14 year old left alone overnight

[MyChocolateDiet]

I'd appreciate some opinions, please - my eldest GD (14) lives with her dad, chose to 2 years ago because of her mum's volatile/drunken behaviour. The mother has gone abroad for a week, today, taken her other 2 kids (didn't invite the 14-year-old). She asked GD to feed the pregnant cat twice every day - a walk of 1.5 miles each way. She left 3 pouches of food. The cat gave birth this morning, and GD has been there all day, caring for the cat and kittens. I bought 4 x 12 pouches of food. She doesn't want to leave them alone all night, so she has offered to be with them all night. I don't agree that it's right. She isn't "street-wise", but is sensitive and caring. What do others think?

Is there another adult that can stay with her there?

Well the child, cat and kittens need to go to your son's house, surely? Or if that's not feasible, someone needs to take them!

Son and his GF both work FT, and she's got a kid of 14 herself. My son has a rather big dog, but a spare bedroom, but worried that the cat wouldn't like to be in a strange place with unfamiliar smells. I would gladly have taken them all to mine but my cat has FIV, so I wouldn't want to risk him attacking the cat and passing it on. I live 10 miles away. I don't know what to do.

Van you stay at the house with your GD?

Can't your son go and stay over with her?

I might do that, I think. Not seen or spoken to the mother for years (she's horrible), so would have to sleep in her bed

Son and his GF work FT - h leaves the house at 7. I think the cat and kittens really ought to be at his house.

The cat won’t want to move.

our cat gave birth under my son’s bed and once they have kittens they have very strong opinions on who gets close to them.

I can’t really see an issue here.
equally assuming the birth went with no problems the cat will almost certainly be fine on it’s own. Ours wanted us to fuck off and leave her to it (which we didn’t, obviously - kitten cuddles!)

I think she’ll be fine, do you or her Dad drive and would you be able to get over there if there’s a problem?

I think that her dad should stay at the house with her. It won’t be a problem that he leaves at 7 in the morning, presumably she can be left for a couple of hours and get herself to school. But I wouldn’t want a young 14 year old in the house by herself overnight with the responsibility of new kittens.

I think the cat will be fine. I'm more concerned about my GD, but spoke to my son and he said she'll only stay there tonight and she'll be able to use her scooter to go round there 2 or 3 times a day. The mother is an absolute twat. The cat's not even 2 years old, had stillborn kittens in August 😪 I'd gladly take her and the kittens but that stupid cow would only get another one.

Her dad and his GF are not far away, they both drive (as do I). No school - she's off for 2 weeks' half term. She's been proud of herself for looking after them today. Her bitch mother doesn't deserve her.

I'll be stealing the cat in a few weeks and getting her speyed myself.

What a wonderful, responsible, caring GDD you have. You must be so proud of her.

BTW: the cat needs to stay where she is. Being moved to another house, especially one that smells of dog, would be much too stressful for her while she has newborns to look after.

pinneddownbytabbies Thank you. Yes, we are proud. She's certainly not her mother's daughter

If you drive and are only 10 miles away, why can’t you go for one night?

I’d just let her. She will be fine. My mum left me at a similar age… she’s not a baby.

I rang my GD at 9, asked if she was ok. Her dad and I both offered (separately) to stay the night, but she said no. Dad took her a meal and some sweets. Her friend's older sister (25) is a vet's nurse and had been and checked the cat and kittens.

Thanks for all the replies. I texted her at 6.30, she said things were fine and that she'll be collected at 9 to go home.

As others have said, your granddaughter has done really well and you should be very proud of her!
Going forward, sounds like the cat should definitely be spayed.

She has done well
but no way would I let a 14 year old stay on their own overnight. I would have insisted not offered - she is a child and not capable of making that decision.

You said a reason for you not staying over was having to sleep in the mums bed - what a crap excuse. You and your son have let her down on this one.

So she did stay there alone overnight? I don’t think I would have allowed that at 14 personally. But it’s done now and fortunately she was ok.

She has a phone presumably and can ring for help if necessary,she's 14,this is fine. I was babysitting over night at this age. Do not move the cat.

OP, I’m an understand your concern, but if your GD is happy to stay with the cat, and has a phone in case of any unforeseen eventuality, I can’t see a problem.

Her dad drives and took her some food but didn’t think to stay with her? How utterly bizarre. Whilst you seem quite justified in slating her mother you seem to be overlooking the fact that her father simply didn’t do enough.

She sounds like a lovely girl.