What's it like for them when we go away (food, house, bowl)

[no kudzu]

Sad little kitties miss us when we're gone.

This Is What Your Cat Goes Through When You're Away. #4 Just Kills Me - Dose - Your Daily Dose of Amazing

[goyguy]

We wish! Unless food bowls are empty or access to/from the home isn't available I think their humans are a cat's occasional afterthought at best. Of course they do a good job of trying to convince us differently - when it suits them - with their snuggles and purrs and such. They're shamelessly exploitative but we don't love 'em any less for it.

[catdad7x]

Originally Posted by no kudzu

Sad little kitties miss us when we're gone.

This Is What Your Cat Goes Through When You're Away. #4 Just Kills Me - Dose - Your Daily Dose of Amazing

I know I always hated leaving my cats home alone after my wife passed away. I pictured them doing exactly what you posted in that link... pining away at the window, all sad and forlorn that I had abandoned them. There were those occasions however when I would come home earlier than usual, and it was rare for them to wake up from their naps long enough to even greet me. It was more like "Oh, you're home.....that's nice.....". I really think leaving them home alone bothered me more than it did them.

Since I've retired I rarely leave the house for more than an hour or 2, and the cats still do what they probably did when I was working... sleep all day. I usually don't see much of them till late afternoon. Sometimes I get the feeling they would actually like me to get out more often.

[Suburban_Guy]

My cat would sleep by the door waiting for me to come back home from work every evening. But she always seemed to be a needy cat and hated to be alone.

[ocngypz]

I know exactly what Lily did when I wasn't home.

She ransacked the house. Got every door and drawer open that she could.

Leaving Lily and Charcoal home alone.............Lily was too busy watching Charcoal to ransack.

Now leaving 5............the two kids play as normal........the other three pick a bed and sleep....just like they all do when I'm home.

[Meemur]

I'm not gone for long periods either, but I leave mine a new box with a bell ball in it or something she hasn't seen for awhile if I take a day trip. I know she's happily exploring that or napping and don't worry about her.