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For 2 or 3 days, we leave them with food and water. Any longer and we still leave them but have someone come in to check on them and clean litter.

It's just for a few days we leave extra food and water and an extra litter box (we have 2 cats).

I make sure to leave food and fresh water, and make sure box is clean. I usually leave for 2-3 days. I would bring the cat with us but he hates going in the carrier and its too stressful for him.

After 2-3 days have someone come to the house to hang with them for a bit and feed and water them.  
Cats dont like to travel

We have four cats. If going away for one or two nights, we leave them with food/ water/ litter boxes. If more than two nights, we have someone come in daily and fill the food/ water dishes, and scoop out the litter boxes.  
In my 'previous life', I had one cat. She didn't mind travelling at all, so came with me. She did cross-country road trips (she'd use the litter box in the back of the SUV while driving), and even came camping in a tent!

1, he loved his carrier so we would take him with us - depending on the place we went. When it was 2 we started leaving them home for shorter durations 2-3 days. Any longer than that, we'd have someone stop in to clean litters, refresh water and food, or take them to family that were willing to take them. We have a couple more now, and refuse to impose that on family members, so when we plan to take a 2-3 week vacation next year we'll arrange for them to go to a "kennel" type place.

When we had a cat we would leave her up to 2 nights with the food/water dispenser. More than that and I would hire someone to check on her.  
 
Once we were away for a week or so and I sent her to a boarding kennel. She was a much better behaved cat after that, maybe she thought it was punishment?? LOL

Leave our cats for up to three days - see no reason not to. In fact, I think they appreciate you more when you come back!!  
 
I have a neighbor who runs over once or twice to make sure they are topped up with soft food and make sure the electricity has not gone out (as if you are away from over 48 hours and no one has checked the house, you would be out of luck with insurance if something happened)  
 
Couple of tips -  
 
Leave multiple water sources. We had one of those big reservoir ones that held over a litre of water, and one time one of the cats managed to knock it over. So we always leave a couple of bowls out. In the summer I fill a shallow bowl with ice cubes and then they have cold fresh water as it melts. They seem to like that.  
 
Make sure all your doors are PROPPED open. MAny years ago we had gone away for the weekend and my youngest cat somehow got herself locked in a bedroom. We had done a check before we left and she was sleeping on the bed. Somehow she ended up closing the door tight. We were gone from Friday night to Sunday night. Luckily my daughter had a couple of glasses of water on her bed table - and this cat always drank from glasses (gross!!). But of course, she pooped all over that room and was pretty bloody hungry when we got home.  
 
Since then we always have someone go over even if it is a very short overnight. You just never know.

Who do you hire? Is there anyone that does cat sitting?

Depending on the type of cat(s) you have depends on what I think you should do. Breed type is usually indicative of this. Most people think cats are just cats and they are independent. Mine gets very stressed when left alone for more than our normal work day so we have someone come check in on him and spend about an hour a day literally just petting and hanging out. Some cats are cool with being alone for longer periods. They get used to routine too, so I suspect many cats would become stressed at being alone too long.  
 
If you choose to leave them alone with food & water supply be sure to make sure there is no where they can get trapped. Like if you have doors that kind of close on their own.....I have had a past cat get trapped in a room after he closed the door on himself!  
 
And I would like to add about toys. I put away any with strings and such, I have seen him almost strangle himself while we are around!  
 
 
 
Edited by hatsoff, 2015-12-09 12:17:05

Get this  
www.litter-robot.com/litter-robot.aspx?id=13  
 
And you only gotta dump the collection box one a week. First thing we got when the wife wanted cats. Having cats and not having to scoop poop is great would highly recommend it. Don't let the cost out you off. It was well worth the price to never have to deal with cat poop again

Yes, I agree with what seems to be the consensus here. I'll leave my furbaby with plenty food and water for one or two nights. Any longer than that and she gets boarded or if possible left with friends.

the weekend is ok. Litter boxes cleaned out and food and water loaded up and then some. (I also try to hide some treats for them to find) But anything more than that I have someone check up on them or transfer them to another home for that time period I am away. I hope they don't get lonely but they do have each other too.

Garret said "Get this   www.litter-robot.com/litter-robot.aspx?id=13     And you only gotta dump the collection box one a week. First thing we got when the wife wanted cats. Having cats and not having to scoop poop is great would highly recommend it. Don't let the cost out you off. It was well worth the price to never have to deal with cat poop again "

We have the robot - we are on our second one already (my oldest cat is 16 years old) and have been so happy with them.  
 
I know there are pricey, but they are so much better than any other "automatic" box we have seen or heard of. Plus, you do not have to use specialty liners - if you find the right size of garbage bags they work well.  
 
The only complaint I have is the dome is awkward to clean, so it gets hosed down a couple of times through the year outdoors.  
 
I do put out a second regular box if we go away too.

I would leave the cat at home. Leave a big bowl of food and water.  
 
If it's more than 4 days, get someone to check and change the litter

I have a flexible schedule. I'm very trustworthy and love animals. Willing to cat sit and check in and play, feed and water your pets for a reasonable daily fee if anyone has to be away longer than a few days. I've done this for friends and family and have my own kitty-cat and dog myself that I spoil. References available anytime. PM me if you need a watchful eye.