As I think about planning an upcoming summer vacation, I feel a familiar wave of anxiety and dread. The thought of leaving cats home all alone steals some of the joy from anticipating a much-needed vacation. I'm not alone in these concerns, and many of my therapy clients have expressed similar distress over the years.

In some cases, it might be feasible to take your pet with you so that you can enjoy your trip together. However, that is impossible in many instances, so here are some tips to help you cope during your time away.

It can be helpful to ask yourself why leaving your pet on vacation is hard. For example:

Sometimes, people attribute their childhood experiences to their pets. For example, someone who felt abandoned by........

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