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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be upset to get back from a weekend away and find that my friends forgot to feed my cat

65 replies

ShinyPinkShoes · 20/10/2008 20:04

I left Friday morning-just got back- they had planned to pop in Sat and Sun and it's obvious they didn't

The food and clean bowls I left are still on the side in the kitchen.

The flowers and thank you note I left are still in the living room.

I know that they are alright as spoke to their little girl on my way home about something.

Poor cat is not herself at all, looked very sad and fed up her water bowl was empty.

How do I approach this with them. They are usually so helpful and reliable but I don't know I could trust them to feed her for me again

OP posts:
TheHedgeWitch · 20/10/2008 20:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

pamelat · 20/10/2008 20:08

Did talking to their little girl not remind them? You would think that they would have panicked and admitted that they had forgotten.

You need to be direct. Ask why they didnt show.

Dont ask them again.

hf128219 · 20/10/2008 20:10

That is really bad IMO! Poor cat - must have been starving. Hope she is OK.

nickytwoooohtimes · 20/10/2008 20:12

God, poor cat!
I would never ask them again!
They may well be good frineds otherwise, but not as pet sitters.

lulumama · 20/10/2008 20:14

you have to say something !! poor cat

there might have been a big emergency and they were distracted ?

blithedance · 20/10/2008 20:14

Are you quite sure they got the right message about the weekend or that they were the ones responsible?

edam · 20/10/2008 20:14

That's really crap. I am a forgetful kind of person but I would never leave an animal without food and water. Good grief. No, you clearly can't trust them again.

edam · 20/10/2008 20:16

btw, I used to leave a HUGE bowl of water and lots of food out for my cat, even when people were coming in to feed her, just in case. Call me a worrier but I used to think 'what if friend was in a car accident or something?'.

LackaDAISYcal · 20/10/2008 20:17

poor cat

lack of drinking water is a very serious issue for them as it can cause kidney damamge. I hope he is OK.

not sure how to approach it, but I would be feeling pretty miffed. Had you spoken to them just before you left, dropped the keys off on friday? If so, there's no excuse really. and if there was some reason for it other than forgetfulness, then surely they should have called you so you make an alternative arrangement.

Original poster
ShinyPinkShoes · 20/10/2008 20:19

I spoke to them literally as I was getting ready to leave on friday to confirm things. I am rather besotted with my cat so tend to worry about her and over-check things.

This is really not like them.
They were out shopping when their daughter called earlier.

My cat is rather unconventional and does not like drinking water out of bowls ( silly thing) will only drink out of glasses ffs

I had left her a big glassful of water AND some wet food as well as biscuits so she could probably have got by until Sunday but was absolutely starving when I got in.

I thought something was odd as she was miaowing really loudly when I put my key in the door

OP posts:
Original poster
ShinyPinkShoes · 20/10/2008 20:21

She must have been thirsty as she has drunk very far down in her glass- heaven knows how she reached that far!!

OP posts:
Suedonim · 20/10/2008 20:23

Was there a mix-up over dates, maybe? The cat won't have been very pleased but she won't come to any harm. Our cat got shut in next door's garage for several days before we found her. She was cross and hungry but otherwise in fine fettle.

Suedonim · 20/10/2008 20:24

X-posted

MarmadukeScarletbloodstains · 20/10/2008 20:24

Cats will eventually drink out of the loo if they get thirsty enough (and you have left the seat up obv) I'm sure she will sulk for a bit but doubt very much she will have suffered any long term damage.

A friend of mine asked her neighbour (also a friend) to look after her DD's 2 bunnies whilst on holiday, they forgot to get them in from the run on the first night and the fox got them!

Original poster
ShinyPinkShoes · 20/10/2008 20:27

The bathroom door is generally left shut- I heard of a cat that drowned in a loo
( am over-protective kitty-Mum )

She has eaten a whole bowl of food and drunk plenty so I'm sure she will be alright.

If I do ask them again I will have to call them to check they have fed her.

OP posts:
ComeOVeneer · 20/10/2008 20:28

I would phone and talk to them and find out what happened. Cats are surprisingly resilient even without water. Occording to our vet their metabolism adapts . We had the unfortunate incident with one of our cats being locked into our bedroom for at least a week whilst we were on holiday (we think by our nanny's boyfriend snoopping around the house one day when he came to feed them because nanny was ill. He was thin and weak but didn't need any treatment.

hf128219 · 20/10/2008 20:28

Motto: Always use a professional cat/pet sitter!

or

if only away for 24 hours or so get a pet mate - one of those automatic feeders that pop up on a timer. They really are great!

PavlovtheWitchesCat · 20/10/2008 20:30

You have to ask outright...

What did you feed the cats in, as the bowls are still on the side...

And, yes don;t ask them again.

MascaraOHara · 20/10/2008 20:35

Sounds like something me or my friends would do... I would make light of it.. cat will be fine (honest)

depending on relationship I would say something like "oooh I bought you the most lush box of chocs for feeding the cat, they were really yummy" or "did you forget something by any chance"

I left my friend looking after our rabbit, she obsessively looked after him, gave him loads of attention, food, love.. I was back one day and he'd done a bunk (never to be seen again).. friend had a go at me for losing my own rabbit LOL

I am pretty rubbish with animals

Original poster
ShinyPinkShoes · 20/10/2008 20:47

I just called them.

It completely slipped their minds and they feel terrible.

She is literally racing around the house manically. Showing no interest in drinking but has eaten. Do I need to get her checked out?

OP posts:
luckylady74 · 20/10/2008 20:53

No need to get her checked out - she's active and rehydrated. She's just freaked out. |She'll be fine and you need to calm down because cat's pick up on vibes!

Suedonim · 20/10/2008 21:00

Oh dear re the friends! I'm sure your cat will be okay, she's probably just letting off steam now you're home. Did you see that tiny kitten that accidentally flew to Amsterdam in a suitcase, recently? It was unscathed.

lulumama · 20/10/2008 21:01

they forgot?? how many days ago did you tell them!!

Original poster
ShinyPinkShoes · 20/10/2008 21:07

Checked 2 weeks ago that they were around, and called on Friday to confirm everything.

OP posts:
Geepers · 20/10/2008 21:08

It's just a cat, it will be fine.

Did it have access to outdoors when you were gone?

I doubt my cat would notice if we packed up and left for a fortnight. Cats are experts and finding someone to feed them.