Leaving Food for Cats While on Vacation

The Catnip Times

Long three-day weekends are the puuurfect getaway for cat owners, especially because cats are often stereotyped as “independent”, and some people adopt cats because “they can take care of themselves.” But, this isn’t true! Our kitties depend on us for food, shelter, medical care and love! Whether you’re planning to hit the slopes or seek the sun, take time to plan how your cat will be fed and cared for while you are away!

Oftentimes, people will say that they are going on vacation and leaving their cat(s) at home with “plenty of food and water.” The truth is cat owners have no idea how their cat(s) behave and/or how they feel while their owners are away. Many cats have deep attachments to their humans and will become depressed or stressed when the owner’s schedule changes. Whether an owner’s absence is just for a day – or an extended period of time – the cat is sure to notice.

Binge Eating & Stress

One owner who went on vacation for a week proudly exclaimed that she got home “just in time” as her cat had just finished the food that she left out for him. Unfortunately, her cat may have finished the food three days ago. Some cats have been known to binge eat when they’re stressed. So leaving 7 days’ worth of food may ultimately be consumed in a day or two. And if that happens, the cat will go hungry for days and the owner would never know.

The best solution is to have a pet sitter or trusted person stop by the home at least daily to make sure the cat(s) have plenty of food and fresh water. A pet sitter will also ensure that the cats’ litter boxes are clean. Cats that are left to contend with dirty litter boxes may decide to go somewhere else in the house that is cleaner than their litter box (the floor, the plant, your favorite rug, etc).

So how much food should I leave out?

The answer is, cat owners shouldn’t leave their cat alone for an extended period (more than a day) unless the owner knows definitively that their cat isn’t going to get stressed and eat all their food in one day. If there are multiple cats in the house, one cat may end up eating all the food and the others will not get their share.

What about automatic feeders?

If for whatever reason it isn’t possible to have someone stop by daily, it is a good idea to invest in automatic feeders and a water fountain. With multiple cats, this option is not perfect, but better than the risks that come with just leaving days of food out and available to binge eat.

Ultimately, having a pet sitter or trusted person stop-by is the best way to ensure that your kitty has fresh food and water each day. It also provides peace of mind that should your curious cat get into any trouble or become sick while you’re away, they will have an advocate to help them.