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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I know feck all about cats, but surely this isnt right?! aibu to interfere?

94 replies

Dontunderstand01 · 28/05/2015 18:00

Friend has just got kitten, 6 weeks old. She is going on holiday a week on sat, for a whole week. Kitten will be left alone, with someone popping in once or twice a day. Aibu to think the kitten is too small and likely to hurt herself? I have never had a pet (allergies) so I don't know if I am being ott, but I am concerned for the pet.

I have tried to mention my concerns but she dismissed them. If I call the rscpa, or the owner of her flat, she will probably think its me because I already said I was concerned. She also has fallen out with a neighbour and I worry if I report her she would unfairly blame it on her.

Cat owners-help!

OP posts:
Pipbin · 28/05/2015 18:03

For an adult cat that would be fine.
Not really for a kitten though, not that young. I've only ever had adult cats though so I'm not sure. Someone wiser will be along soon.
May be you could call RSPCA or cats protection for advice?

TheGirlOnTheLanding · 28/05/2015 18:04

No, I wouldn't leave a kitten that age on its own - it's only just left its mum and litter mates. I don't think I'd be happy to leave an older cat either if it had arrived so recently. They need a while to settle in. Why on earth did she take it knowing she was about to go away? Surely she could have arranged a more convenient date? Don't know what you can do though, unless you're willing to have it while she is away?

crassula · 28/05/2015 18:05

At six weeks the kitten should still be with its mother. Definitely too small to be alone for a whole week. Can't anyone take it for the week?

Chippychop · 28/05/2015 18:06

No way that's not right it's just a baby

Chardonnay73 · 28/05/2015 18:07

Way too young IMO. I have a 6 month old and have just started to leave her with a pet sitter coming in twice a day, and even now I worry.

Can the kitten not go back to its mum for the week? Tbh, I though 10-12 weeks was the age for kittens to leave their mum? Aww I feel all sad for it now Sad

ShowMeYourTARDIS · 28/05/2015 18:07

6 weeks is so little. They can go downhill very quickly at that age. They should be fed 2-3x a day too.

Also, why did she get a kitten right before going on holiday?!?

bishboschone · 28/05/2015 18:08

It's too young to be away from its mother . 12 weeks is more usual although we had our boys from about 6 weeks but I rescued them from being dumped so slightly different . The kitten will need to be with someone . At that age it would be better to go and stay with someone and be crated for safety , being allowed out at safe times for cuddles etc. poor kitten .

addicted2cake · 28/05/2015 18:10

When I got kittens they were due to leave their mother at 8 weeks old just a few days before our booked holiday. I asked my friend who I was getting the kittens from to keep hold of them with the adult mother cat until we got back from our holiday.
I think at 6 weeks old a kitten should still be with its mother and that its definitely too young to be left alone with only a visit for feeding it twice a day.
You are not being ott, please ask the RSPCA for further advice.

championnibbler · 28/05/2015 18:12

your friend is mean and thoughtless.
that kitten is only a baby. what an incredibly wankey thing to do, leaving it on its own like that!

ShowMeYourTARDIS · 28/05/2015 18:14

I work at an animal rescue and we often get orphaned and abandoned kittens. They are usually okay without their mum as long as they have an experienced caretaker. We wouldn't let such a little kitten go home yet, unless it was with someone who had raised kittens before. Sometimes they aren't even eating solid (tinned) food consistently.

Optimist1 · 28/05/2015 18:15

As PPs have said, 6 weeks is very young to adopt a kitten, and your friend is irresponsible to have given one a home before she was going away. At that age I would expect to be giving three feeds a day, and providing lots of stimulation.

Stinkersmum · 28/05/2015 18:17

As per pp's, the kitten shouldn't even be away from its mother at 6 weeks, let alone be left alone for a whole week, that's horrifyingly cruel. Angry

Welshmaenad · 28/05/2015 18:18

I'm quite cavalier about leaving my adult cats with two daily drop ins from a neighbour but no way would leave a kitten that age. It should still be with its mum in an ideal world. She needs someone to physically take the kitten for the week.

ChubbyKitty · 28/05/2015 18:19

Yanbu, 6 weeks is much too young, I'm surprised she's been allowed to take it so soon as mine was around 8/9 weeks when she came home - at 6 weeks she was still so diddy and still relying on her mum a lot!

I couldn't leave such a tiny one, especially if it will only been checked on twice a day, I'm sure the kitten food box says they need 3-4 small meals a day?

oddfodd · 28/05/2015 18:22

What a stupid, stupid, selfish thing to do.

It's far too young to be apart from its mum and far too young to be left.

Your friend sounds like a very unsuitable pet owner.

hesterton · 28/05/2015 18:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

pumpkinpie5 · 28/05/2015 18:28

I have worked for two national rescue organisations and there is no way we would ever be homing a kitten at this age. We home at nine weeks after first vaccination. This kitten should not be away from mum and litter mates let alone in a house on its own. Yes, it should b fed small meals three or four times a day, and could quite easily injure itself not to mention be very lonely and traumatised left on its own for that period of time. It is likely to only just have started solids and if with mum would be still relying on her. I would definitely report and I would also be very concerned about where she got it from as they are obviously homing kittens far too young and very irresponsibly.

flicksake · 28/05/2015 18:30

Bloody irresponsible idiot. Please report this to the RSPCA.

MrsHathaway · 28/05/2015 18:32

I agree with pps - kittens shouldn't leave their mothers until at least 8 weeks and preferably more like 12-13.

Poor little mite. It will cry and cry and shred every scrap of soft furnishings it can find. That might persuade her...

Chardonnay73 · 28/05/2015 18:32

In fact thinking about this, I would report to RSPCA, poor little mite Sad

sparkysparkysparky · 28/05/2015 18:34

And this is why we are waiting until after we come back from holiday before adopting a rescue kitten. It needs time, love, play and attention to settle in.
I would report it to the Rspca.

PeppermintCrayon · 28/05/2015 18:46

This is cruel and stupid. I would report it and frankly wouldn't give a shit if I lost a friendship with someone so selfish and heartless.

ArseForElbow · 28/05/2015 18:51

YANBU to interfere at all, as PPs have said the kitten is way to young to be away from it's mother never mind left alone for a week, I would have to do something if it were me.

sparkysparkysparky · 28/05/2015 18:56

Tell her about the mess it will make and tell her that its personality is formed in these early weeks. She is in for a lifetime of fearfulness on the cat's part if left so young.

Butterflywings168 · 28/05/2015 18:57

Agree with pps. Poor baby Sad

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