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Original poster

Is it okay to leave a cat for 4 days

37 replies

Frankbutchersfangs · 09/07/2023 16:54

I’m going on a short break soon and can only get someone to come in and feed twice a day whilst I’m away (a relative). Is this okay? I’m getting bad anxiety about how she will cope, will she be alright or will she be lonely etc. but I can’t not go away for the rest of her years (she’s 5)

OP posts:
User13579367337 · 09/07/2023 16:57

It’s fine, better than putting it in a cattery. Mn gets weird about animals sometimes though so expect some posts calling you cruel 🙄

Astsjakksmso · 09/07/2023 16:57

Does cat have access to the outside? Will relative play with it a bit?
If so is fine

PriamFarrl · 09/07/2023 16:58

If someone is coming then it’s fine. Less stress than a cattery.

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Cats
Fantina · 09/07/2023 16:59

It’s fine. Do you have a cat flap?

Hollyhead · 09/07/2023 16:59

I’d say fine too, we always do this.

VimFuego101 · 09/07/2023 17:01

This is what we do with ours when we go away, they'd hate a cattery.

Goldenboysmum · 09/07/2023 17:02

I don't think my cat would bother if i was away for 4 weeks, as long as she was getting fed 🙄

Viewfrommyhouse · 09/07/2023 17:02

It's not ideal, but as long as its only once in a while, it's OK.

Chickenpastabowl · 09/07/2023 17:02

I used to do this for my grandparents (I worked near where they lived and popped in before and after work). It was better than a cattery (was tried once and cat wasn't happy). Worked for about 8 years. They did have access to outdoors and if they were around when I was there I'd spend some time playing with them.

QueefQueen80s · 09/07/2023 17:03

I've always done this, never had anyone check in. Just leave bowls of dry food, plenty of water bowls, plenty litter trays, doors all wedged open.
Soooooo much kinder than a cattery.

Chasingadvice · 09/07/2023 17:04

It'll live

lavenderlou · 09/07/2023 17:05

I leave my cat for two weeks every summer with someone coming in to feed. It's that or never go on holiday. Most cats prefer to be in their own environment.

TheSunnySide · 09/07/2023 17:08

I did this recently and had someone coming in for 4 days. One cat was very funny with me when I got back - I took him in as a stray so he is anxious. The other couldn’t care less. Both would have hated a cattery.

with mine, I have cat feeders I set up a couple of days before I go, so they know what is going to happen. Then someone came in once a day to make sure they had fresh water and new wet food.

dementedpixie · 09/07/2023 17:14

We've just been away for 2 weeks with a cat sitter coming in twice a day to feed and replenish the water bowl. They have a catflap so could go in and out when they wanted. We have done this since they were fairly young and they now know the woman that comes to feed them.

This year we set up cameras to record the feeding area in the kitchen so we could monitor when they were in as one cat especially had a habit of not being there when the cat sitter was there. Having the camera showed that he wasn't awol but was coming in at different times to her.

tidalway · 09/07/2023 17:17

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Nearlyadoctor · 09/07/2023 17:21

My only concern would be what if the cat was hit by a car etc. Would the person feeding them definitely check / wait around until they show up twice a day? I’m guessing as only 4 days you’re still contactable if they needed to take to vet etc, otherwise it’s a big responsibility for someone else .

MrsLangOnionsMcWeetabix · 09/07/2023 17:26

We get a professional pet sitter to visit once or twice a day and the cats stay indoors for the duration. They’re mostly indoors anyway and would hate a cattery. Getting a professional means we know they would be ok if there was an emergency.

MerryChristmasToYou · 09/07/2023 17:27

If she has access to a cat flap, she'll be fine.

Mangofandangoo · 09/07/2023 17:28

We leave our cat for 2 weeks quite regularly. We've got a cat-flap, an automatic cat feeder/waterer and family to pop and check on him.

He's not one bit arsed about it - he's pretty antisocial though

tidalway · 09/07/2023 17:31

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maddiemookins16mum · 09/07/2023 17:32

I always left mine for up to 4 nights. Plenty of water, dried food, machines that opened for fresh food and extra litter trays.

as usual, she ignored me for 2 days on my return.

dementedpixie · 09/07/2023 17:32

The cat could get injured when everyone was out at work so the outcome would be the same. I leave the vet details for the cat sitter

AngelsWithSilverWings · 09/07/2023 17:35

We leave our two cats for two weeks when we go away. A lovely lady comes in twice a day for half an hour at a time and feeds , cuddles and plays with them. She sends us photos and video clips every day. We tried a cattery and they both hated it. They are much happier chilling at home.

Scaraben · 09/07/2023 17:44

Our cats are much happier with a sitter too. She comes in, feeds them, plays, deals with litter tray and sends us nice pics. She has details of our vet for emergencies etc.

IknowYouButIdontLikeYou · 09/07/2023 17:47

Cats generally much prefer to be in their own surroundings, so your cat will be perfectly ok to be left with a cat-sitter going in to feed her. Ensure that dry food and water is available 24/7, and that the sitter gives wet food twice daily, and that the cat is kept in at nights (obviously with access to a litter tray)

Cat owner of many cats, over 43 years