I will be travelling out of town for 16 days soon and I do not know
what to with my almost 2 yr old cat. Although previously a family
member would keep him, this is now not possible as he was a very rude
and bratty house guest.
The option of boarding him at a kennel is not a very good one either.
My cat is  a one person cat who is very cuddly but ferociously
protective of me and his home. He cannot be left with strangers. The
last time he was to spend the night at the veterinarian, they phoned
me late that night to come and get him. He was hissing and spitting at
anyone that came near him !!
So, my last option is to simply leave him at home alone and have a
family member come by every two days to feed, water and play with him.
My only concern with this would be worrying about him being lonely. I
know cats are usually pretty independent but not my little guy.
So, I guess my question is, do you think that my cat would be safer
and happier, being left alone in his own home, with someone coming in
every two days as opposed to boarding him out to strangers?

Thanks!!!

Hi steph53...

I'm not sure I can add to the collective wisdom of the comments
already posted here by those who are 'owned-by-cats', but I'll
do what I can.


My own owner, Beauty, is 20-something, and I've found that the
older they get, the more attached they are to your presence. 
Your kitty is yet young enough to tolerate your absence and 
get over it without lasting trauma, and I would encourage you
to do so even if the trip was not necessary, simply to teach
him that this can and will occur. Weekend trips are a good 
introduction to this, and while it might have been advantageous
to arrange several of these prior to such an extended trip,
it won't kill him to learn it this way.


Also be aware that animals can sense your thoughts at a great
distance, and that your cat will recognize that you are thinking
of him with affection if you take the time to do so, and this
will greatly ameliorate your actual physical absence.

Rupert Sheldrake, author of 'Seven Experiments That Could Change
The World', documented evidence (which I saw on a PBS special)
that dogs would respond at the precise instant that their owners
conceived the thought of returning home, by, e.g., going to the
front window and waiting for their arrival. This was documented
by simultaneous videos of the dog and the owner, and to eliminate
the factor of 'normal routine', the owner was accompanied by a
researcher whose job it was to choose the moment (unknown to the
dog's owner) when the owner should go home. At the very instant
that the researcher informs the owner that 'it is time', and
the owner rises to leave, the dog is shown getting up from his 
favorite daytime spot and going to the window, where he sits
vigilantly until the owner actually arrives.

You can learn more about this experiment on Rupert's site:
http://www.sheldrake.org/experiments/pets/

Aimee Morgana, with Dr Sheldrake's support, conducted a related
videotaped research project, involving a parrot named N'kisi,
who would voice remarkably and statistically significant statements
in response to pictures viewed by her owner, Aimee:

"For example, in one image of a car, the driver's head was sticking
 out of the car window. Just as Aimee noticed this unusual detail,
 N'kisi said "Uh-oh, careful, you put your head out."
http://www.sheldrake.org/nkisi/

My own kitty once demonstrated this psychic ability.
I had recently visited at my mom's place, where she had
demonstrated how her cat would 'fetch' a marble rolled on the 
carpet, and bring it back to her. When I told friends about 
this, they noted that only a neurotic cat would perform such
a lowly and dog-like stunt. Still, it was impressive. 
So, one lazy Saturday morning, I was still laying in bed and
my Beauty came into the room, obviously in a playful mood.
I quickly made one of her favorite toys, a cigarette package,
removed from the cellophane, rolled into a tight ball, and
re-inserted into the cellophane, which is twisted tightly
(this results in a toy which crackles with the slightest touch
and is highly recommended for the delight of the average cat).
I threw the toy, and she ran excitedly after it, batting and 
nosing it, and delighting in the feel and noise of it. Then,
as usual, she stopped, waiting by it until I would come and
get it and throw it again. Eventually I did, and returned to
the bed, crinkling it in my hand and enticing her, while 
thinking with great clarity and IMAGERY "You know, my mom's
cat will actually retrieve her toy, and bring it back to her.
How come you can't do that for me, just once, so I don't have
to get back out of bed in order to throw it for you again".
Then I threw it. Much to my astonishment, she batted it around
for a bit, and then gingerly picked it up in her mouth and 
brought it to the bedside, waiting for me to throw it again,
which I did. She never brought it to me again, thus proving
to her and myself that she was NOT as neurotic as my mom's 
cat.


I also concur with the value of having a neighbor or family
member initiate contact and be around for feeding time prior
to the actual trip, as well as the value of having them visit
twice a day in your absence, if possible, preferably around
normal feeding times. The importance of keeping the water
supply fresh cannot be over-emphasized!


I was a little surprised by owain-ga's comment about 'letting
out for...toilet', since most cats I know are provided with 
indoor facilities, but then they do make the rules, don't they?


As for territoriality and companions, I would agree that, if you 
can introduce a companion at some point (if not in time for this
trip), it will make life more interesting and fun for your owner,
and make trips like this more tolerable for him. However, if your
cat's like mine (she attacked her own kittens when they received
more of my attention than she did), this may not work. The younger
you can introduce a companion the better. Mine would just hiss and
growl at any intruder into her space, and never moved beyond these
'hissy-fits'. And cats are VERY territorial, so moving him from his 
home environment is the worst thing you can do. This is what causes
them such 'hide-under-the-bed' depression when you move to a new
location.


Excellent suggestions for incremental feeding have already been given,
and the suggestion to leave a radio or television on are also very
recommended. They even have videos for cats now, don'tcha know -
bugs, birds, fish, etc. for them to gaze and swat at!! Perhaps
your petsitter can rewind and start a videotape when they visit.
http://videoforcats.com/
http://kittyshow.com/
http://www.catgift.com/


And, finally, although owain-ga mentioned the possibility that he
might be huffy upon your return, no one has yet mentioned that he
might also express his displeasure by making 'deposits' on things
you favor. This is a very real possibility, and I recommend closing
all closet doors and putting layers of plastic and newspaper on
your bed and in other sensitive areas!!! In 16 days time, your little
angel could well decide that this is war, and while pre-emptive
strikes are not so common with animals as they seem to be with humans,
you would be wise to adopt the duct-and-cover defenses to some degree.


Please do not rate this answer until you are satisfied that
the answer cannot be improved upon by means of a dialog
established through the "Request for Clarification" process.

sublime1-ga


Searches done, via AllTheWeb (Google was down):

seven experiments that could change the world
http://www.alltheweb.com/search?cat=web&cs=iso-8859-1&q=seven+experiments+that+could+change+the+world&_sb_lang=en

videos for cats
http://www.alltheweb.com/search?cat=web&cs=iso-8859-1&q=videos+for+cats&_sb_lang=en

Thanks Sublime1...
Your answer has convinced me to leave kitty home. He is VERY
territorial and cannot tolerate changes...
In response to your Rupert Sheldrake special on PBS : well my owner
knows EXACTLY the time I am leaving and returning... he positions
himself accordingly with no break in his routine... more doggy in him
than kitty I guess...
Another thing with him is that yes, he seems to come to me without my
"calling" him...seems to sense when I need his soft furry purring
body.. I read once that cats have amazing psychic abilities...I am NOW
convinced.
I did leave him alone for 4 days mid Feb with same kind of arrangement
and he was fine. Kinda looked at me with " where ya been " eyes
though. Thats what prompted this post.
Websearcher... thanks for your comment. I agree!
Pink...My Albert is the same way so I will start arrangements for home
visits.
Missy... thanks... but he hates any other animals. My son came over
with his Dalmation once and my cat chased the dog until she cowered
under my couch..lol
Owain... my kitty a strictly indoor puss...but yes we have a  morning
& evening ritual whereby he jumps in my lap to have his treats
...Pounce here..
And yes he is 1/3 Siamese!!!!!!!!!!! LOL how did you guess?

Hi steph53:

Just my 2 cents worth - being a cat owner...I think your cat would be
better off at home alone. If you can find someone to come in every day
to feed/play, then that would be better than every 2 days.

websearcher-ga

My mother and stepfather have a cat named Emmy who loves them, and
tolerates a few other humans, but dislikes strangers to the point of
biting.

When my mom and stepdad go on vacation, they leave Emmy in her own
home, where trusted friends come to feed her, water her, and change
her litter pan.

If I were the cat, that's what I would want.

Hi Steph!

I'm not Sublime, but I'm owned by two cats - Schiller, age 15 and
Bailey, age 3.  My little kitty-faces would never tolerate being
boarded out (they'd be brats, it would upset their routines) and would
likely *eat* anyone that dared intrude in their territory if I weren't
home.

Cats, being independent creatures and creatures of habit, typically do
just fine on their own.  If you're going to be gone for 16 days,
you'll need to ensure that your owner (because let's face it, we don't
own our felines, they own us!) has ample food and water.  You can buy
"self feeder" kits at most pet supply shops that will hold up to a
three week supply of food and water.

Since your owner isn't very independent (yet!  Give him time!), I must
concur that if you can get a family member to come in to play with him
every day, that would be terrific.  Alternatively, you can leave a
radio on for him, or even set the TV on a timer to keep him
entertained.  Many cats like the motion and sound created by a TV.

You might consider getting him a companion in the future.  Although
Schiller tolerated extended absences on his own very well, he was
considerably happier about it once I got him a friend to play with. 
(Not to mention, two snuggly kitties are highly entertaining to watch
at play.)

Good luck!

--Missy

I think your cat would be happiest at home. Cats form a strong bond
with their territory and location and don't like being moved - and its
obvious that your cat *really* doesn't like being away from home!
However, every two days is simply insufficient to have someone call.
He will need food and water morning and evening (and letting out for
exercise/toilet) as well as checking that he is okay. Perhaps
neighbours would be willing to share morning and evening shifts? Or
there is another cat owner near you who would look after yours this
time, and you return the favour when necessary? Have them feed him a
couple of times while you're there so he recognises them as a friend -
especially as you say he is fiercely territorial. (He isn't a Siamese
is he?) It's also good for security to have people you trust in the
house frequently.

Your cat will miss you lots, of course. But cats don't have the same
concept of time that humans have. He won't know it's sixteen days that
you're away, he'll simply find it a little strange for the first
couple of days that you don't come home from work at the normal time
or whatever, but as long as he's fed and comfortable he'll be a bit
puzzled that something's strange but will probably settle down to his
own routine. Make sure he has all his favourite toys to play with, and
if the neighbours can sit and watch one of his favourite tv programmes
with him to keep his daily routine, so much the better.

When you come back he will either be all over you with affection, or
extrememly huffy that you have left him for so long and do the
abandoned pussy guilt act demanding fresh cod fillets (or whatever his
treat is). But you will be friends again and he won't suffer long-term
trauma.

I have friends whose cat has adapted well to cattery holidays, but she
was acclimatised to this from youth. She still tries the 'demanding
guilt presents' to maximum effect though! I house-visited for another
cat who refused to acknowledge me when I spoke to her, until I
realised that she was raised in a Welsh-speaking household and spoke
Welsh to her, then she was friendly.

Hope you can make suitable arrangements for your puss.

Owain

I guessed because my cat of 18½ years was one-quarter Siamese and oh
did it show at times!

Owain