How long can I leave my cat alone?

Since a person adopts a mascot he acquires responsibilities such as taking care of his new friend’s health, attending to his physical needs, and spending more quality time to promote healthy coexistence at home. If the bond is healthy, animals that come into a home will feel safe, experts say.

The bone cats they are also pets that need the affection of their human friends. If one of these cats is separated from their owner for a day, they may experience anxiety about the experience, according to the study “Identifying Separation-Related Problems in Domestic Cats,” published in April 2020. by Juiz de Fora University, Brazil. .

There are helpful tips for people who spend a large part of the day away from home. One of the most effective practices is establishing a mealtime routine. Here we tell you what else you can do to let your cat without affecting your emotions.

Mikel Delgado, animal behaviorist and contributor to Feline spirits, an American consultant specializing in feline behavior, explains that a person should never leave their cat alone for more than 24 hours. These animals have needs emotional which people often ignore because they are considered independent pets compared to dogs.

Although it seems like these cats are solitary pets or shun contact with humans, there is evidence that they need the same attention as other pets. The study Identifying Separation Problems in Domestic Catspublished in April 2020 by Juiz de Fora University, Brazil, concluded that one in 10 cats suffer from anxiety for separation.

The study also clarifies that they explicitly suffer when a family leaves the house and they are left alone for long periods, in particular a maximum of three days. A period that experts in feline behavior prefer to reduce to less than a day. The most common advice is to care for and watch a cat every 12 hours.

In addition to the repercussions that a cat may suffer from emotional for being alone, there are negative consequences for humans who share a home with him. The Guide for Responsible Pet Owners, published in June 2019 by the National Autonomous University of Mexicowarns that these cats may develop behaviors aggressive to the people.

The same document explains that human contact helps a cat to socialize with other people. When interrupted for long periods of time, these animals tend to forget how to live with others. They might even attack if they sense someone is ignoring their coexistence boundaries.

Some people, for professional and personal reasons, are forced to leave their homes for long periods of time. In such cases, it is impossible to leave the animals alone with enough food and water. A cat You might perceive the experience as traumatic, but there are a few tricks to lessen the negative emotional impact.

Animal behaviorist Mikel Delgado has identified a few practices that help improve tolerance for loneliness. The first piece of advice concerns routine. If a person must spend a large part of the day away from home, it is advisable to always feed your feline friend at At the same time. This way, the stress that cats feel when someone interrupts their habits is avoided.

Another useful information that the expert mentions is the use of the same lotion or personal hygiene products. Cats are hypersensitive to smell, this sense helps them identify their human companions. Therefore, the peculiar smell of a person close to these animals helps them to feel in a safe environment.

Finally, the animal behaviorist mentions that the best option is to hire a cat sitter. When a person resorts to this solution, it will be necessary to establish a gradual introduction so that trust is established and familiarity with the new member of the social circle.

How often a sitter should visit a cat may vary depending on availability. Delgado advises that the ideal is one or twice a day. Meetings should be long and full of interaction so that the animal has a good attitude when left alone with its new friend.

Continue reading: