Bone and Joint Health

Although cats are known for their independence, if they are left alone for long periods of time, they can become unhappy. With our busy lives and lots of coming and going from home, it’s no surprise that concerned owners frequently ask themselves ‘how long can you leave a cat alone?’ Most felines will be perfectly content being left alone for the working day while you’re at work. However, longer or more frequent periods of time away, such as full days or nights away from home can be more disruptive. Your cat should not be left alone for long periods of time. It’s important to note that kittens and adult cats are different. Kittens need more regular care and contact, especially in the beginning and when they’re adjusting to their new home. Adult cats are much more self-sufficient during the day. Leaving your cat alone for one day If you’re planning to leave your cat at home for a short period of time such as while you go out to work, there are number of ways that you can make your absence less troubling for your pet. Firstly, make sure they have everything they need for the day such as bowls of fresh water around the house, some food to eat, a comfortable bed and a clean litter tray. Ensure the house is warm and they have plenty of space to move around – try not to shut them up in a single room. While you may not be around personally to entertain your cat, this doesn’t mean that your cat has to go without something to do for the whole day. You can keep your cat active by providing toys like a cat tree, a brain game or open cardboard boxes which can provide your cat with a daily dose of fun. To make them feel less alone, simply leaving the TV on for background noise or using a pheromone plug-in can help your cat to stay calm. If you believe being alone makes your cat anxious, it’s worth testing this to see if they are calmer when you return. How long can cats be left alone when I’m on holiday? It’s important that you don’t leave your cat on their own while you go on holiday for a number of reasons. Access to fresh water, food and companionship are just a few reasons why they shouldn’t be left alone for days on end.

Cats love sharing your home with you – for them, it’s somewhere familiar and comforting where they can feel safe, secure and relaxed. When you’re moving house with your cat, it’s bound to be disrupting, stressful and disorientating, for both of you! However, there are things you can do to help your cat keep calm during and after the move to help them feel comfortable in their new surroundings. In the build up to the big move, your home will start to feel unsettled for your feline friend; packing boxes, strangers wandering in and out, new scents and the emptying of once-familiar rooms can all add to their anxiety. If your cat is used to staying with some familiar friends of yours or in a cattery, it may be a good idea to have them stay there for a short break to spare them the stress. If you decide on a cattery, book well in advance and make sure all their vaccinations are up to date. Read our article on cat sitting and catteries for more helpful tips and advice. If you’d prefer to keep your cat with you during the move, set aside a quiet room in your old house and leave it untouched until the very last minute. Get them accustomed to that room about a week before you move by placing their bed, litter tray, toys, food and water bowls in there. It will soon feel like their home within a home, and allow them a haven away from the hustle and bustle in the rest of the house! "Once you’ve moved home with your cat you need to give them at least a week to get used to their new surroundings before you let them go outdoors."

Most cats are home lovers, so travelling anywhere else with them can make them stressed. Some journeys are unavoidable, so when travelling with cats it’s important to know how you can make your feline friend feel comfortable. We’ve put together some cat travel tips to help everything run smoothly. Cat car travel Knowing how to travel with cats in the car is the most useful place to start. If you’re confident and in control, and you understand how to keep your cat calm, the journey can be relatively stress-free for both of you.

As well as lots of love and attention, you’ll want to give your cat the best protection possible if they are lost or missing. By microchipping your cat, you’re giving them the best chance of being found and safely returned to you if they should wander off. Why microchip? There are all sorts of reasons why your cat might go missing. They might get spooked by something and run off, or maybe become disoriented or distracted in a new environment if, for example, you’ve just moved house. Of course, your cat may well be wearing a collar and an identification tag but these could get lost or removed, whereas a microchip will always stay safely in place. As well as helping to reunite you with your lost pet, a cat microchip can also help if you ever get into a dispute with anyone about who the animal’s rightful owner is. What is microchipping? Microchipping a cat is a simple and fast procedure that could help reunite you with your four-legged friend. If your cat is found, a vet or animal shelter can scan your cat’s embedded microchip to find your details, and your cat’s details, from the microchip database. It really is as simple as that!