Leave your cat at home or bring it along? A vet's advice for the Chuseok holiday

Cats are generally better off staying in familiar surroundings during Chuseok, but a six-month-old kitten alone for about 37 hours also needs careful planning. The vet recommends home visits, travel with the owner if the kitten handles it well, or boarding booked two to three weeks ahead. If the cat stays home, safety checks, food and water setup, and temperature control are essential.

Even a healthy adult cat should not be left alone for more than 24 hours, and a six-month-old kitten should be left alone for less time.

The vet says to remove thread, string, hair ties, fishing line and plastic bags, and to secure electrical cords because swallowed thread can require emergency surgery.

For home care, the article recommends an automatic feeder for dry food, several water bowls, one litter box per cat plus one extra, and automatic heating or air conditioning.

When traveling, the cat should use a top-opening carrier, and owners should bring the cat’s usual food, bowls, litter and a portable litter box.

Male cats with a history of urinary obstruction, elderly cats and cats that need daily medication should not be left alone.

Published Sep 22, 2026 12:30 am KST

For cat owners, holidays like Chuseok bring the same dilemma every year: Should they take their cats with them or leave them at home?

“I’m fostering a five-month-old kitten, and with Chuseok coming up, I’m not sure what to do,” one reader wrote.

“I’m planning to spend one night at my parents’ house. I’d leave around 9 or 10 a.m. and get home at about 10 p.m. the following day, so my kitten, who will be six months old by then, would be alone for roughly 36 to 37 hours.

“My parents have said I’m welcome to bring the kitten. Everyone in my family loves animals, but getting there would mean a two-hour train ride followed by another 20 minutes in the car.

“The kitten gets a little anxious on trips to the vet, but mostly looks around and sniffs things out of curiosity. I haven’t noticed any signs of major stress after we get home, either.

“This is my first time fostering a cat, and I’ve never left the kitten alone for this long. I know cats can be sensitive to unfamiliar places, but I’m also worried about leaving mine at home.”

Several factors should guide the decision to take a cat along or leave it at home.

Q: My kitten will be six months old this Chuseok. Should I leave it at home or take it to my parents’ house?

Cats are attached to places. They feel secure in familiar surroundings filled with their own scent, so leaving them at home is generally the preferred option. In this case, however, there are two factors to consider.

The first is age. At six months, kittens are full of curiosity and energy, making them more likely than adult cats to get into trouble. A kitten in foster care calls for particular attention.

The second is time: If you leave at 9 a.m. and return at 10 p.m. the following day, your kitten will be alone for about 37 hours. That is a substantial stretch even for a healthy adult cat.

The first option would be to arrange for someone to visit once or twice to look after the kitten. This could be a pet sitter, a home pet care service or someone you know who is familiar with cats.

The second option is to take the kitten to your parents’ house. If it is comfortable traveling and eager to explore unfamiliar surroundings, accompanying you could be a good option, particularly if it becomes anxious when left without company.

If neither home visits nor traveling together is possible, the third option is boarding the cat at a facility or a veterinary clinic. These often fill up over the holidays, so booking at least two to three weeks in advance is advisable.

Q: If I leave my cat at home, what should I prepare and how long can it be left alone?

Even a healthy adult cat should not be left alone for more than 24 hours. For a six-month-old kitten, that period is even shorter.

The most important preparation is a safety check. For young cats, accidents are a bigger holiday concern than going hungry. Put away thread, string, hair ties, fishing line and plastic bags, and secure electrical cords. Swallowed thread in particular can cause the intestines to bunch up like an accordion and require emergency surgery. Check that windows and screens are securely locked, and inspect the laundry area and balcony for hazards.

Use an automatic feeder to dispense dry food. Wet food is unsuitable for leaving out for long periods. Place several water bowls away from the food bowl, providing more water than usual in case one gets knocked over.

The general rule for litter boxes is one per cat, plus one extra. Clean them before leaving. Cats may hold their urine if the litter box is dirty, which can contribute to urinary problems.

Temperatures can vary considerably between day and night in late September, so set the heating or air conditioning to regulate the indoor temperature automatically.

Before leaving, tell the person visiting where to find the food and litter boxes. Also share the contact details for your cat’s regular veterinary clinic and a nearby 24-hour animal hospital.

Q: What should I prepare if I take my cat to my parents’ house?

A carrier that opens from the top is recommended, and the cat should get used to it beforehand. Leave the top open and put treats inside to create positive associations and help the cat see it as a safe space.

Be especially careful about escape during the journey. Cases of cats escaping at train stations are reported every holiday season, so use an additional safety measure when placing your cat in the carrier and cover it with a blanket. Do not open the carrier while traveling. Keep a recent photograph of your cat on hand in case it gets lost.

Bring the cat’s usual food and bowls. Being offered unfamiliar food in an unfamiliar place can add to its stress. Pack its usual litter and a portable litter box as well, since some cats avoid urinating or defecating when the litter changes. A cardboard box can serve as a makeshift litter tray.

Give the cat a light meal two to three hours before departure. Young kittens should not go without food for extended periods. Synthetic pheromones or antianxiety medication can also help with travel-related nervousness. Apply a pheromone spray to the carrier 30 minutes before departure, and use antianxiety medication only after a trial dose under veterinary guidance.

Once you arrive, prepare a room just for the cat, with its carrier, litter box, food, water and somewhere to hide. Give it time to rest and settle in without overwhelming it with attention.

Q: Once my foster kitten becomes an adult, how should I decide whether to leave it at home or take it with me?

For a fully grown cat, consider four things: the length of your absence, its health, its temperament and the place you would be taking it.

If you will be away for an extended period, arrange for someone to visit and care for the cat at least every 24 hours. If visits are not possible, boarding is recommended.

Cats that need daily medication, male cats with a history of urinary obstruction and elderly cats should not be left alone.

For a cat that is wary of strangers, arrange an introduction to the person who will be caring for it before you leave.

If you plan to take the cat with you, check whether the destination has a quiet or separate room. It needs somewhere it can stay without becoming stressed.

Q: What if relatives are visiting my home? How should I care for my cat?

For a cat, visiting relatives can feel like unfamiliar people suddenly crowding into its territory. This calls for even greater care than when you leave home.

Prepare a safe room that relatives will not enter. Put a litter box, water, food, hiding places and an item of clothing carrying your scent inside, and settle the cat there before guests arrive.

Pay particular attention to the front door. With people coming and going more often during the holidays, there are more opportunities for the cat to escape.

Explain the rules to relatives beforehand: Do not chase the cat, seek it out when it is hiding, pick it up or give it human food.

After the holiday, keep an eye on how much the cat eats and urinates. Veterinary clinics see many cats with symptoms of feline idiopathic cystitis after the holidays. Stress is a major contributing factor, so monitoring these changes is especially important.

Q: What should cat owners keep in mind ahead of the holidays?

Know the signs of an emergency and be prepared.

If a male cat keeps going to the litter box but cannot urinate, it could have a urinary blockage. This can quickly become life-threatening.

If your cat goes without food for more than 24 hours, seek veterinary attention. Prolonged periods without eating can cause fat to accumulate in the liver, leading to serious illness.

If you see swallowed thread or string protruding from your cat’s mouth or anus, never pull it. Doing so could tear the intestines.

Repeated vomiting or labored breathing also signals an emergency. Take your cat to a nearby veterinary clinic as quickly as possible.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.

中秋节期间，猫咪通常最好待在熟悉的环境中，但一只六个月大的小猫独自在家约37个小时也需要周密的计划。兽医建议上门服务，如果小猫适应良好，可以和主人一起出行，或者提前两到三周预订寄养服务。如果猫咪留在家中，安全检查、食物和水的准备以及温度控制都至关重要。

即使是健康的成年猫也不应被单独留在家中超过 24 小时，而六个月大的小猫被单独留在家中的时间应该更短。

兽医建议移除线、绳子、发圈、鱼线和塑料袋，并固定好电线，因为吞食线头可能需要紧急手术。

对于家庭护理，文章建议配备自动喂食器（用于喂干粮）、几个水碗、每只猫一个猫砂盆外加一个备用猫砂盆，以及自动加热或空调。

旅行时，猫咪应该使用顶部开口的猫包，主人应该携带猫咪平时吃的食物、碗、猫砂和便携式猫砂盆。

有尿路阻塞史的雄性猫、老年猫和需要每天服药的猫不应该被单独留下。

发布于2026年9月22日凌晨12:30（韩国标准时间）

对于养猫人士来说，像中秋节这样的节日每年都会带来同样的难题：应该带猫一起去还是把它们留在家里？

一位读者写道：“我正在收养一只五个月大的小猫，眼看中秋节就要到了，我不知道该怎么办。”

“我计划在父母家住一晚。我大概早上九点或十点出发，第二天晚上十点左右到家，所以我的小猫咪到那时就六个月大了，它将独自待大约 36 到 37 个小时。”

“我父母说我可以带小猫来。我们全家都喜欢动物，但是去那里需要先坐两个小时的火车，然后再开车20分钟。”

“小猫去兽医那里会有点焦虑，但大多数时候只是出于好奇四处看看、闻闻东西。回家后我也没发现它有任何明显的紧张迹象。”

“这是我第一次寄养猫咪，我从来没有把小猫独自留在家里这么长时间。我知道猫咪对陌生的环境比较敏感，但我也很担心把我家的猫独自留在家里。”

决定是否带猫出行还是把它留在家里，需要考虑以下几个因素。

问：我的小猫咪今年中秋就六个月大了。我应该把它留在家里还是带回父母家？

猫咪有很强的依恋性。它们在充满自己气味的熟悉环境中会感到安全，所以通常最好把它们留在家里。然而，在这种情况下，有两个因素需要考虑。

首先是年龄。六个月大的小猫充满好奇心和活力，比成年猫更容易惹麻烦。寄养家庭的小猫需要特别照顾。

第二点是时间：如果你早上9点出门，第二天晚上10点才回来，你的小猫就会独自待大约37个小时。即使对一只健康的成年猫来说，这也是相当长的时间。

第一种方法是安排人来照看小猫一两次。这个人可以是宠物保姆、家庭宠物护理服务机构，或者你认识的熟悉猫咪的人。

第二个选择是把小猫带回你父母家。如果它不怕旅行，也乐于探索陌生的环境，那么带它去父母家或许是个不错的选择，尤其是在它独自在家时容易焦虑的情况下。

如果上门照看或一同旅行都不可行，第三种选择是将猫咪寄养在宠物旅馆或兽医诊所。这些机构在节假日期间通常会爆满，因此建议至少提前两到三周预订。

问：如果我把猫独自留在家里，我应该准备些什么？它可以独自待多久？

即使是健康的成年猫，也不应独自待超过24小时。对于六个月大的小猫来说，这个时间甚至更短。

最重要的准备工作是安全检查。对于幼猫来说，假期里发生意外比挨饿更让人担心。务必收好线头、绳子、发圈、鱼线和塑料袋，并妥善保管电线。尤其要注意的是，吞食线头会导致肠道像手风琴一样卷曲，甚至需要紧急手术。检查门窗和纱窗是否锁好，并仔细检查洗衣区和阳台是否存在安全隐患。

使用自动喂食器投放干粮。湿粮不适合长时间放置。在远离食盆的地方放置几个水碗，并准备比平时更多的水，以防食盆被打翻。

一般而言，猫砂盆的配比是每只猫一个，外加一个备用。离开前务必清理干净。如果猫砂盆不干净，猫咪可能会憋尿，这会导致泌尿系统疾病。

九月下旬昼夜温差可能很大，因此请将暖气或空调设置为自动调节室内温度。

临走前，请告知来访者猫粮和猫砂盆的位置。同时，也请提供您猫咪常去的兽医诊所和附近24小时营业的动物医院的联系方式。

问：如果我带猫去父母家，我应该准备些什么？

建议使用顶部开口的猫包，并且要事先让猫咪习惯使用。打开猫包顶部，并在里面放些零食，帮助猫咪建立积极的联想，并将其视为一个安全的地方。

旅途中要格外小心，防止猫咪走失。每逢节假日，火车站都会发生猫咪走失的事件，因此，将猫咪放入航空箱时，务必采取额外的安全措施，例如用毯子盖住猫咪。旅途中切勿打开航空箱。随身携带一张猫咪的近照，以防走失。

带上猫咪平时吃的食物和食盆。在陌生的地方喂它不熟悉的食物会增加它的压力。还要带上它常用的猫砂和一个便携式猫砂盆，因为有些猫咪在更换猫砂时会避免排尿或排便。纸箱也可以临时充当猫砂盆。

出发前两到三小时给猫咪喂食少量食物。幼猫不宜长时间挨饿。合成信息素或抗焦虑药物也能帮助缓解猫咪的旅行焦虑。出发前30分钟在猫包内喷洒信息素喷雾，抗焦虑药物则需在兽医指导下进行试用剂量后方可使用。

到达目的地后，专门为猫咪准备一个房间，里面放好猫包、猫砂盆、食物、水和一个可以躲藏的地方。让它有时间休息和适应新环境，不要过度关注它。

问：当我收养的小猫长大后，我应该如何决定是把它留在家里还是带走？

对于一只成年猫来说，要考虑四件事：你离开的时间长短、它的健康状况、它的性情以及你要带它去的地方。

如果您要长时间外出，请安排人至少每24小时探望并照顾猫咪一次。如果无法探望，建议寄养。

需要每天服药的猫、有尿路阻塞史的公猫和老年猫不应该被单独留下。

对于一只对陌生人比较警惕的猫，在你离开之前，安排它与照顾它的人见面。

如果您计划带猫出行，请确认目的地是否有安静或独立的房间。猫需要一个可以待着而不会感到压力的地方。

问：如果有亲戚来我家做客，我应该如何照顾我的猫？

对猫来说，亲戚来访就像陌生人突然闯入自己的领地。这种情况需要比你出门时更加细心照料。

准备一个亲戚不会进入的安全房间。在房间里放置猫砂盆、水、食物、躲藏处和一件带有你气味的衣物，在客人到来之前把猫安置在那里。

要特别注意前门。节假日期间人来人往，猫咪更容易逃脱。

事先向亲戚们解释规则：不要追赶猫，不要在猫躲藏时寻找它，不要抱起它或给它喂人类的食物。

假期过后，请密切观察猫咪的食量和排尿情况。兽医诊所经常在假期后接诊患有猫特发性膀胱炎的猫咪。压力是主要诱发因素之一，因此监测这些变化尤为重要。

问：猫主人在假期前应该注意些什么？

了解紧急情况的征兆并做好准备。

如果一只公猫反复去猫砂盆却无法排尿，它可能患有尿路阻塞。这种情况可能很快危及生命。

如果您的猫超过24小时没有进食，请及时就医。长时间不进食会导致脂肪在肝脏中堆积，进而引发严重的疾病。

如果看到猫咪嘴里或肛门里露出吞下的线头或绳子，千万不要硬拽。这样做可能会撕裂肠道。

反复呕吐或呼吸困难也是紧急情况的征兆。请尽快带您的猫咪前往附近的兽医诊所。

本文来自《韩国日报》（《韩国时报》的姊妹报），由人工智能生成系统翻译，并由《韩国时报》编辑。