anxious cat travel tips

I am out of the country for the next two weeks and I am honestly panicking about Rex. He is a 10 year old Maine Coon and he has that lump on his shoulder. The vet said it is likely benign but we need a fine needle aspiration soon. He hates being alone and I feel bad leaving him. Has anyone found a way to keep a senior cat calm when you are gone for a long time? I am worried he will stop eating or get really depressed.

Oh my gosh, I totally get that anxiety. My kitten Taco is sickly and I worry the same way when I work late. I used a video camera so I could check on him, but that felt like it stressed him out more when I talked to him. I think a cat sitter is the only real solution. I read up on sitters vs feeders and it made me feel better. Did you look into that?

I have two cats, Shadow and Sunny, who are both 7. Shadow is very shy and Sunny is bold. For Shadow, I had to do a lot of prep. I left a shirt with my scent on her bed. I also used a diffuser. I am not sure if it works for everyone but it helped her. I would also suggest looking at pheromone diffusers to see if that is a route you want to try. For the vet visit later, I found carrier training really useful so he doesn't freak out when you have to take him in.

Look, I am an accountant and I deal with stress for a living. My cats are high maintenance. Ollie sheds like crazy and Luna plays with everything. I think the best thing is routine. Feed at the exact same times. But if the cat is sick or has a medical issue like that lump, you need a professional eye on them. I would not leave a cat with a pending diagnosis alone for two weeks. I would hire someone who knows how to handle them. I read about low stress handling and it is important to have someone who knows not to startle the cat.

jksd but i think the lump is the main thing here. if he is in pain or something is wrong, a sitter can spot it. i have a ragdoll named Luna who is shy and a tuxedo named Jasper who is a maniac. Jasper would just destroy the house if left alone too long. I found enrichment for hyperactive cats super helpful for Jasper. But for Rex, who is older and has a health issue, you probably need more than just toys. You need someone to check on the lump and make sure he is eating.

Thanks everyone. The idea of a sitter makes sense, especially since he has arthritis in his hips too, similar to what I saw in managing arthritis in senior cats. I am worried about the cost but I think it is better than him getting sick. I will look into local sitters who can do the FNA check-in with the vet. Does anyone have a specific checklist for what to tell the sitter about the lump?