AIBU to mention neighbours' cat waking us early while they're away?

[SMLSML]

Would you say something to your neighbour?

We're in a semi detached with the doors right next to each other when they go away on holiday they leave their cat at home and have someone come morning and evening to feed it. The issue is they let it out at night and it comes home early in the morning around 5:30am and meows to be let in, it's so loud and with the window open it's waking us up. Would you text the neighbours or let it drop as it's only whist they're on holiday? The person doesn't normally come to let them in until 9am.

I am not sure of the correlation between not wanting to be woken up at 5 am for a fortnight and not being a cat lover. I am sure the two things could possibly coexist. I am quite fond of cats, but am fonder of my sleep and do feel there is a simple solution that could allow the OP to enjoy an uninterrupted nights rest. Plus as others have said, the cat is mewing because it is distressed.

And no I don’t think anyone has the right to go on holiday if by doing so it means their neighbours don’t sleep properly whilst they are away.

I’d bring it in for cuddles

How do you deal with screaming foxes, they must wake you up?

@Pinkchickenwine we do have some foxes nearby but I’ve never heard them screaming . I expect if I do they would wake me up, but even if I did they’re unlikely to do it at 5 am every morning for a fortnight. No cockerels either thank goodness- now that would be a nightmare!

It’s selfish and irresponsible to leave your cat without appropriate care so that it has the opportunity to disturb neighbours so much.

The cat owners will have left instructions for the sitter to either keep it in or let it out and there’s no reason to assume that someone who is being paid to care for the cat is going against the owners wishes.

It’s not cats I have a problem with, it’s cat owners who are selfish enough to allow their choice of pet to become a problem for other people and wildlife.

They have responsibly and appropriately employed someone to feed their cat twice a day. Totally normal.

It’s not clear if they have instructed the feeder to lock the cat out or if it’s the feeder’s decision. The owner may not be aware and they may not be happy about it. They’re certainly unlikely to aware that the cat is miaowing enough to wake the NDNs.

I wouldn't leave my cats alone in the house for two weeks!! From a purely nutritional standpoint, twice a day is fine to be fed and watered and you can even get timed dispensers for that. But the cat can't stay alone/overnight all that time. If neighbour can't find a cat sitter willing to stay at the house (ideal - they can try Rover, Care, or TrustedHousesitters if they don't know anyone local) or a friend or family member to host in their own house (less great for many cats) they need to board the cat.

In this case, if you're close enough to have a way to contact your neighbours while they're on holiday, it's fine to let them know - they MIGHT be able to set up a different arrangement from where they are or ask the temp carer to move the evening feeding until later and leave the cat in overnight. If you decide not to contact them, do bring it up when they get home as they can plan better for future trips.

If they don’t know what the cat sitter is doing, then they have not appropriately and responsibly made provision for their cat.

Ahh you have the only mute foxes in the country,..that’s lucky!

It’s a wonder country folk survive!

It’s 5.30 that’s mentioned BTW!

I don't know about cats in general but mine sleeps under the shadiest bush in the garden and he's fine.

This is really reaching. They may have given instructions the cat feeder isn’t following.

Poor cat. It's obviously sad. Please don't throw water at it. Contacting the neighbours to tell them their cat is distressed is the right thing to do.

I wear earplugs and am woken by bin lorries, gulls, foxes, cats fighting, people coming home from the pub, people leaving early for work , air ambulance, police helicopter etc.
not all of us are the same with regards to sleep depth or noise disturbances.
its too hot to sleep with windows shut.

most of the above noises are out of my control but as the op is only complaining about this since the neighbours went away, I would suggest that this cat noise is very much within someone’s control and @SMLSML has every right to complain about it.

we all lead busy lives, sleep is precious and depending on our schedules, 0530 is very early to be woken up every day, especially when there’s no chance of getting back to sleep as the noise goes on until 9am.

Definitely mention it, they might not realise how upset the cat is getting, they may not care as often people leave cats and even dogs for their holidays but at least you will have tried helping the poor thing.

Oh god this thread reminds me of my last neighbour; the very neurotic Ben.. ok the walls of the 80s semis are very thin but it was so funny when I heard him moaning to his mates about my poor cat, “ and her name is Ebony and she miaows too loudly!!” lol.
He clearly had never lived next to a properly noisy neighbour!!

Are you sure it’s miaowing to be let in?

Our neighbours’ cat miaows a lot when they go away, all night recently. She has a cat flap, plenty of food and water, sister cat for company, can go in and out as she pleases - just wants attention I think.

I haven’t mentioned to our neighbours as there’s not much they can do about it other than use a cattery which IME cats hate more
than being left.

However if you are sure there is a cause here that your neighbours could do something about (ie ask the cat sitter not to let the cat out at night) then do say.

It’s reaching to think that the cat sitter isn’t doing as they’ve been asked, especially if they are from a pet sitting business.

Why wouldn’t the cat sitter do as they’ve been asked, either as a professional or a trusted friend? It’s highly unlikely that anyone who has agreed to care for the cat would choose to ignore instructions and put the cat at risk.

There speaks someone who’s never had a pet sitter.

You'd be surprised. It happens a LOT more often than you'd think.

The seagulls round here have a massive confab at 4:30/5am!

I keep my cats in at night. I wonder if you could ask the sitter to let the cats out during the day & keep them in at night?