Summer is upon us! Like many of you, we’re thrilled to see things getting back to normal after years of quarantines and social distancing. It’s probably safe to say that a lot of you will be traveling this summer. While dogs love to accompany their people, well, everywhere, cats tend to be homebodies. In this article, a Georgetown, IN vet discusses leaving Fluffy home by herself.

Stimulation

Our feline buddies are for some reason collectively exhausted. However, Fluffy can’t spend all of her time snoozing. Your cute pet will need something to do. Just be sure to only leave safe toys out for her. Keep wand toys and anything with strings put away: you don’t want your furball getting entangled!

Lights

Are you going to be out after dark? Leave a light on for Fluffy. Nobody wants to be left sitting home alone in a dark, quiet house.

Background Noise

Leave a TV or radio on for your furry little buddy. The sound of music and voices can soothe Fluffy, and keep her from feeling lonely. You can even find programs made just for cats!

Companionship

Cats have a reputation for being aloof, but that really isn’t true. Kitties are actually really sociable, and form very strong bonds with their humans. (They also have some odd ways of showing affection, but that’s another topic.) Fluffy may get lonely if she spends too much time by herself! If you’re out a lot, and your furball is an only pet, you may want to get her a buddy. Of course, whether or not that’s a good idea ultimately depends on your feline friend, your household, and your budget. Think it over first.

Catsitters

If you’re only going away overnight, Fluffy will probably be fine, as long as she has climate control and plenty of food and water. However, if you’ll be gone for more than a day or so, have someone stop in and check on her.

Boarding

There are some situations when it’s going to be better to board Fluffy or have someone stay with her. Young kittens shouldn’t be left alone for long. You’ll also need to be careful with senior cats, as well as those that have medical issues. Please reach out with any questions or concerns about your cat’s health or care. As your Georgetown, IN animal clinic, we are here for you!