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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Leaving cat for one night outside?

72 replies

Poodle123456 · 01/08/2024 21:29

We are going away for one night, we’ll be leaving in the evening and returning the following evening. Our cat in this warm weather has been spending most nights out all night, she doesn’t have a cat flap but can climb through our bedroom window which we leave open for her. She spends all day and most of the night outside and only comes in to eat. We don’t live near any main roads, very end of a quiet cul de sac.

As she’s such an outdoor cat I think it would be more cruel to lock her in for 24 hours whilst we go away than it would to leave her outside. We have an outdoor office which we could leave the door open for her with her food, blankets and water in so she’d have somewhere to go if she needed to.

Is this a bad idea? The alternative is taking her to my MILs for 3 nights as she’d go Friday but not come back until Monday….but she’d be shut inside there too.

Advice welcome ☺️ AIBU to leave her the one night?

OP posts:
Original poster
Poodle123456 · 01/08/2024 21:58

ShanequaAndWhat · 01/08/2024 21:57

Actually, if it makes you feel any better, thanks to the local fb group, it's come to light that someone on my estate has gone away for three weeks and left their dog outside barking all day and night with a person checking on it briefly once a day. RSPCA etc not interested.

That’s horrific- I wouldn’t even leave a dog for 1 night.

OP posts:
WhatADifferenceACatMakes · 01/08/2024 21:59

This reply has been withdrawn

Withdrawn at OP's request.

LadyGaGasPokerFace · 01/08/2024 22:00

I used to do this with my cat, but I had a hole cut in my shed. He had a bed in there and a bowl with food and water (covered with a plastic lid I had, he was able to paw this off). It was fine. When my df was alive he’d go visit my cat if it was longer.

Original poster
Poodle123456 · 01/08/2024 22:00

This reply has been deleted

Withdrawn at OP's request.

Yeah I do see what you mean- but we are only gone 1 day, if I leave her a few bowls I don’t think she’d run out.

OP posts:
motherboredd · 01/08/2024 22:01

I think it's fine.

Marinel · 01/08/2024 22:03

It's only 24 hours, and she has shelter in the shed if she needs it.

But how are you going to leave her food which you know she will be able to eat? It could be eaten by another cat, a fox, or even attract rats. I assume you would leave dry food, you can't leave wet food as it'll be rank and dried up within a few hours in this heat. (By the way, slugs love cat food.)

I would ask a neighbour/cat sitter to check on her in the morning. They can then leave more food down at that point, even if they don't see her.

Coka · 01/08/2024 22:05

Im considering this too but for two nights. We have a garage she can get in and out so will put a bed in there. Will have someone pop round and give her food and water each day. Like you, I think she would be happier ouside rather than inside.

Thatcat · 01/08/2024 22:07

Autumn1990 · 01/08/2024 21:33

You need to get her used to going in the office for a week or so before you go. Then it’s fine.

This

AquaFurball · 01/08/2024 22:07

Have someone check and leave fresh food out purely due to heat and other cats in the area, otherwise she should get fine for 24 hours.

I've had to leave one of mine outside, she had shelter, two people providing her food and if they could catch her would have put her indoors (also only away overnight during summer) she was fine. She frequently refuses to come inside, no wonder I don't sleep!

Original poster
Poodle123456 · 01/08/2024 22:07

Coka · 01/08/2024 22:05

Im considering this too but for two nights. We have a garage she can get in and out so will put a bed in there. Will have someone pop round and give her food and water each day. Like you, I think she would be happier ouside rather than inside.

It’s hard to explain sometimes as not all cats are like it, but it’s like she gets distressed if she can’t get outside- if she was an indoor cat I wouldn’t hesitate to leave her locked in but I think she’d be happier outside with the office to go into.

OP posts:
dragonfliesandbees · 01/08/2024 22:19

Could you get something like this and leave the bedroom window open for her?

llr-i.com/the-cat-door-alternative-that-saves-you-time-money/#:~:text=LockLatch%E2%84%A2%20is%20a%20much,other%20glass%20door%20cat%20flaps.

TeaGinandFags · 01/08/2024 22:22

If you don't want her hunting trophies put a cat flap in the kitchen/ office door and close an internal door. Make up a bed for her on the table,/ desk. Job done.

That way you don't have to worry.

TonTonMacoute · 01/08/2024 22:26

She'll be far happier to be left for one night in her own territory than shipped off somewhere else.

Original poster
Poodle123456 · 01/08/2024 22:26

TeaGinandFags · 01/08/2024 22:22

If you don't want her hunting trophies put a cat flap in the kitchen/ office door and close an internal door. Make up a bed for her on the table,/ desk. Job done.

That way you don't have to worry.

We are completely open plan- another reason for no cat flap, I’d be more inclined to have one if we could shut off the house a bit. Moving soon and getting well away from open plan!

OP posts:
sleepwouldbenice · 01/08/2024 22:29

Totally fine. Our late cat did this all the time
Many times when we were away we asked neighbours to let him in at night. He often refused in hot weather

banoffeeee · 01/08/2024 22:33

Sorry but ‘presents’ are a hazard of owning a cat. It’s really unfair to choose a cat as a pet and then not have a catflap.

Ponkpinkpink15 · 01/08/2024 22:34

@Poodle123456

Could your MIL not come & stay, instead of the cat going to hers?

why can't you leave the window open for her?

Purpletissues · 01/08/2024 22:35

Cat will be fine. I had to leave 4 5 week old kittens outside for a week last August and they survived ! (No rescues could help I called so many and a local lady who helps usually was on holiday so no choice ) they were totally fine and it luckily didn’t rain. The mum had left them in our garden for some reason and a shelter said just feed them and get kitten milk (I couldn’t bring them indoors as really allergic)

Zanatdy · 01/08/2024 22:35

I think that’s absolutely fine

Calliopespa · 01/08/2024 22:45

ragdoll12345 · 01/08/2024 21:49

Cant you book a cattery. Our cat was taken unexpectedly ill at the cattery and was rushed to the vet and had to be put to sleep as she was in severe pain and nothing could be done. What would happen if your cat developed this condition with no one looking after her. There was no warning.

Sorry about your cat but in all honesty the cattery wasn’t much of a solution.

NashvilleQueen · 01/08/2024 22:55

She will be absolutely fine

goodkidsmaadhouse · 01/08/2024 23:00

We do this all the time.

InterrudelyUpted · 01/08/2024 23:02

We have the cat flap that’s tuned to their microchip so no other cats can get in - but that’s completely beside the point. I think your cat will be completely fine for one night, I wouldn’t give it another thought! Everyone’s circumstances are different of course, but for you & your particular cat I honestly wouldn’t worry at all.

Cocopogo · 01/08/2024 23:02

Why is the only alternative MIL? Plenty of people do cat sitting these days just go on Google and book someone or ask on SM for recommendations

Onelifeonly · 01/08/2024 23:07

If it is only one night, she will be fine. Put several bowls of water and dried cat food in case one gets knocked over or eaten / drunk by another animal. Even without food, she won't starve to death within 48 hours. Plus if she's a hunter, she can maybe find her own.

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