the right steps you can ensure to make it a safe experience for your cat. Cats feel the most secure in routine and familiar surroundings, so in this article we will explore how you can support that need.
So, How to plan a vacation around your cat?
You need to start with a detailed care plan around your cat. When choosing a cat sitter or a boarding house, you need to know months in advance, how long you will be away and how much you are willing to spend on ensuring your cat’s wellbeing while you are vacationing. Please don’t drop off your cat on your neighbour’s doorstep right before you board the plane! That’s a sure recipe for disaster. Neither you or your cat would have a peaceful experience if it’s a last-minute decision. Consider the options below to make sure your cat will have the best possible care.
Should you leave your cat alone when going on a vacation?
The first question that comes to mind is whether you should leave your cat alone at all. Cats can seem independent but they are social creatures. They are only solitary hunters, in the wild they tend to live in colonies and form deep social bonds with other cats or their owner. On average, cats start feeling distressed after being alone for more than 8 hours straight. Other than that, 2-3 days maximum, if you don’t have a self cleaning litter box and an automatic feeder/ water fountain.
If you have a very young kitten of less than 6 months old – forget it. You should not leave them alone for a day. Kittens require routine feeding multiple times a day and they can get distressed easier, resulting in smelly surprises when you come back.
Should you leave your cat alone at all? Factors to consider:
- Cat’s age – Is it a kitten, a senior or a special needs cat?
- Cat’s behaviour – Is the cat showing separation anxiety?
- Length of vacation – How long are you planning to be away?
- Your budget – How much should you spend on a cat sitter?
- Do you have enough cat food/ other necessities while on vacation?
Answering these questions for yourself is a great start when planning your vacation around your feline friend.
What’s the right care option for your cat?
When it comes to leaving your cat behind, you have several options to ensure they are well taken care of:
- Professional cat sitter: Hiring a professional cat sitter who visits your home can provide personalized care and attention in a familiar environment.
- Boarding facilities: Good quality pet hotels offer a safe and social environment for your cat. Many offer cameras and update you on your cat’s well-being. Kitty kindergarten!
- Trusted friends or family: Enlisting a reliable friend or family member to care for your cat is another option, especially if your cat is comfortable with them.
- Pet-friendly accommodations: If you plan to bring your cat along, research pet-friendly hotels or vacation rentals at your destination.
All of these options are valid. However we want to highlight that cats prefer to keep their routine and stay within their familiar environment. Ideally, hiring a cat sitter that can come to your home in the evenings and stay overnight, would be a great way to go about it. That way the cat gets the most out of their needs fulfilled. That way your cat will have the routine, they get fed 2x a day, a trusted person plays with them and keeps them company, and they stay within their familiar environment. We recommend familiarising your cat with the cat sitter a few times before they are left in their care.
Leave instructions for your cat sitter
Say you have a cat sitter or a family member that will stay with your cat or visit your home daily to take care of it. Verbal instructions may not be enough. We recommend to prepare a detailed list of instructions for your cat sitter. Ideally in paper and in digital form so they can always check it whenever they come in to care for your cat. Here are some things that are good to put on that list:
- How many times they should feed your cat
- At what time they should feed your cat
- How much food they should give to your cat
- How often they should change water for your cat
- How cat food needs to be given or prepared
- How often the litter box needs to be changed
- Emergency contacts and phone numbers
- Nearby vet clinics, phone numbers
- Instructions on your cat’s medication if relevant
- What your cat likes, treats, cat toys
No detail is too much when you want to ensure your cat’s safety and happiness. If you lay down your expectations, you can have a peace of mind that a professional cat sitter will follow them and your cat will be happy. If you usually feed your cat a block of pâté cat food, and you expect the cat sitter to break it with a spoon so that it’s easier for your senior cat to eat – on the list it goes!
What to do before you leave on vacation when you have a cat
It’s the day before the trip, packing is hectic and there are tons of things to take care of. Aside from making instructions for the cat caretaker, here is a list of things that are your responsibility as a cat owner to set up before you leave the house.
- Clean up your place before leaving the cat alone
- Leave enough food and water in multiple places
- Give your cat some toys
- Make sure the doors within the rooms stay open
- Clean the litter box
- Leave a spare key in case of emergency
- Optional: set up a cat camera
Clean your home
Even if it’s a short trip for a day, it’s crucial to ensure your home is a safe haven for your furry friend. Disconnect the appliances, store away shopping bags, tidy up any mess. Double check that your cat won’t jump out of the windows, by closing them. The only food left out in the room should be the cat’s food so that they don’t accidentally consume what they shouldn’t. Make sure your home is safe for your cat to roam freely before you leave for your adventures.
Cat entertainment
To make sure your cat won’t take out its boredom on your curtains, leave some cat toys for your cat. Make sure your cats have access to scratchers and their cat furniture. For those cats who love bird watching, leave a few blinds open and place the cat furniture next to the window. Place the toys strategically around your home, in places you know your cat likes to hang out in. Spraying some catnip on the toys could be a fun option.
Leave food and water for your cat
Before you leave the house, make sure you have more than enough dry food available for your cat. Extra kibbles won’t hurt! Place the food bowls some distance away from the water bowl. To ensure that if your cat is a messy eater, the kibble bits won’t fly into the water, spoiling it. You can have several food bowls around the house, just to be safe if they knock one over during the cat zoomies.
If your cat is a mega chonk and needs portion control, consider having an automatic feeder. Some automatic feeders even come with built-in ice packs, keeping wet food fresh for a day.
Speaking of hydration, a cat water fountain is a must. It keeps water filtered, encourages your feline friend to drink more, and prevents accidental spills – a win-win! Aside from the water fountain you could have water bowls in various spots of the house just in case.
Clean the litter box
It goes without saying – clean out the litter box before leaving the house. If you have multiple cats, consider adding an extra litter box or invest in a litter box that cleans itself automatically. It’s not fun to return home to a messy surprise due to a full litter box.
Hold the door! Don’t lock your cat out
Before you lock your front door: If your cat has access to multiple rooms within the house, make sure it doesn’t accidentally get locked out in one of the rooms due to a draft of wind. Get a doorstop or tie the doorknob to the wall. Or put something sturdy on the floor between the door and the frame to prevent it from shutting. The worst thing that could happen is your cat getting locked out in a room with no access to food, water or their litter box. Even if that never happened before, it’s best to be prepared in order to avoid it.
Accessibility in case of emergency
When you’re away for an extended period, make sure someone can enter your home if needed. Leave a spare key with someone you trust. While not mandatory for short trips, it’s wise to have a reliable person with a key for emergencies. If you’re uncertain about availability, stash a key outside (just make sure it’s easily locatable and secure) for peace of mind. In case of fire emergencies, put a sticker on your front door that you have pets inside.
Setting up a cat camera
This is optional but can be great. Even when you’ve prepared everything for your cat’s safety, it’s natural to worry about what your cat is up to alone. Installing a pet camera offers some peace of mind. Some cameras have a two-way audio and night vision, so you can chat with your pets and see their activities throughout the whole day!
Should you take your cat with you on vacation?
If you want your cat to join you on an adventure, there’s plenty of ways you can make that happen. Make sure you have the following items before you book a trip with your cat in hand:
- Vaccinations and documents issued by the vet
- Pet passport issued by the vet or the government
- Pet carrier that is spacious
- Cat food and water for the trip
- Food and water bowls
- Medication if needed
The best way to go about it is by first making sure your cat has all the right vaccinations, documents and a pet passport. It is often required when travelling even domestically on public transport. It is definitely required when travelling internationally. Your cat needs to be made comfortable with some prior travel. As it is a complex topic, check out our article on How to travel with your cat safely, to know what you should prepare if you are taking your cat along on your travels.
With this being said, you as the owner know your cat’s personality best and it is up to you to make the best decision for your feline friend. Leaving your cat home alone, even briefly, isn’t always easy, but with these precautions, you’re setting them up for comfort and safety. Your cat will be eagerly waiting for your return, and you’ll be reunited in no time!