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 wouldn't leave mine for this long.

We have had excellent experiences with cat in a flat. We have 2 lovely regular sitters we found via it.

Glad you are now contacting pet sitters. You really can't leave them without visits for four nights.

The most I ever left our cat for was one night. With plenty of food (mostly dry) and water. All in the kitchen with his bed there and easy access to the garden via his cat flap.

Any longer than that and I always had a friend or neighbour call round twice a day for company, fresh food and clean water.

Update - cat sitter booked! £8 a day for a 30 minute visit! Our local Cattery is £18 a day for two cats and the travel/change of location use to really stress them out. Hence why we eventually asked my friend. Can't believe I have never heard of this service before.

Hope you can get a pet sitter.

Also re vaccination; just because they don't go out doesn't mean you don't bring it in.

How would you pay if they got sick?

Sorry cross posted. Glad you're sorted.

Yes this is awful. Jesus Christ

Sorry… cross posted
Glad it’s sorted

We have a cat sitter that comes in twice a day to feed and check on the cats if we go on holiday.

I'm a catsitter, get one! I stay for about 40 mins (food, water, litter, play, watering plants)... unless it's a very cute cat, then I'll stay longer

@Agapornis what a fantastic job you have

I’m very relieved to see you have booked a cat sitter. You absolutely can’t leave a living being for 4 days alone. What if they knocked over their water bowls on the first day? What if one got hurt or trapped or just anything? I know you were in a panic but that would be classed as animal cruelty and neglect.

Cat sitters are great, if you find a good one stick with them, our cat adores the cat sitter and might even prefer her to us. I think from his point of view she spends 100% of her time and energy devoted to petting him, feeding him and playing with him. I have the bare faced cheek to also need to work and do housework etc

Fantastic - you've booked a sitter! We do this and the cats get to stay in familiar surroundings and be monitored and cared for. We also move our porch cam into the utility while we're away and have it trained on the cat flap! We can then watch to-ings and fro-ings and know that they're all coming in for their food etc.

@username079582 only a very part-time thing! But yes it's pretty fun for a little extra money :)

I left mine for 2 nights/3days before while in hospital, she has a timed feeder anyway and I wasn't worried about water as she never drinks from her bowl, she likes puddles, drips, even the loo on occasion (yuck). She was fine. There was food in the bowl when I got back.

4 nights is too long, glad you found a reasonable cat sitter! Sounds like a great idea.

So glad you're sorted. Enjoy your trip

Far too long, you can’t leave them for four days.

When I read your post I was absolutely horrified that you would consider doing this! Neglect! Glad you came to your senses and getting a cat sitter they will be fine now, enjoy your trip

I wouldn’t do this. We’ve used Pawshake for cat sitters and had great experiences.

All this talk of fresh water is making me smile - I've had cats for 20 years, and they have never touched the fresh water which is left for them. I have only ever seen them drinking out of puddles or other stagnant water outside (I make sure there is always something in the garden collecting water, so that they have an option).

@username079582

Update - cat sitter booked! £8 a day for a 30 minute visit! Our local Cattery is £18 a day for two cats and the travel/change of location use to really stress them out. Hence why we eventually asked my friend. Can't believe I have never heard of this service before.

Great!

I've left mine for 2 nights before but that's as long as I would be happy doing it for.

Popped on to say get a cat sitter, but I see you already have.

Ours is great, I sometimes think our cats are a bit disappointed when we come home as she stays and fusses them for ages and they get to tell her at some length how badly done to they are!

Agree with PP that 4 days is too long, but actually the lack of visits isn't necessarily the problem - I have just paid out £12 a day for a cat sitter and she didn't see my cat once! She seems to hide. Also, the fresh water might not be an issue depending on the cat - mine ignores her water bottle in favour of stagnant rain water. We are about to leave our cat for two days with an automatic feeder then a friend is popping in for the next two days. I would be too worried that something had happened if I didn't get someone to check that that least the food was being eaten ok.