We all like to take a holiday from time to time but if you are a cat owner it can present some problems. What do you do with your cat whilst you are away? With most holidays it would not be practical to take your pet with you so what are the alternatives. Although some cats are quite happy to go to a cattery in my experience most would prefer to remain in their own home.
Unlike a dog, cats do not need to be taken for a walk or need any other special treatment. Providing that they get a regular supply of food and water will manage perfectly well. However, cats can become bored especially if they are unable to leave the house in which case it is a good idea to leave some of the curtains open so that they can sit in the window and watch the world pass by. If they are playful animals you should leave their toys readily accessible. Another important point especially if the cat is going to be house bound then make sure their scratching post is left out for them unless you want to come back and find your furniture and upholstery ruined.
Cats that have access to the great outdoors, thanks to a cat flap should have few problems if left. You are going to need a relative or a neighbour who is prepared to come in regularly to feed and water the cat and to attend to its litter tray if necessary. It is important to make sure that you leave them enough of the appropriate food and possibly some of the cats favourite treats.
If you do not have any relatives, friends or neighbours who can keep an eye on your cat then another alternative is to employ the services of a cat sitter. This can be someone who moves in whilst you are away purely to look after your pet. This is possibly the best option but it is the most expensive. These days there are also cat sitting services which will visit your house once or twice a day to feed and check up on your cat and these can be quite good If you are using the services of a cat sitter or service it is a good idea to see if you can talk to someone who has used the service before to get a recommendation.
I am not really lonely
Providing that you observe this simple rules you will return from your holiday to find that your cat will have hardly missed you. However, if it anything like mine it will sulk for a day or two after you get back just to make a point.
How can you tell when your cat is sick? It is not an easy question to answer because your pet cannot tell you when it is unwell. However, there are signs that you should be on the look out for. In addition you should regularly check out your cat for signs of scratches or abscesses. This can be done whilst you are playing or stroking your cat.
One of the surest signs that a cat is not well is if it shows significant changes in behaviour. For instance a cat that is a good eater suddenly goes off its food. There are several reasons for this and the first thing you should do is examine your cat’s teeth. It might be that it has a piece of bone has lodged in the teeth or a tartar build up on the teeth that is causing toothache. Another reason your cat may be off its food is if it get a blocked nose and loses its power of smell. Cats are reluctant to eat if they cannot smell their food and this could be a sign of cat flu.
Cats like some humans like to be alone when they are not well and if your cat suddenly starts hiding away this should be a warning for you to check it out. You should give your cat a physical check for signs of injuries and look at the eyes and ears for signs of other problems.
Cats that go out doors can often get involved in fights and sustain scratches which can either turn septic of develop into abscesses. These can be extremely painful and although hidden by fur can be detected by gentle stroking. These will need some vetinary treatment.
Bleeding from any orifice should be treated as a serious matter and professional advice sought as soon as possible. Equally so vomiting should also be taken as a sign that your cat is not well although you should be careful not to confuse vomiting with your cat bringing up a hairball. This is perfectly natural, especially with long haired cats.
There are two final points on this subject, the first is that if you have any doubt in your mind as to whether your cat is sick or not then take it for vet advice as soon as possible. Secondly the cost of vetinary treatment is rising all the time and it makes sense for all pet owners to insure their pets for such treatments.
The relationship between a cat and its owner can be a very close one and many believe that their cat understands every word they speak. That may or may not be true but it is definitely true that your cat is perfectly capable of letting you know exactly what it want.
This is particularly true in the case of food, a cat will let you know that is s hungry simply by parading up down near where its food bowls are normally placed. If this fails to alert you a series of meows will soon make you aware. If you do not have a cat flap fitted a scratching on the door is the indication that the cat wants to be let out or let in as the case may be.
Your cat will have several different Meows which will mean different things. A short sharp meow is a kind of Hi, greeting, its good to see you now give me a stroke. A more prolonged meow is usually an indication of the fact that they want something. It could be to be let out, have some food or have its litter box cleaned. The only way you can find out what exactly it wants is to follow it and see where it leads.
A cat that rolls around on the floor is telling you one thing, it wants is to play and it needs you to join in. Sniffing around and climbing up on to two legs means that it is curious or it is looking for that mouse it put down somewhere and cannot find.
If your cat is not well it will often lie around listlessly or go into a corner out of the way. In this case you need to give a physical check to see if you can discover what is wrong. If you are at all concerned seek professional advice.
Another good indicator of a cat’s mood is its tail. An upright perpendicular tail will have a happy cat at the other end of it. A wagging tail going from side to side means that you have got one angry feline and something has upset it.
Cats have an inborn belief which has been proved time after time that the sole purpose of the human race is to look after a cats needs. This has been true since the time the Egyptians worshipped cats as Gods and nothing has changed over the centauries.
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