My cat has gone off the deep end!

[Thorn]

We used to have my parents look in on the cats when we were gone. They're great people and treat the cats well, but..uh...my cats are of that one-person type. When we came home, they'd be hiding for a day or more.

A few years ago we found the ultimate cat sitter. She's a gem. The cats love her. She brings them toys and catnip. When we get home, the cats are no longer hiding--it is more of a "Darn! You're here again? Can't you send the sitter, instead?"

We also try to get away every month or so for a weekend. We have the sitter come over even though it is only a day or two just to keep a familiarity. An animal behviourist said that this would help with their anxiety. It seems to have work.

[jandmw]

A friend of mine had a cat like this, except she would go nuts after 12 hours only. She had to be put on some kind of kitty valium for a bit. I am not sure what is funnier, cats on valium or cat nip!

[sbctwin]

I spoiled my little fur friends. I had the "Animal Nanny" come in to tend to Kallie when we were gone. The 'animal nanny' would do just about anything for your pets. I also have bird feeders and he would fill them and fill my bird baths. I would be afraid to leave my little girl home alone. I would leave her overnight, but that was rare. If I didn't need benefits, I would seriously consider becoming an 'animal nanny'.

[Tuckervill]

My mom has a cat that wouldn't come near me, because I was the one who traumatized it by rescuing it from the middle of the street when it was a wee kitten (It bit me, but I forgave it. It would not forgive me, though.)

When Mom would go out of town, she'd ask me to come in and check on the cat. A few times I never saw it, but I scooped and fed and watered. Then Mom went on a much longer trip, and I didn't go for about 3 days into the trip. THIS time the cat was lonely and came out at least to show me its face. The next time I came, it came and rubbed against my leg and let me pet her. Now when I go there she comes out to greet me. They can change.

Karen

[smilingcat]

professional pet sitters, relative or friend who adores cats are in order.

Next best thing is to board your kitty. but this sounds like it won't do with your baby. Cats need their familiar sourrounding. Boarding place isn't one of them.

Suprisingly, lot of cats are quite social. They need social interaction and stimulation. Have someone drop in at-least once a day for half an hour to feed, change water bowl, clean box and play. Water bowl should be changed (preferably) everyday. Dirty water can cause cats to get zits on their chin. And unclean litterbox can cause cats, both male and female, to get UTI. And we all know how uncomfortable that is.

Get a referral from your vet on pet sitters.
Smilingcat

[teigyr]

When I used to watch a friends cat, I would stop by and watch TV. She (my friend) would leave me a bottle of wine and I'd plan to spend an hour or so just hanging at the house. That kept me from rushing in to feed the cat then immediately leaving -- I'd sit and give her a lap to sit on. I figured it was as much normalcy as I could provide! I would even lie down on the couch so the cat could curl up and having someone to sleep with a bit.

Loved that cat

[mimitabby]

Suprisingly, lot of cats are quite social. They need social interaction and stimulation.
Smilingcat

no surprise here. Cats are great company, great buddies. and are very social!

[Tuckervill]

Both of my adult sons have become unintended cat aficionados, to my surprise They each have 3 cats. My eldest son was just telling me the other day something he read about cats. He said there's a theory that cats are always in some kind of mother/child relationship with their humans...that sometimes they're the kitten, and sometimes we are. I don't know how a cat "mothers" really, but I definitely see them acting like kittens and I'm their mother.

Karen

[suzieqtwa]

6 days is much to long to leave a cat alone. Don't you have a neighbor ,or friend who can come check on them. They do have pet sitters ,who come , and spend about 1/2 hour with them. When I leave mine alone for 2 days they tear the place apart.

[Ninabike]

We would leave our two previous cats alone for 3 days when we went to Catalina Island. When we came back, one would go crazy that we were home; the other would just give us a "dirty look" and go back to sleep. That was the cat we locked in the bathroom by accident once for a whole day and when we came home, she just looked up and then went back right back to sleep - in the bathroom. We haven't left our two cunnent cats alone yet. They are quite sensitive. I tell my DH we should board them, but he says that would be more traumatic than if we left them in their own environment with pleanty of food and litter boxes. We haven't decided yet, but our cats pretty much control our lives.

[RolliePollie]

Whew...Miss Claudia seems to be back to normal. Sleeping on her back with her head on the pillow, carrying her "mousie" all around the house, drinking my orange juice this morning, and getting into everything...yup, she's ok now. Poor thing. I guess I really traumatized her

I grew up with outdoor pets, and leaving them home alone for a week or more was just what we did. They never seemed to notice we were gone. But inside pets definitely have a closer relationship with their "mommies." Evidently Claudia is getting more needy as she gets older. At any rate, I won't torture her like this again. Next time I go away, she's getting a cat-sitter!

[RoadRaven]

Ummm... just another thought here... the cat - the one who couldn't care less about you getting home - no chance that cat turns into a mini-dictator when you are not home? You know, "clean a space in the cat-box for me" "bring a nibble from the feeder, I'm too tired to walk" "wipe the toilet seat before I go drink from the bowl"...

No chance fluffy cat is so pleased to see you back because shes sick of being ordered around?

(You know, the way older siblings do to younger ones when parents aren't about)

[jeannierides]

My daughter and family have gone on vacation. I have the "honor" of keeping Junior the Cat while they are gone...

[Tuckervill]

Cutie pie.

I put a lot of empty baskets around my house up high on shelves. The cats love them. None of them sleep in the sink, though.

Karen

[Ninabike]

That's so funny Road Raven. The cat who could care less, "Baby", was the dominant of the two, even though she only weighed half as much. The other one "Sissy", looked exactly like Jeannierides "sink cat", right down to the black spot on her chin.