suggestions

[Wanda]

Traci and oththers, as I said in another post I will be going to my daughter's for about a week. Dolly gets really upset when I'm gone, any tips on how I might make it easier for her?

[Traci]

Will someone be staying with her???

[Wanda]

OH yes hubby and grown son, which she loves both. They have told me though that even when I just run to town or something she gets real upset and looks everywhere for me and meows a lot. Dolly talks very little normally. It seems I won't be going after all this time though, but will have to in Feb. when daughter's hubby has got to go on business trip, so still need advice. By the way, I would never leave Dolly by herself for any length of time.

[Tina B and crew]

Hi Wanda. I have a cat, Willow, who loves my husband but is extremely attached to me, so I always worry when I have to leave her that she will pine away and not do well. So far, she's done fine when I leave, but here is what I do. I always wear a T-shirt to sleep in for a few nights before I leave so it has my scent on it. I leave it in the spot where she sleeps most of the time (on my bed of course!)...I also talk to her and tell her that she's going to have fun adventures while I'm gone. I did this especially when I had to board her last summer. I do my my best to not get upset about leaving, because they notice when you get upset. I have also recorded messages for her on a little digital recorder and had my husband play them for her while I was gone, but we found that this seemed to upset her more than calm her. I went away last fall for almost 4 months and we would actually use Skype to keep in touch and I would talk to Willow via Skype. That didn't seem to upset her at all. She did fine for the 4 months I was gone but was extremely happy to see me when I got home. To this day she still reacts when I bring out the suitcase and will firmly plant herself on it when I'm trying to pack. When I left again last week I gave her some good catnip just before I walked out the door and that distracted her. Hubby says she is doing fine if not a bit vocal about my absence again, so soon after returning from my long time away.

Additionally when I'm gone my hubby talks to Willow and assures her I'll be back. They have this little conversations where Willow meows and Tim assures her. It may seem silly to some but I think the cats understand. Good luck...at least you are lucky that there is someone there that knows her and loves her. She should be fine.

[Traci]

Tina has excellent suggestions, and all that I would have said. Additionally, I would just encourage hubby and son to give her extra attention and when she seems upset, divert her attention to playtime, cuddle time, special toys, etc. If you have a routine for feeding, scooping litterboxes, a designated time for playtime or grooming, have hubby and son do the same exact things at the same designated times so that Dolly doesn't feel anything in the environment/routine is altered. When you return, give her extra attention and cuddle-time, maybe bring her a new toy, etc.