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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Neighbours asking me to “cat sit”

239 replies

Fire9636 · 20/10/2023 07:42

Neighbours a few doors down have asked me to feed their cat whilst they’re away. Not really put out by this happy to help although don’t have any pets of my own. Anyway they’ve gone for a week and it transpired last night when they came to drop the food off that the cat will be outside the whole week and they want me to feed it outside? They don’t have a cat flap and the cat has no access to the house.

I was to shocked to say anything last night but went looking for the cat when this awful weather started and found it crying at the door of its home to be let in. I’ve managed to coax it to mine.

is this reportable or am I out of touch and this is fine for cats?

OP posts:
Pottedpalm · 20/10/2023 08:24

KirstenBlest · 20/10/2023 07:52

The cat has a thick furry waterproof coat and is quite able to get a takeaway or drink from a puddle.

This made me laugh even though I love cats and currently feed a local cat that can’t get into its own home as their horrible aggressive dog guards the cat flap 😿

Saisong · 20/10/2023 08:26

Just to add another perspective. I have a cat and a neighbours teen looks after her when we go away (in summer I might add). Although the cat is an indoors/ outdoors type she chooses to stay out in those circumstances (also no cat flap). She is shy of other people, even this kid who has been visiting her for years. She will come over and eat food in her company, and even accept a few pets, but she will not go in the house. The best we can do is have a few sheltered/ covered places in the garden. She often stays out at night, even when we are home. Moral being I suppose, is that cats are well adapted to be outdoors, even if it rains etc.

Chocbuttonsandredwine · 20/10/2023 08:26

Not nice at all, I hope kitty decides to live with you.

i leave mine out during the warmer months but have a cat flap on the garage, where he has a warm bed, food and water. Before this we had a wee shed.

if you’re feeding her outside there’s not even any guarantee she’s getting the food… it could be eaten by another cat or a fox ☹️

BurnToastAgain · 20/10/2023 08:27

What cruel owners. They don’t deserve to own a cat. Thank you for caring for the poor thing. You are doing the right thing 😊

Boofay · 20/10/2023 08:28

BeetleDeuce · 20/10/2023 08:23

YABU to say you don’t have any pets in your OP because you now have a cat

thank you for being nice to it!

🥰
I agree! I hope this cat adopts you as their new human slave! 😂

Vitriolinsanity · 20/10/2023 08:30

It's one thing to say cats have the mechanics to sleep outside, but a domestic cat would have a pretty miserable time.

I think you've got yourself a cat OP. Congratulations they're bloody awesome!

amylou8 · 20/10/2023 08:30

I wouldn't do this to my (spoilt) cats, but I doubt it will come to any harm. Does it have access to shelter? Some sort of kennel or a shed? If not can you put something together so it can keep out of the rain?

Clarich007 · 20/10/2023 08:31

God that's awful.
Even my big rough tough ex feral cat has just come shooting in through the cat flap soaked.He's only been out 10 minutes
He was born on the streets and lived outside for years until we rescued him
Makes me so angry.They are disgusting so called owners and don't deserve a cat !!

Clarich007 · 20/10/2023 08:33

Forgot to say thank you for being so kind and looking after her.I would have to say something when they come home.I couldn't keep my big mouth shut.
😻

toadasoda · 20/10/2023 08:33

Thats awful for an indoor cat. An outdoor cat should have some sort of shelter too. We had a cat many years ago that insisted on living outside despite our many attempts to domesticate him but this sounds different. Enjoy your new cat 🐈 OP

Girlwithapple · 20/10/2023 08:35

Poor cat 😔 This bad weather has been well reported, before they went away they would have known how wet and cold their poor cat would get.

I'm a dog walker but do have a few cats i look after while the owner is away. Some are restricted to where they can go and the cat flap might lead into a closed utility room or conservatory but all have some indoor space available. What crap owners they are having a nice holiday while thinking their cat is cold, soaking wet and very confused 😕

DuploTrain · 20/10/2023 08:36

I’m looking forward to the thread when the neighbours come back “my neighbour stole my cat while we were on holiday and now it won’t come back” 😁

abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz12 · 20/10/2023 08:37

loads of cats live outdoors or as barn/farm cats.

And those cats usually have lived outside their entire lives (and have plenty of shelter).

A pet cat that is used to being inside where it is warm and comfortable, being chucked outside for a week in the wind and rain with no shelter, is a completely different story.

Poor thing, I know mine would be utterly traumatised if we did that

MeridianB · 20/10/2023 08:39

I agree with others that this is unacceptable and really sad for the cat. You’ve done a lovely thing, OP and if you can manage having it at yours a little each day I know it will be appreciated.

I’d definitely say something when they come back. If they can afford a holiday then they can afford a cat flap. 😠

kingkongs · 20/10/2023 08:39

I don't even like cats but what arseholes your neighbours are! You can't just lock your cat out for a week while on your jollies 🤦‍♀️

FallingAutumnLeaf · 20/10/2023 08:40

Poor cat not having a choice BUT, my stoopid furball demanded the catflap be unlocked this morning, and has spent the past 2 hours outside. We're in an amber area, it's blowing enough to rattle the roof tiles, trees are down, and it's pouring...... some cats do like the wild weather.....

MeridianB · 20/10/2023 08:42

On their terms though @FallingAutumnLeaf - not being dumped for a week 😢

SheKeepsWhisperingYourName · 20/10/2023 08:45

The "owners" are complete bastards. Well done you for giving the cat sanctuary.
The RSPCA have only responded to 5 calls of animal abuse/neglect nationwide in the last 40 years they wouldn't give a shit (ok slightly off with my figures but not far off)
They would of course immediately put the cat to sleep anyway.
Sorry, my lifelong issues with the RSPCA, I feel better now.
Congratulations on your new cat 😀 🐈

Threewheeler1 · 20/10/2023 08:49

Are you going to rename it? 😁
I bet it's having a lovely time with you. If I was the cat there's no way I'd leave!

Beamur · 20/10/2023 08:53

Poor kitty. Thank you for taking good care.
Cats can live outdoors but not very happily if they're suddenly turfed outside having been indoors! Especially in this weather if the owners haven't provided outdoor shelter.

HeadAgainstWall0923 · 20/10/2023 08:55

Thank you so much for taking care of this little cat. What the owners have done is awful 😢

Be prepared to soon be a permanent cat owner though!!

And I give this warning as someone who started caring for a pretty neglected cat on my estate where the owners didn’t really seem to give a shit…..and a few months later he’d moved in with me, my husband and our own two cats.

Cats are brilliant pets!!!

Myhusbandearns150k · 20/10/2023 08:56

They are mean! You are very nice!

MaggieFS · 20/10/2023 08:59

I'm not particularly a cat person, but anyone can see that making a cat which is used to being indoors suddenly live outside for a week, is very much not OK.

They should have paid for a proper sitter or cattery.

FormerlyPathologicallyHappy · 20/10/2023 08:59

Cats coats adapt to their conditions so if she’s out all the time it’ll be thick enough to cope as long as she’s fed enough to make that much fur. Indoor cats coats are thinner as they’d be too hot with a dense coat.

They’re shitty owners with no empathy for the cat. We booked our cat at a nice cattery before we booked the holiday it was important to us he was cared for.

TheYearOfSmallThings · 20/10/2023 09:00

Don't worry - if the cat doesn't like it, he or she will move into a new home.

Grin