Leaving Cat Home while on vacaction? A/C or Fan?

Question

I'm leaving for holiday will be away for just a week. Though I've never left her alone for that "long", she is self sufficient as I have left her for smaller increments (4 days).

My question is should I leave the A/C OR have a fan running in a room for her? My apt gets hot and I would elect to have a fan running for her, but my thinking is that it'll just be circulating hot/warm air.

Also, can the A/C handle running for a week? I know very little about A/C's (this is my first year having one - DON'T ASK!)

Answer 1

I would have someone you know and trust watch you cat. then they could make sure that the temperature is suitable.

Answer 2

I would use the fan. (not AC = too expensive)

turn it down toward the floor where the air is cooler. cat's temp is around 101 so they are hot anyway.

You might consider asking someone to check on your cat at least ONCE during the time you are gone.

check on water/ food and CLEAN the cat box.

Aftere thinking about it unless your area gets over 90 degrees I would just leave the cat without either.

Make sure there is a LOT of water.

the idea where you turn your timp high for the AC is a good one...

Have fun

Answer 3

I think you should consider hiring someone to visit her everyday I think a week alone is too long, even for a cat. We always like to think of them as "independent" but in fact most cats including domestic cats when feral develop very social colonies with shared labor.

You should really consider having someone stop in for at least an hour a day while you are gone that is the right thing to do!

Answer 4

Fan maybe dangerous(could overheat or cause a fire).  A/c will be costly.  Send her to a friends for the week

Answer 5

set your a/c for 79-80 degrees that way it wont be running constantly...also make sure to leave her plenty of fresh water and food...will someone be coming to clean her litter pan and refill her food and water? I definately would NOT trust leaving a fan running for that long it could short out and cause a fire...

Answer 6

You're right about the fan just circulating hot/warm air part. That really won't help your cat much while still costing you in electricity.

In your shoes, I would leave the A/C on for her. At least in a single room. Try to trap the precious coolness by keeping the room dark and the door closed except for just enough room for the cat to squeeze in/out. Put the A/C on "Energy Saver" mode and set a wise, attainable yet comfortable temperature. I'm sure your cat will naturally find the coolest room and spend the hot mid-afternoons there. Oh, don't forget to leave out plenty of fresh water. Just like with us humans, it's what cats will need the most to beat the heat.

It's nice of you to think so much about your pet's comfort.

Answer 7

First of all, it depends on where you live and the climate. If it gets over 80 degrees during the day I would leave an AC on for her. A cat can become very sick and overheat if it is over 80 degrees or so, depending on the type of cat. And they are more likely to overheat if they are used to air conditioning.

My next question would be, is it a window unit or is it central air, where the air comes through vents all over the apartment? If it is a window unit, if it has a "low" setting, I would leave it on that, because most units can run continually on a low setting with no problem. If it does not have a "low" setting I would have someone come over and check on it to make sure it hasn't overheated or frozen up, which older units are known to do. If it is a central air unit, I would turn it on and put it at about 78 degrees, that way it does not run your bill up too much and it also keeps the cat fairly comfortable.

Also, if you have the "low setting" on a window unit, you may want to put a small fan near it to circulate the air. That can further help it from freezing.

In any event, remember to leave plenty of food and water available for her for the week. She can survive if it gets a little warm in the house, but she definitaly wont if she doesn't have proper food and water.

Answer 8

Just turn your thermostat to around 76 degrees.  Make sure she has plenty of food and water.  Plus you don't want to leave no air on for a week when you will have a cat using the litter box.  That could be a smelly mess when you return home.

Answer 9

Leave the A/C running.  It won't hurt it to run while you are gone. It will cycle on and off just as if you were home.

Answer 10

Leave the air on. My cat is three yrs old and every time we go on vacation we leave the air on.