If you’re back from vacation and your cat is acting a little strange, you may be wondering if cats get upset when their human companions are gone for a few days. Cats become attached to their favorite people, not to mention invested in their schedules.
They are creatures of habit who do not react well when adjusting to new routines, such as not having breakfast at the regular time or dealing with new people in their area, such as pet sitters. It’s not unusual for cats to express their displeasure in these situations when their humans are back in town, so yes, cats can be annoyed with you. Most quickly return to their old selves, especially when given extra love and attention.
How Do Cats Show Discontent in These Situations?
Some cats ignore their human family members when they return from vacation and are reluctant to interact and interact. Others become stressed, often because of the anxiety caused by regular changes.
Cats can be aggressive, sometimes hissing and snapping to avoid people until they feel comfortable with things again. Because cats understand the world largely through smell, they can become stressed when their favorite person comes home smelling different than expected.
Are There Ways To Get Back In Cats’ Good Graces?
Cats usually get back to their old selves quickly, but there are some things you can do to speed up the process. Allowing cats to lead is critical to getting back to normal. Cats that hide or withdraw usually respond best when left alone and given time to readjust to your presence and scent.
When dealing with unwanted behavior such as aggression, ignoring the unwanted behavior and rewarding what you want to see is often the easiest and fastest way to get cooperation from cats. Patience, paying attention to their body language, and the liberal use of treats and cuddles almost always resolves the situation.
How Long Can Cats Be Alone?
Cats can tolerate being alone for about a day or more without needing someone to come by, check on them, feed them, and give them attention. Cats suffering from separation anxiety often become anxious when left for short periods of time and often benefit from having plenty of activities, such as interactive games, to keep them occupied when home alone.
Since cats are such creatures of habit, they often prefer to stay at home, as the smells and sounds in even the most relaxed boarding facilities can sometimes be stressful for cats.
Having a pet sitter visit allows cats to stay in a familiar environment, which can go a long way in keeping their stress under control while you’re away. Pet sitters usually come by at least once a day to make sure everything is going well, hand out food, and play with the cats in their care.
Are There Ways To Make It Easier For My Cat When I Go Away?
Yes. There are some steps you can take to make it easier for your cat to deal with your absence, including letting them meet the pet ahead of time and wearing home-like clothes when you return.
1. Introduce the Pet Sitter
Because cats sometimes take time to warm to people, giving them time to get comfortable with pet sitters before leaving them in their care can help cats stay comfortable when they are left. alone on family vacations.
Just having the pet sitter spend time getting to know your cat and playing with them while you’re around can often reduce their stress level once the holidays start and they’re left to themselves.
2. Call Your Cat
Cats are quite attached to their humans and can form bonds similar to those formed between humans and babies. Studies suggest they can even recognize their people’s voices. Asking the pet sitter to give you a ring so you can video chat with your cat is one option, but many cameras on the market allow pet parents to keep an eye on what their cats are doing and communicate theirs.
Many devices allow you to give treats remotely and pre-record messages to play while you’re away to let your cat know you love and miss them.
3. Work with Perfume
Cats understand the world most through their noses. When they cling to people, they leave behind pheromones that carry scent molecules that cats use to recognize familiar people and places. These pheromones mix with the scent of their favorite human to create unique scents that cats associate with comfort and home.
Consider taking an item of clothing you wore home with you on vacation. Put it on before coming home to familiarize yourself with your cat. Leaving something that smells like you somewhere your cat likes to relax and hang out will also comfort some cats.
4. Give Your Cat
While cats may not enjoy Shakespeare, they can determine what is going on around them by observation. Consider taking out your luggage a few days before you start packing to give your cat a chance to notice that something is different. Involve your cat in the packing process and make it fun so they start to associate suitcases with good things and positive experiences.
Conclusion
While some cats are okay when their human companions leave them, many become upset when left alone for long periods of time. Cats don’t like routine changes, so adjusting to not eating and cuddling when expected can be difficult for some.
Because they rely heavily on smell to recognize people and places, they can find the way their favorite person smells after a vacation confusing, which can lead to standoffish and aggressive behavior. Cats go back to normal pretty quickly, given time, space, and love.
Featured Image Credit: stock1000, Shutterstock
