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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:
Gillypie23 · 20/10/2023 09:02

It's not illegal. Just cruel.

Universalsnail · 20/10/2023 09:02

This is not fine. Why didn't they give you a key to their house so you can let it in and out?

margotrose · 20/10/2023 09:04

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

OP doesn't know what the usual arrangements are though, just that she sometimes sees the cat indoors.

It's easy to make snap judgements on the internet but cats are contrary buggers and it could easily be the case that it wouldn't come in when they left and they don't have a spare key to give OP.

frumpalertt · 20/10/2023 09:09

Awwwww, I realise this has nothing to do with the thread but I am super jealous of your temporary cat! I would dearly love to take one in for a bit. (I am just back from hospital after major surgery so can't right now but I have literally had dreams about this sort of thing)..

AvengedQuince · 20/10/2023 09:09

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 !!

Mine are very outdoorsy and excellent rat hunters. Often found sitting under a wheelbarrow or a shrub in the rain by choice. They also often come in soaking wet wanting to curl up next to me on a blanket though! I agree they should have the choice.

Sunshineandflipflops · 20/10/2023 09:16

Poor thing. I would say not so bad in the summer but the weather has been horrible this week. When we go away my cat doesn't go in the house, apart from the utility room, which has a cat flap, her bed and food/water. My parents or neighbours will come and feed her once or twice a day and she still acts like she has been deserted when we get home!

She has the same access overnight and to be honest, is rarely inside when I go to let her in and feed her in the mornings. It was torrential rain this morning and she was outside but at least that is her choice.

Fifthtimelucky · 20/10/2023 09:16

We have a cat flap so our cat comes and goes as he likes. When we go away, neighbours come in and feed him twice a day and give him a bit of a cuddle.

He has a thick coat of long hair and is definitely nocturnal. He spends most of the day lying around snoozing in the house, but even in the winter he is often out at night (we have a camera focused on the cat flap which we bought to keep an eye on another cat who had started coming in).

He has a few favourite spots under particular bushes where he would be well sheltered from the rain. We also have some garden furniture with a cover over it and he sometimes spends the night on that (under the cover) rather than coming inside.

Although I wouldn't put it to the test, I think he would be fine in the scenario described by the OP.

Woollyjumpersandtomatosoupweather · 20/10/2023 09:17

They could have put a shelter in the garden for it? An unloved cat will vote with its paws (feet) and it seems you may now be a proud cat owner 🐾

NotTheMrMenAgain · 20/10/2023 09:19

Get a litter tray etc. Cats pretty much decide who their human servant will be. You may find you have a cat now. Congrats!

itsgoingtobeabumpyride · 20/10/2023 09:23

Congratulations on becoming a new cat mum (servant) 😀
You've got a good heart op.
Buy a cheap cat litter tray and some cat litter, keep it contained in the kitchen when you're out.
Your neighbours don't deserve an animal, they're cruel, the poor cat will have thought it's been abandoned

MatildaonMain · 20/10/2023 09:25

That is awful. I would report it - it probably won’t be taken seriously but I would feel I had to do something.

TenderDandelions · 20/10/2023 09:34

My cats are my babies and I couldn't dare to imagine doing this. I know I'm humanising the cat, but can you imagine? He lives a lovely cosy life, sunning himself on windowsills, popping out for a mooch and a wee, coming back in to be fed and sleeps on nice warm beds when it's cold and wet outside, to BAM! Chucked out in the wind and rain with no access to his home and his humans gone.

The first time we left our cats at home (with a pet sitter), one of them disappeared for 3 days and we thought she was gone forever. Thankfully she decided that the nice warm home and food and attention for 50 weeks of the year was worth her 2 weeks of "work" a year!

As PP have said, be prepared for their cat to now be your cat!

I seem to have recently hit the "cat distribution system" algorithm on TikTok, so this is the MN version!

Graciebobcat · 20/10/2023 09:46

I'd be feeding the cat and welcoming her at my house- somehow, even though I already have two cats and a dog.

I'd also be having strong words with them when they returned.

SallyWD · 20/10/2023 09:53

Poor thing and there's awful weather this week! If I was you I'd let it in to your house all week. I've never heard of anyone treating their cat like this.

givemeasunnyday · 20/10/2023 10:03

CrackSpackle · 20/10/2023 08:12

What shitty cat parents they are. They don't deserve to own a cat. Angry

I agree. I recently did some cat sitting for a neighbour, and before she went away she had a cat flap fitted so the cat could get inside - and it's spring here.

To the person who said loads of cats live outside, they really don't. Stray cats, farm cats, always find a place to shelter.

CitizenofMoronia · 20/10/2023 10:08

The cat redistribution effect is in full force, congrats on your new master.

Coldinscotland · 20/10/2023 10:11

Congratulations on your new job op! I hope you take it more seriously than your ndn... You will indeed be rewarded...

GonnaGetGoingReturns · 20/10/2023 10:16

It’s disgusting to leave a cat outside in cold and wet weather. Yes, cats have fur coats but they still don’t like to be cold and wet and deserve to get shelter whether it’s in a cat kennel or preferably inside.

TheMousePipes · 20/10/2023 10:16

Congratulations on your new furry overlord.

TerfTalking · 20/10/2023 10:18

What a bunch of rotten bastards, I hope they have a really shit holiday and it pisses down.

AtlasPine · 20/10/2023 10:23

It seems unfair on the cat but maybe they have left a shed open or made a shelter for it in the garden that you don’t know about.

I would certainly have welcomed it in like you have though!

UdderlyPumpkin · 20/10/2023 10:26

We had a neighbour with 4 cats and none of them were allowed inside. It completely broke my heart. We’ve got cats and they have access to indoors and outdoors 24/7

Judystilldreamsofhorses · 20/10/2023 10:27

We’re in Scotland and it is WILD. Our cat is usually in and out like a yo-yo in the evening but last night I had to cart her out for a wee about 8pm (she has three litter trays but would rather burst than use one) and she spent the rest of the time on the heated throw.

Poor kitty.

user1471505494 · 20/10/2023 10:30

margotrose · 20/10/2023 08:03

It's not reportable in the slightest - loads of cats live outdoors or as barn/farm cats.

I don't blame you for feeling sorry for the cat but it's not illegal or anything the RSPCA would be interested in.

We have a feral farm cat who we can’t actually touch. She has access to a dry shed with bedding and protection from draughts. Barn and farm cats by nature of their name live on farms or around barns and will have access to shelter. It is cruel to leave a cat that is used to being inside outside with no shelter or dry space to eat

Mistressanne · 20/10/2023 10:52

Our new neighbour here in France leaves his dog outside whilst he’s at work. 10 hours a day.
Never seen him walked.
He does have shelter and in every other respect is well cared for.
I’m dreading winter because I know I’ll get upset when he’s outside in the freezing cold.
Another neighbour used to keep a collie in his van whatever the weather.
It’s tough being a pet here.