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AIBU?

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Original poster

...to think she should have mentioned the cat???

82 replies

EmmaGrundyForPM · 27/08/2018 07:46

We arrived at our holiday villa in Greece last night quite late, In the dark. Lovely owner came and met us, showed us round the villa, explained how to work the air conditioning, when the pool guy would turn up etc. Also left lots of lovely things for us - beer wine, Jams, honey, butter, bread, selection of English tea. Her English was excellent. She told us that if we had any problems to call her and she would come but she lives about an hour away. All good and lovely.

We've woken up this morning to the sound
scratcing at the front door. Went out to investigate and there is a cat sitting there. Not a feral cat - plenty of those around and they are very thin and mangy. This cat is sleek, well fed and has a collar and bell, so clearly belongs to someone. She then walks very expectantly over to a cupboard under the porch where I realise there's a pile of foil trays of cat food and then next to the cupboard are two bowls, one with water in and one which clearly is used for cat food. Hadn't noticed these last night as it was dark. And the owner didn't mention it.

So, it appears that the cat comes with the villa. That's ok, we are cat lovers so not a big deal. But is it not a bit odd for the owner not to mention it? Also, the cat food will last 3 days if we feed her twice a day so we'll need to go and buy more cat food.

OP posts:
NynaeveSedai · 27/08/2018 07:48

Whaaaaat?
Call the owner and make a stink! She should be arranging someone to feed the cat and buying enough food. It's outrageous that she didn't mention that though!

Cheby · 27/08/2018 07:49

Yeah, I mean, I love cats but this is bonkers.

Ansumpasty · 27/08/2018 07:50

I bet it’s not her cat, just one of those cats that come by for food. Probably comes round a lot, so she buys food in, etc.
If the owner doesn’t actually live at the villa, there will be times that it’s empty and the cat goes and eats at its actual home (or one of its other places where people feed it!).

VimFuego101 · 27/08/2018 07:50

That's bizarre. I would call the owner to restock the cat food, I wouldn't be making a separate trip. I love cats so it wouldn't be a problem really, but what if you were allergic or just didn't want the responsibility?

Hassled · 27/08/2018 07:50

That is so weird. What if one of you were very allergic? Or just hated cats? Yes, she should have bloody mentioned the cat. Definitely ring re food supplies - that is absolutely not your problem.

CripsSandwiches · 27/08/2018 07:51

Yeah I love cats and wouldn't mind but what if you were allergic? Or wanted to leave the villa for a few days?

HotSauceCommittee · 27/08/2018 07:51

I would personally be delighted, as would my children, but not my DH or my best friend who is asthmatic and triggered by cat dander.
YANBU, but let me know where the villa is so we can go and stay there next year?

StarfishSandwich · 27/08/2018 07:52

That’s madness! What if one of you was seeverely allergic?

I love animals and would be thrilled with a bonus holiday cat but I’m sure many wouldn’t!

KN2212 · 27/08/2018 07:54

I wouldn’t ‘make a stink’ Hmm Jeez it was late as you say and perhaps she forgot. She may even have an arrangement with a neighbour to feed the cat whilst the villa is occupied but the cat is coming to you out of habit.

I would give the landlady a friendly phone call (especially since everything else is pretty nice) and just ask if it’s their cat and if so should you feed it? It may even be a neighbours cat which the landlady occasionally feeds/waters out of kindness (our cat definitely has a few old ladies on our street who feed him in exchange for cuddles)

If she says yes it is her cat though and wants you to feed him just mention the food is nearly gone. She may have more stashed somewhere else in the house (I really wouldn’t over react at the stage cats are little beggars 🙈) x

Sparklingbrook · 27/08/2018 07:54

Yes she should have mentioned it. Anyone with an allergy would have a miserable time of it.

I would be absolutely thrilled but that's not the point!

Original poster
EmmaGrundyForPM · 27/08/2018 07:55

The owner was lovely. So I dont really want to.make a fuss. But I just think.its odd. If the cat doesn't belong here you'd think she's have said "you might find the neighbours cat coming round but just ignore her if you don't like cats." It's the fact there's a stock.of cat food, plus food and water bowls. Owner has house elsewhere so wouldn't be feeding the cat if the rental.people weren't.

OP posts:
AdoreTheBeach · 27/08/2018 07:56

Interesting as of the villa was thoroughly cleaned after last let, the food would’ve been gone. That it is there backs up the cat comes with the house.

Any mention in trip advisor? Most definitely should be in listing - what if you’re allergic?

I know many places in Europe there are the stray cats and that in many let’s, people will feed them scraps so they always come back. It could be this cat has many homes, your holiday key being one. Just feed it once a day. I’d ring the owner now though and ask about the cat/cat food situation.

BTW - still be vigilant about fleas, tics, worms etc. Just because the cat is well fed, if it really is just for the holiday let, you can’t be sure it’s taken to vet nor given regular preventative treatments.

Ohyesiam · 27/08/2018 08:01

To the people saying what if you were allergic? No one allergic to cats would book a Greek holiday as Greece is so full of cats.
Odd that she didn’t mention it, call and ask her about it.

Original poster
EmmaGrundyForPM · 27/08/2018 08:03

Just to clarify, all the cat stuff is outside so no triggering of allergies unless you actually touch it. And there are feral cats around so she's not the only cat, it's just that she's clearly a cat that belongs to someone.

Dh is a sucker for cats and has fed her...

...to think she should have mentioned the cat???
OP posts:
PorkFlute · 27/08/2018 08:04

I think it’s a cultural thing. I have a European friend who feeds any cat that comes by and has cat stuff despite not having a cat.
If you don’t want it bothering you then ignore it. I’m sure it’s used to finding food elsewhere when the property isn’t occupied.
It would be the highlight of the holiday if I went with my kids though and they would probably just want to stay in the villa with the cat!

Teacherlikemisstrunchball · 27/08/2018 08:05

To the people saying what if you were allergic? No one allergic to cats would book a Greek holiday as Greece is so full of cats.

What a strange thing to say! I’m very allergic to cats and went to Greece for two weeks. Why wouldn’t I?! There was a cat that prowled around outside our villa,pestering for food and the villa manager said we were more than welcome to feed it. I just completely ignored it and it didn’t bother us.

Namechangeforthiscancershit · 27/08/2018 08:06

Ahhh off topic but isn’t she pretty?

caoraich · 27/08/2018 08:07

Just ring the owner and check.
This recently happened to friends of ours - their neighbour is a holiday villa. They have a very friendly cat who always seemed to be out visiting at teatime. Turned out cat loving guests were feeding cat, buying cat food and then leaving it "for the next people", in the same way as you might leave a jar of coffee!
People were writing about the lovely cat in the guestbook too.
After reading the property's online reviews- "lovely house, comes with a pet!!" Our friends ended up cat proofing their garden as the cat kept being sick due to overfeeding !

Original poster
EmmaGrundyForPM · 27/08/2018 08:10

I did wonder if previous guests had left the food but then owner would have removed, or said something about it?

OP posts:
myusernamewastakenbyme · 27/08/2018 08:11

I would be delighted too....what a lovely cat....I was in Crete last year and spent a fortune feeding the local cats...

TallSlutNoPantiesthe2nd · 27/08/2018 08:14

If they're outside, could the bowls be for feeding the feral cats and this pet cat belongs to someone else but is just being greedy?

TallSlutNoPantiesthe2nd · 27/08/2018 08:15

I would call her and ask tbh.

AltheaorDonna · 27/08/2018 08:18

This happened to me in an apartment rental in Rome. I wouldn't have minded as I love cats and have two of my own, but I was travelling with my dad who was asthmatic and a bit allergic. I asked to be moved but there was nowhere they could move me to so we put up with it, the cat actually slept in my bed. When we got back I complained and got a 50% refund.

Mrsmadevans · 27/08/2018 08:20

She looks beautiful, give in OP and go and buy the cat food and a pretty collar/toys/treats/bed for the darling girl , you know you want to.

ApolloandDaphne · 27/08/2018 08:24

It is probably a cat that goes from villa to villa looking for food, not specifically a cat that stays at that villa. If you don't want to feed it then don't. I am sure it will get fed elsewhere.

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