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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be totally paranoid about leaving cats alone

36 replies

splendidisolation · 19/09/2017 09:00

I have 2 cats and I get so paranoid about leaving them to go away for a few days. My DP thinks I'm pathetic (doesnt say so, but I can see it on his face 🙄).

One of them is really clingy and follows me around for cuddles and hates other people, the other is a total mischief maker. So basically I get so paranoid thinking the clingy one is going to feel all lonely and abandonned, and the mischiefy one is going to pull a bookshelf down on top of himself or something.

I go away for 4 or 5 days every now and then, I have a really good petsitter who comes in and sends me photos and plays with them and feeds them for an hour each day, plus my DP stays over one night during the 4/5 days but Im just so neurotic.

What if they swallow a tack or something? What if they jump behind the fridge and get electrocuted? What if they manage to turn a tap on and drown in a flooded house?

As my DP keeps saying: "they're just animals (...) what are you going to be like if we have kids????"

I know he's right...I know you can buy those camera things but that would just make me worse ("OMG DP, she's drinking out the toilet, what if she gets stuck and drowns, you need to GET OVER THERE RIGHT NOW!!!!!!").

Please someone tell me I'm not alone in this but am also BU. 😁 i really want to be able to go away and just relax!

OP posts:
MrTrebus · 19/09/2017 09:04

Have a baby. I have 2 cats and then had a baby and now I don't worry about them. Still love them and look after them but no longer worry about them.

MrTrebus · 19/09/2017 09:05

**light hearted

OliviaStabler · 19/09/2017 09:06

I am just like this. I hate leaving my cat. My Dad always cat sits for me so I know she is safe and loved. However I do talk to my cat on Skype daily while away Grin

Wolfiefan · 19/09/2017 09:08

I leave mine in a cattery. They are in a safe and secure space and there are people about all day. I wouldn't leave them with a pet sitter. I would worry they would escape the house and not come back or do something stupid and there would be no one there to see.

Lweji · 19/09/2017 09:09

Or don't have a baby as you'll kill yourself worrying about it.

You must practice letting go. Make a conscious effort and tell the pet sitter not to send photos.
And don't get a camera.

troodiedoo · 19/09/2017 09:09

Snap @Mrtrebus. They just annoy me now Grin

OP they will be fine. Maybe check for stray tacks before you go. If you have taps that are easily turned on then secure them somehow.

shouldwestayorshouldwego · 19/09/2017 09:11

They are able to live alone in the wild from a young age. Hanging around your house for a few days won't harm them. Do you go out to work? Shopping? Friend's house? They can get up to any mischief that they are going to in an hour as in a day. We don't let ours out when we are away but other than that I think they quite like some peace and quiet sometimes!

EachandEveryone · 19/09/2017 09:12

I use a cattery too I can't settle if they are with a sitter

MoonfaceAndSilky · 19/09/2017 09:13

I leave mine in a cattery. They are in a safe and secure space and there are people about all day
Have a read of the other thread on here about the cattery losing the cat through a hole in the roof!
Op you need to chill, just think the cats are adults and they will be fine Smile

Wolfiefan · 19/09/2017 09:16

I trust our cattery. They are awesome. My girls are tortie terrors. I wouldn't dare leave them home alone! Pretty sure my house insurance wouldn't cover it either! Grin

Original poster
splendidisolation · 19/09/2017 09:16

Hmmm. Now I'm wondering about the cattery thing. Isn't that more stressful for them? Because @Wolfiefan I agree, I also worry about them bolting out front door with sitter, although it's never happened...

OP posts:
Original poster
splendidisolation · 19/09/2017 09:18

@EachandEveryone so its not just me! I dont know why but maybe the cattery would actually reassure me more. I was just considered that because I know cats hate change/disruption, theyd hate being moved.

OP posts:
Mulberry72 · 19/09/2017 09:21

I have 4 cats, ranging from an 18 year grumpy old woman to a 2 year old little girl who is my shadow. They are probably left alone (with pet sitter obvs) for about 9-10 weeks of the year and they've never come to any harm.

I was finished from work in Dec 2014 on ill health grounds so I'm home all the time now and I can confirm that all mine do is eat or sleep all day. I'm sure yours are exactly the same.

Gottalovesummer · 19/09/2017 09:22

Totally get where you're coming from OP! I miss my cat like crazy when we go away. I work from home so she's used to company all the time. I've got a fab sitter who comes in 2/3 times a day and spends more time with her than I would expect really, so she's very well looked after

Doesn't stop my cat sulking when I get back (24 hours last time) so I am clearly being punished!

thecatsarecrazy · 19/09/2017 09:25

We went away August bank hol a last min thing so all catteries were full. We have just put brand new carpets down and i was worried about leaving them. My mil came round every day to feed them and report back. They were fine but i was on edge.

ginauk84 · 19/09/2017 09:34

Could you not rig a webcam up in the room they are stopping in as I assume they don't have the run of the house when they are left alone? You can pick them up for less than £30 and put it on an app on your phone.

I leave mine at home as they have a safe utility room which is bigger than any cattery they would stay in and less stressful as they are somewhere they new. My mum goes in and spends time with them, feeds them, cleans them out, plays with them etc. I can log in to the camera and watch them :)

ginauk84 · 19/09/2017 09:35

somewhere they know.

spaghettithrower · 19/09/2017 09:41

Worry about mine too but they have an amazing petsitter who comes twice a day.
You can minimize hazards before going away by making sure you hoover thoroughly so there are no tacks lying around. Keep the toilet lid closed. Close some doors so they only have access to certain parts of the house. Electric hob switched off at the fusebox or where ever the main switch is so that little feet can't accidentally switch it on.
Is there anyway of having two doors between them and the outside - I have a small entrance hallway and when I am away the inner door is closed so that they can't make a run for it when the petsitter comes in.

I worry about mine too but they could have an accident or do something silly when you are in another room or when you are out for the day.
I don't think mine do anything much when I am not there. If I am away a couple of weeks they put weight on so I presume they are sleeping and eating instead of running around the house which they do all the time when I am at home.

Wolfiefan · 19/09/2017 09:47

Mine are a funny pair. They don't have a catflap. I don't think they would come back for a stranger. If we had a porch (so two front doors) maybe I would worry less. But still.
At least this way I know there is someone about too.

Mollybear12 · 19/09/2017 10:13

I'm with you, I worry. I have 2 one that does her own thing she's in and out , but the other is like a baby! He loves cuddles hates being on his own, normally he goes in the cattery as they love him and as he's so cuddly they always have him in the office with them, but it was full last week and we went away for the weekend, I was worried , someone went in to feed him but that was it, next time it the cattery or I'm not going, wasn't worth it, maybe just a cat to some but he's my cat and I love him 😻 xx

RolandDeschain · 19/09/2017 10:17

I worry too, despite knowing that it's silly. My main worry is that the house will burn down while I'm away and no one will be there to save them. Irrational I know.

5rivers7hills · 19/09/2017 10:19

I pay for a cat sitter to come and live at my house (so a house and pet cat sitter).

Can you do this if you are anxious?

EachandEveryone · 19/09/2017 10:31

I have a posh cattery on a farm they love going and are booked in for a week next month and again at xmas. Ive never had any lck with cat sitters and how do you honestly know what they do really? I have a neighbour who comes in if its a last minute trip but she wont stay long. They are safer in a cattery than at home. Id be terrified of the baby getting out or Daphne getting into a sulk and not coming home. Also i worry about fires in flats.

Original poster
splendidisolation · 19/09/2017 10:40

Guys you've reassured me that I'm not crazy.

I'm going to investigate the cattery idea. Always thought they would find that more traumatic than staying at home...

OP posts:
melj1213 · 19/09/2017 10:55

My two house cats are more than happy to be left at home while I'm away - they hate the cattery because it's too stressful for them (they were both rescues so I think it brings back their memories of being in the rescue centres for them because the few times they have been in the cattery they are always super highly strung and it took them weeks to re-settle at home) and I work long hours so they are used to amusing themselves for 7/8 hours a day anyway. On my days off when I'm having a "home day" they spend most of the day sleeping and lying around doing not much ... that doesn't really change when I'm away.

I pay one of my teenage cousins to come and feed and care for them. I trust her not to have wild parties at my house so she is more than welcome to come and go as she likes - if she wants to hang out with her friends in the afternoon in my lounge, stay and do her homework after school or just crash at mine the odd night to get out of her house of brothers (she's the only girl with 5 brothers) that's totally fine by me - as long as she comes at least once a day to feed/water/scoop the litter tray & spend a little time with them (and leave the TV on for them when she leaves so they have some background noise for a couple of hours before it shuts off automatically)