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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To leave cat home alone

78 replies

monkeyallen49 · 20/07/2021 22:23

Family holiday booked for end of August. Usually one of my family would look after our cat while we are away but this time we are all going.

We live rurally and my cat is old, mean and very much an outdoor borderline feral cat. He spends most of his time in the fields and woods around our house. He comes in to be fed then he's scratching to be out again. I'm toying with the idea of asking our neighbour to feed him while we're away and keep an eye on him but basically to leave him outside. With appropriate shelter of course. My only worry is that something happens to him and we're not there.

I honestly feel like putting him in a cattery at his age would be very distressing for him. He hates being inside never mind cooped up. Any suggestions?

OP posts:

throwa · 21/07/2021 12:26

We have always had cat sitters (neighbours!) pop in and feed ours once a day when we're away. They have a cat flap, outdoor shelter and water and are highly proficient hunters, if all goes wrong. There is also a certain amount of reciprocity amongst cat owners (same with rodents, we have a guinea pig sitting network in our village as they're a bit specialist!). If we are only going away for 2 days then we will set up the automatic feeder, which has ice packs to keep the food fresh, and leave the cats to get on with it.

I once tried putting one in a cattery - he curled up in a corner, refused to eat, lost half his body weight, and when I reappeared after 10 days, he threw himself at me 'get me out of this place!' The cattery owner (who was lovely, as was the cattery itself) said that some cats just don't get on with catteries and would much prefer staying in their home environment.

We did have had one of ours (18 and with a cat version of dementia) wander off when we went on holiday, we think because things all changed. She was eventually found months later and survived another year or so, but even with her as the example we carried on with the sitters. There wouldn't have been anything we could have done to stop her wandering.

elsaesmeralda · 21/07/2021 12:26

See I've been toying doing this myself ! Go away for a week, no cat flap but have bought a little two storey cat house for the garden a few weeks ago, he will not go in it! My dad was going to come round twice a day to feed him but I'm worried about leaving him as he won't go in the cat house 🙄 I really hate sending him to the cattery, he's quite a nervous cat as it is and I know it stresses him out but I'd feel awful leaving him home locked out and thinking we'd abandoned him
If only he'd go in the cat house !

Fairyliz · 21/07/2021 12:26

Yes I’m another one with a semi feral cat who lives outside in summer.
We have a cat flap and a willing neighbour and everything has always been fine.
When my neighbour first looked after him she was a bit worried because he never drank his water. I had to explain he gets his liquid from all the mice he catches then eats on the patio, leaving their entrails as a sort of macabre art exhibit.

Ilovewillow · 21/07/2021 12:28

We always had a cat sitter when we had our cats as I hated the idea of a cautery. They came in twice a say to feed and make sure they were ok. They also used to spend time with them. No little tray but they would've cleaned this too. We had a cat flap so cats had free reign to come in and out anyway. It was a while ago now but it was about £3.50 per visit.

LizzieSiddal · 21/07/2021 12:30

I did this with my Cat, every single time we went away, (never more than a week). Our neighbour came to feed her once a day, she was absolutely fine! I actually think it would have been cruel to put her in a cattery as she was such an outdoor cat and used to roaming about all day (we are rural).

Emmelina · 21/07/2021 12:33

We employ a pet sitter who stops by and feeds pets/waters plants etc when we’re away. Basically what you’d ask a good neighbour to do :) if the neighbour is happy to do so, make sure they’re well stocked with everything the cat will need and knows who your vet is just in case.

KarmaStar · 21/07/2021 12:33

Fit a cat flap.Don't just lock up and go.
He might not spend much time indoors but it's his safe place.to return home and it's all locked up and empty would be beyond cruel.just because he likes to be outside doesn't mean he doesn't love you.

dopeyduck · 21/07/2021 12:35

Absolutely fine. Enjoy your long weekend.

FunnysInLaJardin · 21/07/2021 12:37

we always leave our cat at home when we go away, she would hate to be in a cattery.

We get a neighbour to feed her and she does have a cat flap and so comes and goes as she pleases

WitchesNStuff · 21/07/2021 12:47

We have food on a timer and usually get our neighbours daughter to drop in to spend some time with them. They are indoor cats but have enclosed access to the garden.

user1471543683 · 21/07/2021 12:55

We just left our cat from Mon to Fri. No cat flap so left our shed door ajar incase he wanted shelter and neighbour topped up food and water daily. He was fine 👍

Bettysnow · 21/07/2021 12:56

I left a tiny window open that she used to climb through although you might not not be comfortable doing that.
I left several bowls of water and loads of dry food out. She was fine although with cats they're crafty so tend not to depend on their owners soley for food. I think ours possibly had several other feeders in the vicinity as often she would land in to sleep having already clearly eaten.
Maybe ask your neighbour to change the water though and keep an eye out for him

BungleandGeorge · 21/07/2021 13:01

I don’t think an outdoor kennel is sufficient. If there’s a heatwave/ storms etc the cat might need proper shelter. Also, are you expecting the neighbour to hang around your house waiting for the cat to come in and eat their food? Or are you thinking of leaving it in the kennel which could be eaten by something else/ spoil/ have flies crawling on it. I think the concept of someone visiting once or twice a day is fine but you need to sort out a cat flap

AllThoseDirtyWords · 21/07/2021 13:04

I have a question, do you think it is OK to leave a cat overnight in the house? We need to be away from 11am to about 5/5pm the next day and cannot find a cat sitter. Neighbors are also away.

He would have lots of food/water left out and uses a litter tray. We don't have a cat flap but he doesn't go out a lot anyway.

Just worried as he is so used to us being here all time during lockdown and this is the first time we have been away for well over a year.

BungleandGeorge · 21/07/2021 13:07

@AllThoseDirtyWords

I have a question, do you think it is OK to leave a cat overnight in the house? We need to be away from 11am to about 5/5pm the next day and cannot find a cat sitter. Neighbors are also away.

He would have lots of food/water left out and uses a litter tray. We don't have a cat flap but he doesn't go out a lot anyway.

Just worried as he is so used to us being here all time during lockdown and this is the first time we have been away for well over a year.

Yes it’s fine, play with him before you go so he’s tired and will probably sleep a lot of that time! If you usually feed wet food get a timed feeder so that the routine is the same

CSIblonde · 21/07/2021 13:25

I'd go with the neighbour. My cat has a water bowl but she has to see you fill it before she'll touch it. If you don't, she'll divert to the bath & sit by the plughole crying 'til you turn the tap on 😁

99victoria · 21/07/2021 13:57

We have never put our 2 cats into a cattery. We put a cat flap in the summerhouse and we feed them there so when we go away we just get a friend or neighbour to pop in once a day to freshen up their food and water and then they come and go as they want.

Bbq1 · 21/07/2021 13:57

@monkeyallen49

It's a long weekend so would be Friday to Tuesday.

Do cat sitters exist lol? Presuming that would just be someone coming in to feed him which I'm hoping my neighbour would do.

Yes, we had a cat sitter 2 years running. Our rescue is an indoor cat through her own choosing. Our cat sitter would come in twice a day - feed her, clean her litter tray, spend a few minutes playing with her, water the plants and feed the fish it was a professional company and they would send little updates and photos throughout our holiday. About £100 a couple of years ago. My mum is available to do it this year though.

HerNameIsIncontinentiaButtocks · 21/07/2021 16:06

We always use family/neighbours/cat sitter with ours, twice a day. No problems at all.

Westchesterarms · 21/07/2021 16:17

My sister does cat sitting. She's actually just today come back from staying at someone's house in the next county. She was there four days. She also does local cat sitting, and goes round and spends half an hour petting the cat and checking everything's OK.

But your neighbour's a cheaper idea. Cat won't be fazed at all. Happy holidays.

CatBumJuice · 21/07/2021 16:20

We took our cats to a posh 'cat hotel' once, and they absolutely hated it. Last few times we've used a local cat sitter who comes each morning to feed them and set the cat timer for their evening meal. They are much happier with this!

Redtartanshoes · 21/07/2021 16:22

I do this with my 2 all the time. They have an automatic water dispenser and biscuit dispenser in a wee hut thing along with beds. Mate comes every day or 2 and puts meat down. They’d hate to be locked in-house or at kennels

Nanny0gg · 21/07/2021 16:26

@monkeyallen49

It's a long weekend so would be Friday to Tuesday.

Do cat sitters exist lol? Presuming that would just be someone coming in to feed him which I'm hoping my neighbour would do.

Leave him. Always left mine with someone just popping in twice a day

Saoirse82 · 21/07/2021 16:29

YANBU, my parents used to do this with their cat as she spent all her time outside and hated the cattery, she lived until she was 21 and it did her no harm at all. You can employ a cat sitter though, my sister just got one last week who came in twice a day and it was very reasonable imo!

Chanel05 · 21/07/2021 16:55

Will be fine! You can get a pet sitter though. I've had a lady a few times in my area for my cat. She comes twice a day and does things like put the bins out too and sits with the cat for half an hour per visit. It's £12 per day but cat is much more relaxed in home environment.

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