8 comments on “My cat is home alone frequently. What can I do to make it easier on him?”

1. Mystique on January 17, 2012 at 12:40 am said:

   Home Entertaining

   Give him a friend. Two cats together have so much fun. They can play and wrestle for instance, rougher and more energetically than a human could stand. Two cats will sleep together and groom each other, race around and run off alot of energy together.

   Some good toys for cats are little plastic lightweight balls with holes in them that are sold as practice golf balls (which have the advantage of not crunching when accidentally stepped on, unlike the balls with bells in them sold for cats do), catnip mice, and others.

   One toy in particular my cats and I love, is the Turbo Scratcher. It has a ball in a track on the outside edge, and tightly coiled cardboard in the center. As the cat chases the ball, the cat will claw at the cardboard. Because the cardboard has a texture cats like to claw on, the Turbo scratcher has saved my furniture from cats more than any other cat toy I’ve ever had.

   Another item my cats get a lot of enjoyment from is a floor to ceiling cat tree that I got from WalMart (36.99 when I bought it, very reasonable considering the hours of enjoyment my 9 house cats get from it!).

   I wouldn’t keep just one cat alone, after seeing how much company two cats kept together, give each other. I start a newcomer alone in a cage or in the bathroom with the door shut, letting that cat get used to the scent and presence of the resident cats. Then I let that cat explore while the rest of the gang is shut in a room. After a few days of this, I let the newcomer meet the gang, usually not by any formal introduction, but by simply happening to leave the new cat’s door open so the cat strolls out and starts checking things out. If the cat gets nervous, he usually will hiss, fluff, and run back to the cage or room he considers safe, and I will then shut the door and wait til next day to let him out again. Most of the time, it only takes a day or two for a newcomer to become part of the gang. And the gang even usually teaches the newcomer the rules. My most recent newcomer learned really quickly that the cockatiel cage is to be left alone, when he tried to mess with it and the boss of the resident cats whacked him across the head and growled (without using claws, just a cat slap). The boss cat got the message across more effectively and more quickly than I could have done it!

   Two cats together are also highly entertaining to watch. They play structured games for instance, where one will sit and pretend he doesn’t see his buddy sneaking up on him, until that buddy is almost ready to pounce. Then he is likely to turn and chase his buddy around. After that, they switch roles. Thats just one example of countless games that two cats can invent to play together!

   And when its time to go to sleep, you’re likely to have both cats sleeping with you, purring contentedly. Two aren’t much more effort to care for than one is, and there are so many advantages of having two over only one.
2. Emily J on January 20, 2012 at 10:35 am said:

   Home Entertaining

   Get him some toys that he might enjoy, what I do with my cat when I’m at school, is I put on some music for him. I might leav eon the TV every once and a while so the sound makes he feel like he’s not alone. Spend time with him before you do go to your classes and after when you get home. Hopes this helps!
3. jan on January 21, 2012 at 3:00 pm said:

   Home Entertaining

   Cats have a short attention span so they need toys and play things. Get several toys. Some with bells, some with strings, balls etc. you can buy them at any dollar store. They don’t have to be expensive. Put a sack on the floor. A paper bag and a plastic grocery bag. An empty box is also great. He will entertain himself with these items. He will jump and hide in them. He may jump out at you when you walk by. A scratching post is good so he can keep his claws sharp. Some cats like to jump in the litter box when it is filled with litter and play like it is sand. Of course you want to keep it clean. Hide some toys so that when he comes across them it will be a nice surprise. Cats are great at entertaining themselves if they have any paper, or anything that they can play cat and mouse with. Also, it may help to know that cats sleep about 16 hours a day so he is probably sleeping alot while you are gone. Just love and enjoy him. He will be fine if you do. I think God gives us animals for different reasons but one reason is so they can teach us unconditional love. Good luck with him.
4. lighthouse_guard86 on January 23, 2012 at 11:18 pm said:

   Home Entertaining

   get him a cat friend but it must be more of the same age , but if u wanna do that then try to be home for few days to check how they r together and if they r getting along or not . make sure u remove anything sharp and everythin off tables to make it all safe .

   good luck
5. zzeetop on January 24, 2012 at 4:33 pm said:

   Home Entertaining

   You could try a companion for your cat, however you may not want another pet at this time. My mother breeds cats and has radio’s set up for mental stimulation for them. The noise seems to keep them calm and relaxed. Either a radio or leave the television going.
6. gina_marina on January 26, 2012 at 4:57 pm said:

   Home Entertaining

   If getting a second cat is out of the question, there are some other things you can try to keep him occupied. Consider hammocks or shelves on windowsills for him to sit and watch outside – feed birds outside the window if possible. He may also enjoy watching a few goldfish while he relaxes. Lay his toys out so you can see whether he’s played while you were gone. I was sad to see that mine had not played while I was gone. Just remember, it is normal for cats to sleep most of the day. Give him a few different beds and places to snooze, a way to look out the windows, and consider leaving on the radio or tv. (mine like Animal Planet – lol) Something else he may enjoy is the equivalent of an easter-egg hunt. I like to do this when I’m going to be gone for a while. I am always surprised at how much they get around! Leave treats around the apartment for him to look for while you’re gone.

   best regards,
   Gina
7. Kelly W on January 27, 2012 at 5:33 pm said:

   Home Entertaining

   get him lots of cat toys that will help to keep your cat entertained, it can get bored with out them. A few mouses, balls, maybe even a cat tree, they need stuff to do too!
8. farah_ashikin14 on January 28, 2012 at 1:24 pm said:

   Home Entertaining

   Wow you’re sure love your cat!! I think the best way you should buy him a toy that he can play by himself !!! he would thank you for it!!