Is it ok to leave a cat at home for 3 weeks?

Absolutely NOT. The max you leave an adult home alone w/o anyone coming in is 3 days (one weekend). You need to either have someone come in each day to check on the cat and leave food/water out, or you need to board the cat with someone (vet?) and pay $15-20 per day.

Otherwise you don't go on a 3 week vacation and leave the cat. NO way can you leave enough food, water or litter pans for your cat and expect the cat to be ok when you return.

You absolutely cannot leave a cat home alone for 3 weeks! You set out a glass of water then I want you to drink it 2 weeks from now. Then I want you to poo in the toilet but don't flush it for a week. Don't both of those sound icky? Well that's what you are expecting your cat to do. Cats should be given a fresh bowl of water every day! Nobody scooping the litter box for 3 weeks is just nasty and a smell you don't want to come home to and the cat doesn't want to live with either.

It is not necessary for anyone to play with your cat or pet it. It is perfectly okay if it runs and hides. What you want is someone to come and make sure it is safe and that it gets fed and fresh water put out and the litter box scooped.

Your options are:

1. Call your vet and ask if any of the vet techs cat sit and if they do, hire them to come to your home once a day to feed and scoop.

2. If they don't, ask the vet about boarding your cat there. Or ask them if they know anyone who cat sits because they may other clients who do.

3. Call the SPCA and ask if they can recommend cat sitters, quite often they know very trust worthy people. You want a bonded cat sitter.

4. You should set up a timer on a couple lamps in your home to turn on at dusk and turn off around 11:00 or 12:00 bedtime. Plug in some night lights that turn themselves on and off. You want the home atmosphere to remain as normal as possible.

Do not hire a neighbor kid to do it! They are unreliable and will not show up for days. Don't pay your sitter until you come home. Leave all phone numbers where you can be reached posted on the refrig. along with vets phone number and a permission note for the sitter to take the cat to the vet if it is sick. Notify your vet you will be gone (if they don't have it boarded with them) and how to reach you and who might bring the cat in if there is an emergency.

You cannot put out canned food for the cat at all! It's kibble and water only if you leave your cat behind unattended and you have no clue how much water. What if the cat plays and knocks over the water and there is no water for 2 or 3 weeks? You need at least two food and water stations located in different parts of the home and you need two extra litter boxes set up minimum. This is not a good thing to leave a cat alone for that length of time. Board it or get a pet sitter!

I just came back from a 15 day trip. I have a cat sitter come in with mine for 30 min every day when I am away . It s worked well so far and the cats are happy., she also texts me to say they are ok. I do leave fresh litter and a huge supply if dry food and water out as a back up.. But I think the cats are happier than being boarded and it s cheaper...

Omg of course not !!

The food you'll put out will rot and/or finish in less than 3 weeks. Cats can get piggy and eat for the taste even if they're bloated. Anything can happen when you're not here. What if the room door accidentally closes and he's stuck .. or if he hurts himself or gets sick?

You could keep him at a friend's house, give them his things (litter box and food) and tell them the instructions. Or have your neighbours or friends/family stop by every day or so.

He's gonna be extremely lonely without company.

Cats are independent .. but 3-4 days is the max.

I think you should speak to your siblings and ask them to come and check up on kitty every 1-2 days, but no longer than that. Even if the cat is afraid to be pet, at least they can refill his food bowl, and refill fresh water for him. But anything can happen in 3 weeks, that is a long time for kitty to be alone. I think that is your best bet.

Or find out if your local vet do overnight boardings, or even find a "cat hotel" in your neighbourhood.

Good luck.

Someone need to come in atleast twice a day and feed , water and clean his litter tray out. You can't just put loads of food out and say now this has to last 3 weeks . I understand his is a nerve cat but you need to find someone who will look after him for you. Do you have a relative, freind or neighbour who will come in and take care of him if not you can hire a pet sitter to come in. Or you will have to book him into a cattery. He can't be left alone with no-one taking care of him everyday.

I understand your dilemma, but it's better to let your cat be afraid of someone, verses risking their safety. I am pretty certain your cat will warm up to the person feeding him and keeping him company. This is actually an opportunity for your family to bond with your cat while you're away, maybe they could take turns, and when you come home from your trip, you will no longer have a scaredy cat. He will learn not to be afraid and completely dependent on you. He will learn to trust. :)

anyone that leaves a cat home alone for 3 weeks doesn't need to have one. In fact, I would report anyone I knew that did that to the SPCA.

I am in agreement with Sue. Cats despite not being nearly as vocal as dogs, also are attention loving. plus 3 weeks!! thats a lot of days he is not going to be fed and a lot of days he will be wondering where you have gone. sure no friend can take him in?

Just have them come on and feed it, they dont have to play with it, just put the food out, check the medicine cabinet, amd leave.