Cat lovers know that cats can become deeply attached to their human parents. When a cat’s human is gone for long periods of time, the cat can experience separation anxiety much like some dogs experience it. Signs of separation anxiety in a cat include excessive vocalization, destructive scratching or chewing, and inappropriate elimination. A cat that is boarded while the owner is gone is subjected to the added stress of being in a strange environment. Some cat breeds and individual cats are more prone to suffering from separation anxiety and the stress of a change in its routine.
One of the best ways to minimize the stress on your cat while you are away is to hire a professional cat sitter.
What Does Cat Sitting Entail?
A reputable cat sitter will come to your home and take care of your cat. Cats take comfort in their daily routine and having a reliable cat sitter will minimize the stress on your cat (and you). You can arrange to have a cat sitter come at certain times of the day and provide the following services:
Fresh Food and Water
Your cat is likely on a feeding schedule, whether once, twice or three times each day. Some cats have special dietary needs also. Whatever feeding schedule or diet your cat is accustomed to, a cat sitter can ensure that your cat stays on schedule while you are gone. The cat’s feeding routine will not be disrupted when you are gone. Also, the cat sitter can clean feeding dishes, provide fresh water and note any problems with the cat’s appetite.
Administer Medications and Emergency First Aid
If your cat needs medications of any sort, a professional cat sitter will be able to administer them. Some cats need allergy pills, antibiotics, insulin shots, thyroid medications, or other medications each day at specific times.
Professional cat sitters such as the cat sitters at Paw Pals are trained on how to give cats their medications, the signs of illness and how to administer first aid.
Clean Litter Box Daily
As noted earlier, one sign of separation anxiety in a cat is not using the litter box properly. One way to encourage your cat to keep using the litter box is to make sure it gets cleaned daily. Many cats dislike using a foul-smelling litter box, and keeping it fresh and clean will help make it comfortable for your cat to keep using during your absence. The added bonus is your house will not reek of a stinky litter box when you return home.
Grooming
Grooming is important to your cat’s health. Cats groom themselves to keep their skin and coat healthy. They also do it to comfort themselves when they feel afraid, to relieve tension, or when uncertain how to react to a situation.
In addition, cats groom each other. When a cat’s human grooms the cat, it expresses comfort and companionship in the mind of the cat. For instance, when a cat grooms its owner by licking the owner’s hair or arms, the cat is expressing its trust and affection. If your cat sitter takes a little time to brush your cat, the cat sees it as mutual grooming and feels comforted by it.
Attention and Love While You’re Away
Along the same lines as grooming, your cat may want to sit on your cat sitter’s lap or cuddle while the cat sitter scratches the cat’s head or neck. Not all cats are friendly towards strangers, but many are. Some cats just need a little time to get comfortable before they will accept being handled by a stranger. Cats who miss their absent humans are much more likely to accept attention from strangers in the safety and security of their own environment.
The professional cat sitters at Paw Pals understand cat behaviors, and they know how to entice a lonely cat into accepting a stranger’s kindness. On the other hand, if your cat is one that will not accept a stranger’s attention, the cat sitter will respect the cat’s need to keep its distance.
Play Time
Cats like to spend most of their days sleeping. When they are awake, however, they need to spend some time playing. In the wild, they hunt. Domestic cats for the most part do not need to hunt to survive. Playtime is the way they get the mental stimulation and exercise they need for good health. Play will also distract your cat from missing you and help it rest with less anxiety.
Work with the Licensed Cat Sitting Professionals at Paw Pals
As a cat parent, give your cat the best care you can. Work with the trained cat sitting professionals at Paw Pals to arrange for cat care while you are away. Whether you must leave your cat alone while you travel or while you are away at work, you know you can entrust your cat’s care to Paw Pals. Contact them for more information about their cat sitting services.
