Is this cat going to be OK?

[Boxfuls]

BF has agreed to look after his parent's cat for a week while they're on holiday.

I kind of knew but hadn't paid much attention to the dates. In a flash of spontaneity, we booked a night away for an event were going to without remembering the dates clash. We were always going to be out for the day and back late, but now won't be back until late afternoon the following day.

BF has said cat will be fine, he'll leave out extra food and water, it will come and go through the cat flap as usual.

I know his mother worries if the cat is alone for long periods, even during the day and don't love the deception...

Personally I wouldn’t,

I always get a cat sitter if I’m going to be out of the house for more that 14/15 hours. I have two cats though and one would definitely eat all the food I put out straight away, whereas the other is more of a grazer so I doubt there’d be any left for him (wet food anyways, there’s always dry) when he came to look for some 😆

Is the cat in its own home, not staying at yours? If so, it will be fine imo

Yes, BF had agreed to "live" there for the week. They know he'll be working and out and about etc but had said he'd base himself there.

Can any neighbours pop in? The cat would probably ignore them!

Honestly I think this would be fine. You could get one of those timed cat feeders if you're really worried and want to be in his parents' good books, but I personlly wouldn't worry about my own cats in this scenario. I'd leave them plenty of dry food and water of course.

Most cats are quite happy to be left for a night. But you should tell his mum, I would be so annoyed if I asked someone to cat sit and they went away for a night!

The cat will be fine, cats sleep for 16 hours a day so it’ll be snoozing obliviously for most of the time you’re away. I think OP is worried that they’ll probably not tell BF’s mother what they’re doing and that amounts to deception. It sounds as if BF’s mother is over-anxious about the cat but that’s the way she is.

It's nothing to do with me. It's BF who needs to worry about good books.

My cat sitter ended up in hospital (on the ward) on day two of my week long holiday.

I was really worried about the cats. We had a neighbour pop in with food a couple times and top up water, but they were absolutely fine. When we got back it was like nothing had happened. They didn't even look that bothered to see us!

If you leave enough food and water it will be alright.

I have left my cats for 2 nights before with litter trays and food (they're normally outdoor cats). But I wouldn't leave them for longer and I wouldn't lie. Tell her - maybe she ca ask a friend to pop in on that day?

Yes, mum worries the cat will be lonely. BF also really loves the cat and usually takes his responsibilities very seriously when they're away, but he's messed up here and is trying to pretend it won't matter, although I can tell he's bothered by it. Both by letting down/deciding his mum and leaving the cat.

Honestly the cat won’t even notice! Give it extra
food, water and biscuits if it eats bix, and it’ll be fine. My friend was meant to cat sit one weekend and completely forgot, my cats were left from Friday to Sunday night and they literally didn’t care when we got home

This cat does hate it when parents are away. Always off its food and vomiting for the first couple of days.

I occasionally leave my own cat alone for similar periods of time. I think she'd rather I didn't, but she's always ok.

I always make sure:

• she has two bowls of water (in case one gets knocked over
• there is plenty of kibble in one bowl
• there is fresh food in another, put out just before we leave
• she has access to her litter box, which will have no poo or wee clumps in
• there's nothing lying around that she could get tangled or trapped in while we're out, eg knitting wool, plastic bags

If it were my cat I’d leave it. However as it’s not and your BF has promised to look notnleave the cat I would tell his mum and get either a neighbour to pop in at night and in the morning or a cat sittter.

The cat will probably be fine but if someone had agreed to look after my cats and then pissed off on holiday I would not be impressed.

I think you’ve answered your own question - no , it’s not okay.

My neighbour, whose cat I used to feed while she was away, used to leave a radio on a talk prog., usually R4 - for ‘company’. Seemed a good idea.

It was years ago now, neighbour died a few years ago, so I can now confess, OP, that I once forgot the cat for 2 days!! 😱

I felt awful, but he’d had dry food (all gone) and as soon as I was in the door he came charging down the stairs - wanting a cuddle! Loud purring as I held him - he was a lovely puss, so cuddly.

He didn’t seem desperately anxious for food at all.
I never told the neighbour!

It depends on the cat, a couple of mine are clingy and I wouldn't leave them overnight. It sounds as if this cat is similar. If he does leave him then I would lock him inside so no other cat can come in, or if anything happened to him while he was out you wouldn't be aware if he wasn't checked.

Not your problem then is it? If your BF needs to change plans he needs to use his words.

One night alone is fine unless the cat needs medication or something.

It’ll be fine. Unless they need meds, they will cope.

Buy 1 or 2 timed cat feeders. Feed them before you go and set the food to open at night and then in the morning.
Put extra water out and some extra dry food.
They will be fine.