Post by erasmus666 on Oct 15, 2014 12:37:00 GMT
Some advice on the following would be most welcome.
I've a 7-year old tom who's going to be left on his own from 7th November until 25th November whilst I'm on a cruise for a much needed holiday. I've got someone coming in morning and night to feed him and make sure his physical well-being is ok. However, my concerns are these: This is the first time ever that he's been on his own for any length of time. He and his mother were acquired by my ex and me whilst both were young cats. After I kicked my wife out two and half years ago there was just me, him and his mom. Sadly, mom died of cancer several months ago and since then my tom and I seem to have bonded to a degree which I never expected. True, he's on his own all day whilst I'm at work but at night he's very used to sleeping with me on the bed (he has 75% of it, I have the rest). I'm concerned about how he will cope mentally with the enforced lack of not only human contact but primarily contact with me. What's the likelihood of him getting stressed out thinking that I've abandoned him? Maybe I'm worrying unnecessarily but unless I know that he's ok I'll be worrying about him whilst I'm away . The vets have suggested that I keep him in whilst I'm away in case he "decides to do a runner" and also because the local feline bullies won't take over the place and do their usual trick of going through every room in the house looking for food after I've left for work (I've tried locking the cat flap but they either break the door into pieces (I've got through 4 in as many years) OR they simply push the flap out of its fitting). I've got Feliway diffuser plug-ins throughout the house so hopefully these will help calm him. Some would say I'm worrying unnecessarily but my vets have told me that I'm an extremely caring cat owner who's as much concerned for their cat's emotional and mental health as well as their physical and I want the VERY best for him.
Many thanks for reading this (sorry it's so long!). I look forward to receiving your comments in due course
Kind regards
Michael
I've a 7-year old tom who's going to be left on his own from 7th November until 25th November whilst I'm on a cruise for a much needed holiday. I've got someone coming in morning and night to feed him and make sure his physical well-being is ok. However, my concerns are these: This is the first time ever that he's been on his own for any length of time. He and his mother were acquired by my ex and me whilst both were young cats. After I kicked my wife out two and half years ago there was just me, him and his mom. Sadly, mom died of cancer several months ago and since then my tom and I seem to have bonded to a degree which I never expected. True, he's on his own all day whilst I'm at work but at night he's very used to sleeping with me on the bed (he has 75% of it, I have the rest). I'm concerned about how he will cope mentally with the enforced lack of not only human contact but primarily contact with me. What's the likelihood of him getting stressed out thinking that I've abandoned him? Maybe I'm worrying unnecessarily but unless I know that he's ok I'll be worrying about him whilst I'm away . The vets have suggested that I keep him in whilst I'm away in case he "decides to do a runner" and also because the local feline bullies won't take over the place and do their usual trick of going through every room in the house looking for food after I've left for work (I've tried locking the cat flap but they either break the door into pieces (I've got through 4 in as many years) OR they simply push the flap out of its fitting). I've got Feliway diffuser plug-ins throughout the house so hopefully these will help calm him. Some would say I'm worrying unnecessarily but my vets have told me that I'm an extremely caring cat owner who's as much concerned for their cat's emotional and mental health as well as their physical and I want the VERY best for him.
Many thanks for reading this (sorry it's so long!). I look forward to receiving your comments in due course
Kind regards
Michael