Weeping Kitten

Question
Hello Jessica:

I am writing you again about my almost 5 month old female kitten "Peatee". I had notice a few weeks ago some days when I would get home Peatee was hoarse as almost could not meow.  I thought maybe it was the air condition.  However, last week for three straight days I came in from work (work 9-5)to my apartment quietly only to find Peatee at the front door whinning and meowing quite loudly.  I leave out dry food and water during the week and feed her wet food at 7:00 a.m. and when I get home.  She barely eats the dry food.  Could she be this hungry or could it be that I just finish all her shots and she requires more food than I am feeding at the main meals?  From listening to other cat owners, some cats never get feed wet food.  This concerns me as I am afraid to be gone over the weekend without putting her in a kennel.  I do not want my neighbors calling the police thinking she is hurt or somwthing when it actually appears I have spoiled her with wet food.  I am trying to combine it with dry and wet and she takes a long time before she will eat when it is given to her this way.  What can I do to break this habit?  I must admit I do give her several small portions on the weekend when I am home (including sometimes chicken and salmon).  If I can not break the habit is there such a feeder for wet food that will preserve large quantities?  I am having her spayed next week as she will be almost five plus months old.  Is it ok to leave her alone for a day after her surgery?  Any suggestions, will be appreciated.  Thank you.

Answer
Hi, Diane.  I am thinking it is far more likely that little Peatee is crying at the door for YOU, not food.  Many cats do suffer separation anxiety when their people are not around.  And you started with Peatee so young, she really does see you as her mama and clings very closely to you, I'm sure.  I have a kitten I bottlefed, and she is just the same way.  Cries at the door endlessly until she's in the same room with me.  She would suck on my ear when I tried to sleep, so I had to lock her out of the room.  She'd cry all night.  I finally discovered that when one of our other cats stayed out of the room with her, she was quiet.  I don't know if getting Peatee a buddy to keep her company while you're gone would be an option, but it's something I encourage if you have the means.

A healthy cat or kitten is very unlikely to starve herself because she doesn't like a food.  If she was really in such dyer need of food, she would eat the dry food you left her.

Nevertheless, if you want to leave her with canned food that will stay fresh that she can eat periodically throughout the day, there is an answer.  There are electronic food bowls which refrigerate canned food.  You set it on a timer to open at appointed times, so Peatee can have meals throughout the day.  Here's an example:

http://www.bullwrinkle.com/index.html?ShoppingPages/Bowls.htm~indexmain

Some cats don't ever get wet food.  I am personally very against this.  I think it causes many of the health problems we are seeing in cats, including urinary tract infections and stones, periodontal disease, kidney disease, diabetes, and stubborn diarrhea cases.  I would strongly encourage you to keep her on the diet you have her on.

As far as the spay, it is generally okay to leave her home alone the day after.  She will probably be given a collar that will prevent her from pulling the stitches out.  Depending on how groggy she is, it may be recommended to keep her in a crate or a closet where she won't be able to jump and hurt herself.  I find, though, that with the mild anesthesia they're using these days, they are fully awake by the next morning.  As long as the wound isn't bleeding (leaking some clearish yellow or pink fluid is normal and healthy), then I wouldn't be very worried.  If it makes you feel better, most animal hospitals will admit patients for a day of care when you're not home to tend to her.