Leaving lights on timer when away

[Sayoonara]

I've seen some people say they leave their lights on a timer when away. I've never done this and am wondering if I should, when away at Christmas.

My house isn't pitch black at night as there are street lights and a neighbour with a glaring garden light. When I put the lights out at night my cat promptly goes downstairs for a few hours to look for insects / watch for intruders/ eat / whatever other cat business she has. So she seems fine in the dark then.

I do have a timer, so could use it. Does everyone else use them?

I will leave mine on a timer a couple of hours every evening so my neighbour doesn’t have to come in to a dark,unfamiliar house to feed him!

I have several timers set up around the house all the time in different rooms including a Tapo smart plug which comes on randomly to make it look more authentically like someone is in the house. All lamps with 3w bulbs, and we are in and out of the rooms when we are at home anyway, so it’s not terribly expensive to run.

This. It's something I always used to do before I ever had cats when I would work away most of the time during the week, to deter burglars.

We always do, and do it for the cats too 😁

We will be leaving Dcat for the first time for one night this Christmas with someone popping in to feed her and check on her twice a day.

We will be leaving lights on, radio on, as much as we can to make her feel comfortable.

I can’t bear it, I’m so stressed about leaving her, it’s slightly pathetic🫣 We need to be with family after losing my brother this year and I need to put them first even though all my instincts say come back in the evening for the flipping cat🙄

If you're pathetic I am too @Doyouthinktheyknow ! I just cannot leave Elton alone overnight even though everyone thinks I'm mad. Instead I get ripped off by cat sitters who get £20 for rocking up after dinner and literally going just going upstairs to bed in my house. Still it keeps him happy 😊

Sorry for the loss of your brother.

Please try not to stress about leaving Dcat alone for one night. I have a massively clingy cat and I hated leaving her the first time. She was absolutely fine, barely acknowledged my return.

I'm leaving her 4 nights this time which is the maximum I do with just having a day-sitter pop in. Any longer than that and I get a live-in sitter.

Have you thought of a pet camera, so you can see what DCat is doing? I just bought one, I'm going to set it up tomorrow. It will put my mind at rest if I can see her when I'm away.

It certainly puts me off, but I can't speak for your cat.

A radio can be good backgroup noise for a cat, although as long as it is not Zoe Ball!). Actually it is good for us too, it can get a bit hum-drum rummaging through drawers and cupboards, even at Christmas - but I digress.

Thank you.

I have thought about a camera but I worry it will be worse if she is distressed as there won’t be much I can do🫣 I am definitely overthinking, I might get a camera, thanks for the suggestion.

She’s a clingy ragdoll who follows me around the house so I think it’s going to be difficult for her but being Christmas, I haven’t been able to find anyone to stay over.

When we go out, she normally shouts outside ds2’s door until he lets her in and stays with him until we return and then she forgets ds2 exists and comes back to me🤣

Bloody cats, no one told me it would be like this😜 And my family think I’m a little bit mad but we know our cats don’t we😻

I’ve used a light timer during holidays for peace of mind, especially when I’m away for a few days. It’s not just about burglars—it also helps maintain a routine for pets. If you already have a timer, it's worth using! I sometimes test mine beforehand using an online web timer just to sync things right and keep timing consistent.