Here’s How Long Your Cat Can Actually Be Left Alone
Dora Zett/Shutterstock By Shana Aborn/Nov. 3, 2021 12:09 pm EST
We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. One out of every four American households currently owns a cat, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association – which adds up to more than 58 million pet felines in all. Anyone who’s ever shared their home with a cat will tell you that they really are a purr-fect (yep, we went there) companion. They’re less noisy and messy than dogs (apart from the occasional hairball), but just as affectionate. They don’t need to be walked, and their exercise can be done indoors. They can even be trained to do tricks, as long as you keep the treats coming.
Cat owners also appreciate their pets’ rep for being independent. Unlike dogs, most cats don’t need to be near their people at every waking moment. But that same independent nature also perpetuates one of the biggest myths about cats: that they can be left on their own for hours — or even days — at a time. That assumption is inaccurate, at best, and at its worst, can be dangerous. Leaving your adult cat at home while you work a regular eight to 10 hour day is generally considered safe, according to Rover. Young kittens are a different story. Cats four months and younger shouldn’t be left alone for more than four hours at a stretch, per MyPet; only at the six-month mark can you reasonably leave them on their own for a longer chunk of the day. Even then, you may want to restrict them to a kitten-proofed room with their food, water, and litter box.
Here’s How Long Your Cat Can Actually Be Left Alone
Dora Zett/Shutterstock
By Shana Aborn/Nov. 3, 2021 12:09 pm EST
We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. One out of every four American households currently owns a cat, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association – which adds up to more than 58 million pet felines in all. Anyone who’s ever shared their home with a cat will tell you that they really are a purr-fect (yep, we went there) companion. They’re less noisy and messy than dogs (apart from the occasional hairball), but just as affectionate. They don’t need to be walked, and their exercise can be done indoors. They can even be trained to do tricks, as long as you keep the treats coming.
Cat owners also appreciate their pets’ rep for being independent. Unlike dogs, most cats don’t need to be near their people at every waking moment. But that same independent nature also perpetuates one of the biggest myths about cats: that they can be left on their own for hours — or even days — at a time. That assumption is inaccurate, at best, and at its worst, can be dangerous. Leaving your adult cat at home while you work a regular eight to 10 hour day is generally considered safe, according to Rover. Young kittens are a different story. Cats four months and younger shouldn’t be left alone for more than four hours at a stretch, per MyPet; only at the six-month mark can you reasonably leave them on their own for a longer chunk of the day. Even then, you may want to restrict them to a kitten-proofed room with their food, water, and litter box.
We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.
Cat owners also appreciate their pets’ rep for being independent. Unlike dogs, most cats don’t need to be near their people at every waking moment. But that same independent nature also perpetuates one of the biggest myths about cats: that they can be left on their own for hours — or even days — at a time. That assumption is inaccurate, at best, and at its worst, can be dangerous.
Leaving your adult cat at home while you work a regular eight to 10 hour day is generally considered safe, according to Rover. Young kittens are a different story. Cats four months and younger shouldn’t be left alone for more than four hours at a stretch, per MyPet; only at the six-month mark can you reasonably leave them on their own for a longer chunk of the day. Even then, you may want to restrict them to a kitten-proofed room with their food, water, and litter box.
If you’re vacationing, your cat will need some company
Still, food is only one of the things your cat needs to be truly content. Even if your fur baby seems aloof when you’re home, they still need human interaction and comfort, and can actually suffer separation anxiety when their people are away for too long (via Hill’s Pet). Leaving your cat unsupervised for too long can also put them at risk for illness or injury from falls, choking hazards, or temperature extremes. To ensure your cat’s mental and physical health, hire a trusted cat sitter to drop in once or twice a day while you’re gone. They can check on your pet’s food, water and litter, make sure there are no obvious hazards around, and give your cat some playtime, a brushing session, or just some company to reassure them that everything will be okay until you come back home.
