This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through a link, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Full disclosure here.
Packing for a trip when you live alone with two cats means you’re actually preparing for three departures: yourself, your home, and your pets. The logistics of my own travel — packing, getting to the airport — are the easy part. Making sure Jasper and Nugget are taken care of while I’m gone is what I think about more.
I’m lucky. I have family who can usually step in to watch them, depending on who’s traveling with me. But even with people I trust completely, I don’t just hand over a key and hope for the best. Jasper is pretty easy. Nugget is shy enough that first-time cat sitters can go an entire visit without actually seeing her. There’s prep involved, and over the years I’ve figured out what actually makes a difference.
Here’s how I set up the house before I leave.
The Feeder: One Less Thing to Coordinate
Even when someone is coming to check on the cats, I run an automatic feeder. It removes the timing pressure from whoever is watching them — they don’t have to be there at exactly 7am and 6pm, the feeder handles it.
The oneisall Automatic Cat Feeder holds up to 20 cups and works for two cats, which is exactly what I needed. You can program multiple feeding times throughout the day, control portions, and it works with dry food. Having it means that even if my family member’s visit is a bit earlier or later than planned, the cats aren’t waiting on their meals. It also gives me peace of mind on longer trips or days when the schedule gets complicated.
The Water Fountain: Worth Every Penny
Cats are notoriously bad at drinking enough water. A stagnant bowl is usually less appealing to them than moving water, which is part of why fountains work better — but most fountains are also a cleaning hassle with pumps and filters that need regular attention.
I switched to the uahpet Wireless Cat Water Fountain specifically because it has no pump. It’s battery-operated, has a motion sensor that activates the flow when a cat approaches, and is genuinely easy to clean. The 2L capacity is enough for a few days without needing to be refilled, and for travel it means the person checking on the cats doesn’t have to stress about water levels constantly.
No pump was the specific feature I was looking for and I haven’t looked back since.
The Litter Robot: My Best Adult Purchase
I’ll say it plainly: the Litter Robot is the best thing I’ve bought for myself as a cat owner, and it makes a real difference when I travel. Not having to ask my family to scoop litter is a significant reduction in what I’m asking of them. It handles itself, has an app where I can monitor usage, and takes one major task entirely off the pet-sitting plate.
If you’ve been on the fence, use this referral link to get $50 off. If you have cats and you travel even occasionally, I genuinely think it’s worth it.
The Camera: For Peace of Mind (and Honestly, Because I Miss Them)
I’ll be honest: I set up the camera partly as a practical tool and partly because I miss my cats when I travel and I like being able to check in on them.
The wansview 2K Indoor Camera is what I use. It has motion detection, night vision, two-way audio, and connects to an app so I can see what’s happening in the house from anywhere. My family knows the camera is there — I always make sure of that. If you’re using a camera and it’s not family watching, make sure your pet sitter knows it’s there. That’s just the right thing to do.
The motion detection is useful for catching when Nugget finally comes out to investigate a new person, and for generally knowing the cats are okay without having to text someone every few hours.
The Treats: The Key to Nugget
Nugget is shy. Very shy. She’s the kind of cat who will disappear for an entire visit from someone she doesn’t know well, and even with family she takes time to warm up.
Before I leave, I always make sure we’re stocked up on Temptations Cat Treats — the Tasty Chicken flavor is the one she can’t resist — and I specifically tell whoever is watching them to use the treats as a way to coax her out. It works better than anything else. She’ll come for treats when she won’t come for anything else, and it gives the person caring for her an actual tool to check that she’s okay rather than just hoping she emerges on her own.
Jasper needs no coaxing. Jasper will have introduced himself before the person has put their bag down.
The Sitter Briefing: What I Actually Tell People
Even with family who knows the cats, I always leave a note. It doesn’t have to be long, but it covers:
- Feeding schedule and where the food is (even with the auto feeder, knowing where the backup supply is matters)
- Any quirks — Nugget hides, use treats, she’s fine she’s just shy
- Vet contact information
- Where the cat carrier is, just in case
- My number saved in their phone with permission to use it
I also make sure they have my number and know I actually want them to text me if something seems off. I’d rather get an unnecessary check-in than have something go wrong because someone didn’t want to bother me on vacation.
The Honest Part: Traveling Alone With Pets Takes More Preparation
When you live alone with pets, there’s no one else to coordinate this on your behalf. You’re the one who sets up the feeder, tests the camera, stocks the treats, writes the note, and briefs whoever is coming to help. You’re also the one who fields the texts while you’re away and does a quick check of the camera app before bed even when you’re in a different time zone.
It’s worth it. Jasper and Nugget are worth it. But I’m not going to pretend it’s effortless — it’s just part of what traveling solo with pets looks like, and getting the right setup in place makes it manageable enough that I can actually be present wherever I am instead of worrying about what I left behind.
The Pre-Trip Pet Checklist
Before I leave for any trip longer than a night:
✓ Auto feeder programmed and stocked
✓ Water fountain charged and filled
✓ Litter Robot emptied and checked ($50 off here)
✓ Camera online and motion alerts on
✓ Treats stocked (extra for Nugget)
✓ Sitter briefed with written notes
✓ Vet info and carrier location confirmed
✓ My number saved in their phone with permission to use it
Get this right and you can actually enjoy being away. That’s the goal.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. See my full Affiliate Disclosure for details.
Practical Cozy Travel 