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AIBU?

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Original poster

Cat sitting for DDs friend

29 replies

Twix42 · 01/07/2024 15:04

Daughter's friend wants us to look after their cat in our house whilst they go on holiday for a week. They'll provide food etc everything we could need etc. If it was a plant ,I'd water it no problem etc.

But we are a no pet family we've never had any kind of pet ever in our lives. No allergies etc.

I say no , it's a house cat and what if it escapes etc? I'd be so worried it got out!

For DD aged 12 this is an absolute dream come true. 🐈 😻

DD thinks I'm unreasonable.

Thoughts?

OP posts:
ChangeyTime · 01/07/2024 15:05

Very stressful for the cat. They hate to leave their own territory.

Can DD/you pop in and feed it/play with it?

keylimedog · 01/07/2024 15:06

Cat is probably likely going to be quite stressed if they are an indoor only cat being moved to somewhere brand new for a week with people they don't really know so well! Cats are very territorial so it doesn't sound like a nice plan for the cat if I'm honest.

Is there any scope for you to cat sit the cat in their home (but go round a couple of times a day?) even though it's probably more work for you?

ChangeyTime · 01/07/2024 15:06

You can't just move it and it'll act like a pet of yours for a week.

It'll hide away scared the entire time or at least a few days. Often they won't eat/use the litter tray.

And you'd need to give it a room to itself.

Mrsjayy · 01/07/2024 15:09

I would never give a cat for someone fo look after at someone's house when I had a cat she would have found it to stressful. I'd probably say no

MigGirl · 01/07/2024 15:09

It'll be much happier if it stays in its own home and you go over and feed it and spend a bit of time petting it. Moving it to another house will just stress the poor cat out.

Pippa12 · 01/07/2024 15:10

Absolutely not. The cat will likely be so stressed in an unfamiliar environment it will scratch up your carpets, sofas and soft furnishings. My lovely cats have caused far more damage than my dogs.

At the most I’d offer to feed it twice a day, but this in itself is a bind!

Mrsjayy · 01/07/2024 15:11

Would you be happy to go in and feed it Maybe offer to do that if you want.

FuzzyStripes · 01/07/2024 15:11

Surely you can compromise that you go to their house twice a day and your DD can spend half an hour or so petting it?

MigGirl · 01/07/2024 15:11

When I had cats my neighbour would pop in and feed it. Only if we where away for weekends. If we went away for a week or more she went to a cattery. Which she actually loved.

pigsDOfly · 01/07/2024 15:12

Agree with pps. Cat would be much happier being left in its own home and visited twice a day for food and play.

The poor thing will not take kindly to being uprooted from its environment and dump down in alien territory, and will probably spend the entire week disoriented, fearful and could even become aggressive, and will possibly make every effort to escape, as you fear.

Original poster
Twix42 · 01/07/2024 15:13

I should add that the cat and friend live a 15 min drive away, as in its not just around the corner. So to pop in and feed it twice a day would be a massive chore.

OP posts:
Runnerinthenight · 01/07/2024 15:13

Definitely do it in their house, not yours. Cat will be much happier in its familiar territory. Friend left their cats with me once and one of the two was so stressed he developed a urinary infection.

Aligirlbear · 01/07/2024 15:14

Cat will not respond well to new surroundings as it is used to being indoors in a set environment, no exploring etc. as a cat which spends time outdoors does. It will end up being very stressful for you and your DD will probably find the cat, far from being friendly and cuddly will in fact be fractious and scratchy.

If you want to help you could go round to their house and feed it , but that in itself is a big commitment unless they live next door !

Lovely idea in theory but suspect the practice will be very different, especially if you aren’t a pet family.

Mrsjayy · 01/07/2024 15:14

MigGirl · 01/07/2024 15:11

When I had cats my neighbour would pop in and feed it. Only if we where away for weekends. If we went away for a week or more she went to a cattery. Which she actually loved.

My cat never settled in a cattery she was more than happy to just mooch about at home with someone coming in they are funny things aren't they ?

Runnerinthenight · 01/07/2024 15:15

Twix42 · 01/07/2024 15:13

I should add that the cat and friend live a 15 min drive away, as in its not just around the corner. So to pop in and feed it twice a day would be a massive chore.

We did it for my sibling 10 minutes away but my kids are adults so we split it among us. Also had to give an injection to the diabetic one.

Mrsjayy · 01/07/2024 15:15

Twix42 · 01/07/2024 15:13

I should add that the cat and friend live a 15 min drive away, as in its not just around the corner. So to pop in and feed it twice a day would be a massive chore.

Just say no, its fine they will find someone else.

MaggieFS · 01/07/2024 15:15

Given the 15 mins drive. Could they get a neighbour to do x days and you agree to do two of them?

Mrsjayy · 01/07/2024 15:19

And tell your Dd you are too busy did she offer your services?

pigsDOfly · 01/07/2024 15:21

Just seen your update OP.

Yes, the 15 minute drive does make it too much of an ask to go round twice a day.

Agree with pp, they need to find someone else to do the feeding and playing. Although, you could take your DD there for a play a couple of times if they're willing to give you a key. Otherwise, cat needs to go into a cattery, also not ideal, but at least it's safe and supervised and cat will have interaction with people.

Ratflaps · 01/07/2024 15:23

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purplecorkheart · 01/07/2024 15:25

Sorry let me check that I am reading this right. Your dd is 12 and her friend (who I assume is of similar age) wants you to look after their cat while they go on holiday.

Did she ask your dd about this or did your dd volunteer. Either way you are correct to say no and equally I would not be driving my daughter to play with the cat a couple of times a week. It is up to this child's parents to arrange a suitable carer for the cat.

fieldsofbutterflies · 01/07/2024 15:26

Awful idea. Cats do much better in their own homes.

DD's friends family need to find someone else to care for the cat.

Furrydogmum · 01/07/2024 15:31

I wouldn't. Cats don't like change and you could end up with a very smelly house by the end of the time. They need to organise themselves better and book a house sitter, or one of the dog/multi petcare/walking firms that do house calls.

Witchbitch20 · 01/07/2024 15:31

Hard no.

Also where are her parent(s) in this?

DancingLions · 01/07/2024 15:34

Many years ago, before any pets of my own. I looked after a friends housecat at my place. I'm opened my top small bedroom window a tiny crack (thinking it would be fine) and she got out. Couldn't be found. My friend was (understandably) upset with me. Not sure she ever truly forgave me.

It's summer now (sort of!) Do you want to spend a whole week with every window shut, having to be super careful with doors etc? And yes, everyone's right about the cat not liking it either so you might have stress pee all over the place too!