Leaving two cats home for 4 days

[username079582]

Would this be cruel if they had no visitors? Basically going away in a couple of days for 4 nights. The person who normally comes round to feed them etc has only just told us they can no longer do it.
We have realised we can't put them in a Cattery as they haven't had their jabs. Typically this is the first year we decided not to as they are completely in door cats and we had been massively financially impacted due to covid when their jabs were due.

With regards to food I think they would just have to have dry food. We are going to get one of them food timers. With water I'm abit concerned they have a water fountain and I think I will pour a massive bowl full but I know 4 day old water won't be nice. I did think of maybe leaving a tap dripping?
For company they have each other and are quite close often sleeping together.

We don't have family in the area to ask (that's who we are going to see).

I don't know about cruel, but be prepared to find they have left and gone to live somewhere else.

Yes, sorry I do think it is cruel. Do you not have a local cat sitting service? We have one that comes in once or twice a day to feed and play with them

It will be fine as long as you leave a timed feeder, plenty of water and litter trays.

Hmm, if they are indoor only then the litter trays may get quite gross, plus what if something goes wrong?

Have you tried looking for a local cat sitter?

No you can't do that. The most you can get away with using the cat feeders is 2 nights. Any longer food goes off, cats distressed and revolting water.

Could a neighbour pop in once a day?

I have 2 cats and I can't stress enough that you shouldn't do it.

I would try and get someone to come in at least once in the middle - won’t the litter trays need sorting? Can you ask a neighbour, even a teenager you could pay £10 to visit? Otherwise ask on your local Facebook page and book a cat sitter who will visit, change water and litter. I do leave my cats occasionally for up to two nights without a sitter but think 4 is too long.

My Timed feeder is two portions and 48 hours
So is your timed feeder longer than that.

Yes, cruel and neglectful.
Pay someone to feed and check on them.
The litter trays can't be left for four days either, imagine the smell.

It's definitely wilful neglect and bordering on cruel. Please don't do it.

Can't you ask a neighbour?

Can you not get them booked in for jabs?

Personally I would either look for a cat sitting service locally or as someone else.

Try "Cat In A Flat" - I've used it a few times to book catsitters.

Ask a neighbour. Or research local cat feeders as some people do this as a side job. It’s not acceptable to leave them. Cruel and unacceptable.

If you don't have any friends/neighbours who can pop in then book a pet sitter (trusted pet sitters.co.uk) or similar to pop in and spend time with them

Of course it's cruel! They are living beings not toys. They need fresh water and someone to check on them at the bare minimum. What if they have an accident or become ill? They can't wait days for veterinary care if so.

You need to cough up for a cat sitter - we swapped to a sitter from the cattery and never looked back. So much stressful apart from anything else.

And yes they definitely need clean litter trays.

Get a pet sitter to attend to them.

No visitors would not be great, but I wouldn't say cruel.

However the potential for no food, water and clean litter tray would be very stressful. I think these are very basic needs that can't be left for 4 days.

Sorry just in a panic and not thinking straight as didn't even think about the litter tray.
Hadn't heard of cat sitters before. Just had a look and there is a couple in our area going to contact them now.

4 nights, 5 days, absolutely not. Sort out a sitter or cancel your trip.

Absolutely not.
The longest I would leave my cats is over night with their fountain and loads of dried food - I would also lock them indoors in case they come to any harm.

If you go away and just leave them, what if they get sick?

Terrible idea! You wouldn't do this with a child, don't do it with your cats

4 days is too long. I’ve done it for a weekend and that’s as long as I think it should be. Automatic feeders are only good for a day or so. Also my cat used to hook their paw in to try to get at the biscuits (greedy!) and flipped ours over in the process once - so they are not infallible. Fine if they miss a meal but not fine if it means dats without food.
Try calling your vet /other local vets for recommendations for someone to come in.

X posted. Sounds like you’ll sort something.

I’d do overnight or two nights at a push and if desperate but I think four is far too long. There must be a local teen who wants to earn a bit of weekend money bear you? I was that kid when I was younger and loved having my little animal sitting jobs.

You could call your vet too - we used to have a vetinary nurse from our vets come in twice a day when we were away.

We've done 24 hours. Our timed feeders only do 3 feeds though. I'd be surprised if you can get them to do 4 days