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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

how long would you leave your cats alone for

61 replies

wtfisgoingonhere · 12/11/2015 19:00

We have 2 cats; 2 years old (if that's relevant?) who are exclusively INDOOR cats.

(I realise some people have differing opinions on cats being indoor cats, but am not asking about that, just mentioned it as it's relevant to my aibu)

I will admit they are quite spoilt and showered with attention and I do kind of treat them like 'children' at times! (We don't have children)

I love them to bits but have a dilemma coming up - my sister's wedding, which means me staying away overnight for a couple of nights

Previously when we've been on holiday my mum has visited (daily) to feed them, top up water etc and give them a bit of a fuss...

Obviously my mum is going to be at the wedding too .
We don't know our neighbours that well as recently moved house, and don't really have any close friends I could ask to pop in

How long would you leave cats for in this circumstance, assuming the litter trays been changed and food/drink topped up?

This is a new dilemma for me and I genuinely don't know what to do or what is ok to do and I'm getting worked up about it

Suggestions welcome

OP posts:

Junosmum · 12/11/2015 23:20

2 nights with a mega bowl of food and several water bowls.

Ours are outdoor cats but can be in for a couple of days if needs be. Can't do it anymore though as one is in medication3 times a day!

Runkittyrun · 12/11/2015 23:28

If you do decide to look for a cat sitter, then I'd suggest checking whether they use branded/company transport when they're looking after your cats. We had a cat sitter come for an initial meeting in a company branded car - which they swore wasn't used for visits. However we'd seen them nearby when they were doing sitting duties.

Put us off as it advertises that you're away to anyone passing and a potential security risk.

Sunbeam18 · 12/11/2015 23:30

Would a friend take them to stay in her/his house? I know you said you don't have close friends nearby to pop in to feed the cats, but could you take them to stay with a friend who lives a short distance away? My cat goes to stay with my friend ( who he now regards as a second mum) when I'm away - much nicer than a cattery or being alone. I wouldn't leave him alone for more than 24 hours.

Stingslikeabee · 12/11/2015 23:37

Mines an outdoor cat but he's been fine for 2 nights, we just keep him in with plenty of food, water and litter. I don't think he misses us, he just sleeps I think, usually comes strolling downstairs yawning away when we get back home.

MyHovercraftIsFullOfEels · 13/11/2015 00:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CakeNinja · 13/11/2015 00:14

I don't have cats or any pets for that matter but I'd happily pop in once or twice a day to feed a neighbours cats, empty litter trays (so long as it just involved emptying and refilling, I wouldn't be scooping any shit up!) and play for 20 minutes a time, without any payment at all.
i was once asked to feed my ndns Guinea pigs, I went round, they showed me where the food was and and off they went on holiday for a week.
That evening, I went round to feed them and realised they hadn't given me a key. We didn't have each other's numbers as we didn't know them well.
Fortunately their fence panels had previously blown down and they hadn't got round to replacing them. And their tiny back bedroom window had been left open. I got a ladder, found a rope in their garden and managed to hook the bigger window open as the handle hadn't been clicked closed properly! Phew!
I managed to commando roll through the window, feed the guineas and take the back door key on my way out to gain easier access for the next week!
It was quite a funny story to tell them on their arrival home

SingingSamosa · 13/11/2015 00:15

We will leave our cat for up to 5 days on her own but she's got a cat flap so can come and go as she pleases. She also refuses to eat 'wet' food so when we go away we leave a giant bowl of water and a giant bowl of her dry food. If we are away for longer than that then I have a fairly local friend who can pop in every three or four days. This is mainly because my cat is a prolific hunter and often leaves us presents! My friend comes by mainly to change the water and check for dead beasties

We've tried ours in a cattery and she was utterly miserable being cooped up so it's much nicer for her to stay in her own home.

Shockers · 13/11/2015 00:22

I've left mine once, for two nights, with an automatic feeder. He was absolutely fine... in fact he survived that better than when we had a house sitter, as she put him out and forgot to let him back in .

SecretWitch · 13/11/2015 00:27

MyHoverCraft, stop being so nasty.

We get a sitter in to mind our five cats when we are going to be away longer than 48 hours. We would rather our little herd be at home where they are comfortable.

Pobspits · 13/11/2015 00:29

We have a 12 year old indoor cat. She isn't vacvinated because she can't be for medical reasons. She usually goes to a friends 'on holiday' when we're away.

I have twice left her for 36 hours with various water sources and dry food. However I wouldn't do it without someone close by having a key - what if I got delayed or something?

UsedToBeAPaxmanFan · 13/11/2015 06:22

If they are indoor cats I wouldn't leave them for more than 24 hours because of the litter tray.

I would try to get past your fear of having people in the house, and ask around your neighbors if any if their teenagers want to earn a few quid. We've only ever had to use a cattery a couple of times, otherwise I've always found a willing teenager. If you really don't want a stranger in the house, ask a friend you trust.

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