Conference misery::feline_v1

    	I leave Copy alone for weekends and long weekends at times.
    The first time, I had a super affectionate cat and then a pouting
    cat upon my return.  A few more times and it was just a bit of extra
    affection.   Now it's 'Oh, you're home.' and he goes about his cat
    business.  He has a cat door so he doesn't get bored or closed up
    inside.  Your having two should also prevent boredom.  - Chris

    The only time I had a problem with leaving the guys home alone was
    one weekend when one of them ran out the door right as we were leaving.
    We ended up having to leave food and water outside for him, so the
    other was inside by himself.  He got bored and completely shredded
    one couch.  The times I've left them together-no problem.
    
    -Mary
    

    
    
    I always leave my two alone for weekends.  Like you said, just
    leave extra food and stuff for your kids.  The only thing I noticed
    different was (again) extra affection or totally being ignored.
    (not to mention my some plants mysteriously on the floor and 
    dirt everywhere) I guess they make me pay.... ;^>
    
    Katie
     

    Just to clarify...I'm talking four days here...And my cats are
    indoor only.  
    
    Thanks for your replies!
    

    I've left Aja alone for 4 days. No problem. I gave her a big pile
    of dry food, a fresh bowl of water, and left the bathroom faucet
    dripping a little. (That's her second favorite source of water.)
    
    She was none the worse for wear upon my arrival, although all the
    beer was gone...
    
    Edd

    I've left 11 for 3 days - and will do so this coming weekend
    because of the show in Boston.  I leave 4 or 5 cans of wet
    food, 2 huge bowls of dry, 3 or 4 bowls of water - guess
    it depends on how many kids you are leaving.  I leave a
    radio playing softly in one room and make sure that there
    is a quiet room.  The living room lamp is on a timer -
    set to go on at about the time I usually turn in on and
    to go off at my usual bedtime.  It's not my favorite 
    thing to do, but it works.
    
    E.T.

    I couldn't do this with mine - they would eat four days' food in
    one.  
    
    If I leave them overnight, a neighbour comes in and feeds them night
    and morning.  Longer than that, and they go to the cattery.  But
    mine are indoor/outdoor cats (with a cat door), and I don't like
    them running around outside completely unsupervised, just in case.
    
    Helen.

    
    I have the same problem as Helen, my two would eat everything all
    at once - even when I tell them not to!!!!
    
    I always get my sister or a neighbour to feed them on a daily basis
    if we are going away and I too feel very uncomfortable about letting
    them play outside if I am away and no-one is there to check if they
    are ok - it's bad enough when I am at work all day - I think I worry
    too much.
    
    
    Sharon
    

         My parents and I left my old cat, Tigger, for three weeks while
    we were in Norway.  We left lots of food, 6 or 7 litterboxes and
    plenty of water.  He probably ate all the food in the first week
    too, but by then he would have been able to live off the fat for
    the rest of the time!  He talked for two days straight when we came
    home (Siamese), but was fine otherwise.
      
         I certainly wouldn't, now, leave my pets for that long, but
    we have left the threesome for almost a week when my father passed
    away and we had to go to North Dakota.  Leave a little wet food,
    lots of dry (dry won't spoil, though cats won't eat spoiled food
    anyway), plenty of water and maybe an extra litterbox, just in case.
    Your kids should be fine (all of mine have been indoor-only).
    
                                      - Andrea
    

    I had to leave my five for five days once. I left a heap of dried
    food; filled two water dispensers, plus filled the tub with just
    enought water that the could get in and drink but not get their
    feet wet (they have a fit when that happens!) put down four litterboxes
    and put bowls of dried food in each ones "special hangout" as well.
    They were fine when we got home - well, they were miffed but got
    over it in a bit.
    fran
    

    
    
    Re: .5  Edd
    
    No beer when you got home?????  What a bummer!  Dazdee and Whicket
    perfer wine over beer.  I just end up leaving the cheap stuff for
    them and bring some Chardoney back home for me  (OK - I share  :^>)
    
    I'm gonna have to remember leaving the faucet dripping......  I'm
    leaving for vacation in a week........ (4 days in NYC - I'll miss
    the kitties, but I can't WAIT!  Of course I'll bring them some
    souvenirs..... An I {heart} NYC outta do  :^>)
    
    Katie
    

    Thanks for all your replies!  I tried to put out the extra litter
    box, but Schnapps doesn't seem to use it effectively...She is used
    to a Budda Box, and peed over the top of the generic kind.  So instead,
    I just put lots of litter into the Budda Box.
    
    As for food, I always leave plenty when I go away for just a weekend,
    and still find plenty when I return...I'll leave 3 bowls of dry
    (that's all they eat), and 4 bowls of water.
    
    I just think they'll be lonely, that's all...Oh heck, that's why
    I got the second kitty, isn't it?

    I've left Schnitzel alone before for 4 days....my neighbor will
    feed her but is not fond enough of cats to give affections.  What
    I do to help is set the clock radio alarm.....Schnitz seems to
    "survive" better when I do this as to when I forget.....she still
    "yells" at me when I get home, but then she forgives me!
    
    P.
    

    re .12  What is a 'Budda Box'?  I have a great problem with Megan
    using her litter box with her fanny hanging over the side.  Currently
    she has a high-sided box, but she still manages to 'miss'.  I've
    tried a covered box.  No luck - she gets in, digs around, and then
    sticks her rear out the opening.  I'd be interested in anything
    that might solve the problem.  Right now I keep a large tray under
    her box, but that's not always possible when we travel.
    
    Leslie

    After caring for six cats this past fourth of July weekend, I don't
    believe that cats should be left alone for any longer than overnight.
    The reason I say this is because on the second day when I went to my
    friend's house to feed her two cats, they had managed to spill all
    of their water and tipped the placemat over so that it was on top
    of their food dishes and stuck into the moist food.  The litter
    box, which was located in close proximity to the food, was full
    to the brim with cat poop and litter was kicked everywhere, including
    into the food dishes.  Now - maybe I was babysitting for a couple
    of neurotic cats; however, I was all ready to go ahead and tell
    my friend to leave her babies alone for four days.  I'm sure glad
    I changed my mind!
    
    Just my two cents worth,
    
    /Roberta
    
      

    I agree that if the water sources get clobbered, the cats are in
    trouble.  However, it's not the cats' fault the litter box is close
    to the food, and if it was full to the brim with cat poop after
    two days, the owner had neglected to clean it before she left.
    

    
    
    I've found it's best to use heavy bowls for water - placing them
    in various places and rooms (kitchen counter, etc.) - use
    food pans or bowls that can't be tipped - maybe obtain a
    litter box (larger than usual with 20 pounds of litter or
    more depending upon the number of cats) for away weekends.
    Cats don't like eating and pooping in the same area - these
    should be separated. There are also water feeders with
    liter soda bottles attached that can be purchased for a small
    amount - you just screw a liter soda bottle into the base
    of it - and a similar feeder for dry food that can't be
    tipped.
    
    The 13 that I left this weekend for 3 days made out ok - they
    inhaled the 4lbs of IAMS that I left and hardly snacked on the
    5 cans of canned (their usual food) - drank lots of the 3 large
    bowls of water from downstairs and lots of the 4 large bowls
    from upstairs on the counter.  IAMS does make cats drink more!
    Yurii looks like he is pregnant!  Boy, does he love that IAMS!
    They left me lots of presents in the 40 lbs. of litter - but
    there was still room for more (lucky me!).
    
    I don't like leaving them, but I have no family within 60 or 70 miles
    and am new to the area that I live in and don't know very many
    people there yet. I think there is a young girl on my street that
    likes cats and babysits (14 years old) - I am contemplating asking
    her if she will come over each day to at least give them fresh water.
    I made the mistake of placing the dry food too close to one or two
    of the water bowls and there was one piece of dry stuff floating
    around - make the water yukkie for them.  Placing their litter
    pan in the bath tub also helps cut down on the mess (if you use
    a small box).
    
    
    

    RE: the last few.  
    
    This is why, when I leave for work in the morning, I leave the bathtub
    faucet dripping a bit.  they will always have fresh water that way.
    
    Holly
    
    

    My method for finding a cat sitter is this:
    
    Call your vet's office and ask to speak to their AHT (Animal Health
    Technician) and ask him/her if they would like to make a few bucks
    over the weekend.  Since licensed AHT's have had extensive training,
    you don't have to worry about your babies getting sick and the sitter
    not knowing what to do.  Also, most AHT's don't make as much money
    as they should (considering they do *alot* of the work, and most
    of the dirty work) so they can use the supplemental income.  Added
    plus, they can get your cat into the vet in a hurry if there is
    a problem (professional courtesy to the AHT).
    
    I pay my cat sitter $10.00 a day if she comes twice a day and $5.00
    if she comes once.  If I am leaving Friday night and coming home
    on Sunday night, I have her come twice on Saturday and once on Sunday
    and then pay her $15.00.
    
    I used to have friends and family take care of my cats but it never
    seemed to work out very well.  Since we live out in the boonies
    (30 miles south of San Jose) they would have to stay at the house.
    I came home once to find out that several people other than the
    cat sitter had also stayed at our place for a week.  And it is always
    a hassle for family members to drive all the way to our place.
    
    Jo