Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU leaving injured cat

54 replies

cloudbusting12 · 27/12/2025 20:00

Please give me your opinion on who is BU.
Dcat has an injury on his back leg which is infected. He has been on antibiotics for 4 days and has a course for 2 weeks.

Today we had to take him to the vets as the injury looked liked it has reopened. Vet said it is healing ok but Dcat needs to where a cone as he is fiddling with it.

Dcat is not a house cat and goes outside to toilet through cat flap. Can go out using cat flap and vet said this is ok.

Here is the AIBU. We are due to visit relatives for a couple of days and have a cat feeder who will come twice a day to feed and also dispense medicine.

one of us thinks someone needs to be at home to make sure Dcat is ok. The other thinks he will be fine with the feeder visiting 2 x a day.

who is being unreasonable?

OP posts:
Original poster
cloudbusting12 · 27/12/2025 20:27

@InTheWindowIm so sorry to hear this, that must have been heartbreaking for you. You did everything you could and did the best in the circumstances though. I hope you are doing ok.

OP posts:
Icanflyhigh · 27/12/2025 20:29

Stay at home with him, find a cattery to care for him, or give him up for adoption so someone who actually likes animals can look after him.
YABMASSIVELYU and this shouldn't even be a question.

LancashireButterPie · 27/12/2025 20:29

When our cat had to wear a cone, the vet said she mustn't be let out as her vision and dustial awareness could be affected. This might make her more at risk of being run over or to be easily injured in a fight.

Zanatdy · 27/12/2025 20:31

Of course its not unreasonable to cancel plans in that situation.

Original poster
cloudbusting12 · 27/12/2025 20:35

@Icanflyhighif you read my comments you’ll see I wasn’t thinking about leaving him.

OP posts:
MyThreeWords · 27/12/2025 20:40

Surely if he is wearing a cone he can't go outside without fairly close monitoring?There must be any number of situations in which the cone might get him stuck or injured.

I wouldn't go away and leave him with just a twice-daily visit. Booking him into a cattery might be a better solution, because his health condition probably requires him to be restricted to a small, easily monitored space.

Hibernatingsloth · 27/12/2025 20:43

OP, while I think you've made the right decision to stay home with your poorly cat, I'm shocked that you're letting him come and go outside through the catflap, presumably unsupervised, while he's wearing a cone.
The cone makes him so vulnerable.

RosesAndHellebores · 27/12/2025 20:49

Going against the grain. I think you can leave him, but he must stay inside with a litter tray. Providing yiur cat feedernis experienced and responsible

Caveat - my cat feeder is one of the nurses from my vet practice.

Original poster
cloudbusting12 · 27/12/2025 20:53

@Hibernatingslothsorry he is will not be going out unsupervised, the cat flap has a lock on it so only when we are around to supervise him in the garden which he can’t get out of.

OP posts:
Shedmistress · 27/12/2025 20:55

So how will he use the cat flap if you aren't there?

Original poster
cloudbusting12 · 27/12/2025 21:08

@Shedmistressi will be there, my AIBU was about DH.

OP posts:
catontheironingboard · 27/12/2025 21:12

Cone is a strangulation risk. Needs indoor litter tray/ supervision; someone should stay to make sure cat is okay.

Hope puss is better soon, OP.

BrendaSmall · 27/12/2025 21:16

It’s so dangerous having a cat outdoors wearing a cone, he could get caught up on anything and it could strangle him!
stay home and keep him in

Terriblytwee · 27/12/2025 21:19

If you live with an animal this is one of the responsibilities of that privilege. The cat needs monitoring regularly.

Gumps · 27/12/2025 21:35

I run a boarding cattery so have some good cat knowledge, but not a vet. I think it is fine to leave him at home but you mustn't let him outside. The cones aren't quick release so he could get stuck somewhere. Also if he has an infected wound it is best to keep him in, away from dirt. If your cat feeder is happy to take on the extra responsibility of checking on an injured cat and possibly cleaning the wound with hibi scrub then I think it's fine. Otherwise a cattery is an excellent option as the chalet are sterile and he will be closely monitored.

Butterflymoth · 27/12/2025 21:40

You’re right OP, stay with your poor cat, they depend on us and we have a responsibility to them to keep them safe, healthy and happy. I wouldn’t leave one of mine injured either. We know them better than anyone and they need us.

bettyboo9 · 27/12/2025 21:42

Can you order an inflatable collar from Amazon?

caringcarer · 27/12/2025 21:44

I would never leave one of my cats if they were poorly.

PurpleSky300 · 27/12/2025 21:49

Stay with moggy. Or, if possible - could you ask another relative to come and stay with the cat for you? I cat-sit for my Mum and stepdad regularly and I always enjoy it, they are lovely velcro moggies and they sit and watch Netflix with me.

Thelnebriati · 27/12/2025 22:07

Does your cat feeder know about the injury? I would probably refuse to look after a pet with a significant injury, especially if the owner had unrealistic expectations. Is your cat litter trained, does he have an indoor litter tray?

Shedmistress · 28/12/2025 06:25

cloudbusting12 · 27/12/2025 21:08

@Shedmistressi will be there, my AIBU was about DH.

How does your husband think the cat will get through the cat flap if you weren't there?

Eenameenadeeka · 28/12/2025 07:38

It sounds like the cat currently needs more care than just someone popping in to feed it, either a house sitter or cattery at the least.

Sidebend · 28/12/2025 07:41

A cat with a cone cannot defend itself and absolutely shouldn't be allowed outside (even if it can get through the catflap). It's also very prone to getting stuck somewhere.
i wouldn't be leaving this cat, if it were mine.

WinterWooliesBaa · 31/12/2025 13:23

It was mean of your DH to take the chikdren away when you had time off work YOU wanted to spend with them.

he was happy to keave your poor cat home alone.

what redeeming traits does he have??

fishfingerbutty · 31/12/2025 14:22

It would be selfish and cruel to leave him.