For the first time this Christmas I left my cat alone for a longer period: 13 days.
She's used to spending a weekend on her own, every now and then, and I had someone coming by every day (a professional pet sitter and my neighbour in turns).
However, halfway through my vacation, the other neighbour called me at 8 o'clock in the morning, to tell me that the cat is constantly meowing and is obviously sad. When I returned I saw that the cat is fine, as its nanny had already assured me; however, the first neighbour, who paid her visits, said that the other one even screamed "shut up!" on one of the days.

The vet said the cat is ok and that I shouldn't bother, but I have no intention of annoying the others, particularly since we help each other on various occasions.
However, I'll leave again in April for 10 days...

I was thinking of asking the neighbour to be patient, as the cat might get used to a longer absence. But will it be the case? Can I do something to help it?

Fyi, most of my friends are allergic and catteries are quite expensive. Plus I'd rather avoid moving the cat around too much...
Also, the cat is 10 months old and I've had her for 2 months. She's a very loving cat, needy, playful, we sleep together and she obviously enjoys my company. Whether I'm knitting, on the phone, cooking, eating... she's there!
She's very healthy and sterilised. She started crying after 4 days alone, and then each time her visitors left.

My... car?... Kept... Meowing?...

The thread title scared me for a bit...

Hi there,

Sorry, your title had me really worried that you left the cat in the car over your holidays

Since cost is an issue obviously, have you no good friends that could take the cat for a week or two? I guess he would not be able to go outside for the duration, for fear of going walkabout/back home, but may be less stressful than being left alone at home...

I know, it's one of the downsides of being abroad, no family/friends to give you a hand when needed... there may be one or two lovely (cat) souls on the forum that may put you in the right direction though, check the pet section..

Heheheh, sorry, I corrected the title! =)
I've been following the pet section, although I haven't been that active. Like I said, most of my friends (or their partners) are allergic, but I do have 1-2 people I might be able to leave the cat with. Unless they choose to be away at the same time as me...

I'm wondering if it's worth trying to leave the cat alone again (as the vet also suggested) during my next trip, which is also shorter... just to give her a chance to get used to it. She'll also be older then... and *if* that doesn't work, I'll opt for friends...

Argh, I can't concentrate on work, it's been bothering me too much!

Is this an Asian cat? They can be pretty "meowy." Does it also meow when you are home as well?
My male cat meows at nights. It's the strangest thing because he meows ONLY when he is playing with any kind of an orange toy. It's the colour that sets him off apparently.

Hi, Sagitta,
It is a calico cat, an ex-stray I adopted in my native country, Greece. I know she's been through a lot: a friend found her, trapped in a car's engine, then some months later my parents took her to our place in Athens, and since November she's been living with me in Lausanne.
Plus, a bit more than a month after moving here, I suddenly disappear.

She only whined while I was away, as they told me... she's not a meowy cat, other than that. But she'll also demand I go back when she hears me in the staircase, whenever I go straight to my neighbour's place, if there's something to discuss. And she really is a soprano, indeed...!

Maybe she is bored? How about getting another cat to keep each other company?

Γεια! Yes, I think she was very bored... which was unexpected, since apart from the visits, she can look outside many windows, and either observe the neighbour's dog, or stare at people walking in and out of the supermarket across the street, etc. The apartment was filled with toys, too...!

I am however a bit hesitant whether I should get another cat, as it's the first time I'm the only owner and carer of a pet, and it's only been 2.5 months... Plus, not all cats get along with each other, which makes it risky. Or at least that's what I've been told!

I have three and they get along fine. I also left them alone for long periods and everything was fine. My friend who was taking care of them said they were just fine

If she's only 10 months old and you've only had her for 2 months and you were gone for 2 out of those 8 weeks...the cat probably is lonely and maybe a little scared while you're gone so long. But in time maybe she'll get used to it.

Why do you have to be gone for such long periods? Do you have any control over that?

Well, it was Christmas... and my other trip in April has been planned since October; I'll certainly be better prepared in the future. But I had been assured by professionals and cat-owners that leaving the cat alone for a couple of weeks would be no problem.

I'm also hoping that her problem was what you wrote: being left without me, not too long after I adopted her.

Believe me, I was too stressed about leaving her behind during the entire period between the adoption and my trip...

Pets, noise, and neighbors make living in a flat difficult; all the more so here where the standard of quiet expected is quite a bit higher than in other countries.

The problem with leaving a pet alone, or with having someone pop by for a short period each day, is that you have no come-back should your neighbor make further complaints. If there isn't someone around most of the time, you can't prove that the noise isn't excessive.

I understand not wanting to leave a cat in a Tierheim, or move the cat out of her familiar environment - and I certainly understand that as expats we often don't have a circle of local friends that we can call on for help... but that leaves really only two solutions:

The Pet Sitting Network - try to hook up with someone via that thread to exchange pet care, if you are able to care for someone else's pet in return.

Or, why not pay someone to stay with your cat in your flat? Yes, it will be expensive - but in the long run probably cheaper, especially in terms of your sanity - than dealing with the fall-out from a neighborhood noise war. Plus your kitty will be happier having someone around all day.

There just might be some EFers who are looking to get into the pet care business... why not put an ad in the Market Place section?

Good Luck!

Might this help

If you keep your cat indoors it WILL get bored and lonely if left alone for longer periods of time - they are social animals that need stimuli and interaction! I'm sure it will be much happier with a buddy, as long as you can find one that it will get along with...and it won't cost you much time or money to care for a second cat...

My heart breaks for lone cats. Two cats will look after each other nicely.

Unless you are home a lot and your cat is specifically a loner, as in, hates other cats, you should not keep a cat alone in an apartment. Every vet will tell you that, every respectable breeder will refuse to give you a cat if it would be its own unless it is one of those unusual cats that can't stand other cats. I wouldn't have the heart to leave my cats without company for such a long time and they have each other to play with. If you saved her from nasty things, you are her focus, her safe place. Imagine the thing that keeps you safe is suddenly gone and you are alone again, with strangers popping by briefly, how would you feel?

Yes, she is lonely anbd probably scared. She's only just got you and is beginning to feel secure and then suddenly you disappear for days and days. A weekend is probably not long enough for her to start feeling anxious, but 13 days is a very long time to leave any cat on their own with only short visits from others. And she's probably feeling a bit bored too. It would be best if a friend could take her in or you could get someone to catsit your cat and flat for you while you're away. If this is possible try to arrange a few trial runs so your cat can get used to the idea.

A second cat might be a good option in the future, but as you say you're a new owner I think it would be best to concentrate on one for the moment and maybe think about a second when you and your cat have been together for a while.

Is there any way to make your planned April trip shorter so you could get back to her sooner?

Depending on the breed of your cat, leaving him alone for periods of time (working time, trips of several days) may lead to serious behavioral problems with the kittie in the long run. You are yet in a good position to find soon a solution as he is only 10 months. As mention getting another cat of same breed and age will be a solution, but at the same time a great responsibility as you seem to have just adopted your cat.

I advise you to get one of those books talking about cats and behaviour and bad habbits caused by the education or lack of it received from the owner, it may help you to understand better your cat.

All the best to you and your little cat.

If they don't kill each other.

Tom