Leaving 'outside' cat?

[OneMillionScovilles]

Hi all,

I posted on AIBU around a month ago when a stray followed me home. Having exhausted all avenues for finding her owners slaves we've decided to keep her (). Thing is, she's my PFCat and I haven't a clue what I'm doing really...

She's definitely an outdoor cat (miaows pitifully if kept in during the day, and likes to roam), but we always bring her in at night, when she has a couple of 'spots' where she likes to snooze. She's fed on wet food 2-3 times a day depending on when she shows her face.

We stayed at friends overnight this weekend - we were gone about 22 hours and fed her normally immediately we left / came back. I left water and dry food for her to free feed and she seems untraumatised by it... We don't have a cat flap, so if we aren't here she's stuck outside.

Two questions really:

1. Were we total assholes to leave her overnight?
2. We're due to go to a DH family commitment next w/end but will be away for 2 nights (c. 40 hrs out of the house). Is this too long? It feels too long.

Please advise - I can cut my bit of the visit short if it's best for DCat.

Polter - unfortunately the doors are floor-to-ceiling double glazed so we can't replace half. Don't you have to have the whole unit replaced (sealing issues or something)? Garage / shed is actually a great idea - retrospective hat-tip to floral as well - as the doors are certainly easier to flap-ify!

All: would you expect a fox to be able to fit through a cat flap? I want to get a fancy microchip activated one, but we won't be able to get her chipped before this weekend when I'd need to leave her. She did me proud last night but I wouldn't like her cornered in a shed with one!

So many first cat problems... I have no idea what I'm doing, just a burning desire to 'get it right'. Thanks to everyone who's chipped in so far - you guys are great

Foxes come through flaps if you leave the flap bit off (so just a hole basically) but they seem put off by the flap itself. And foxes aren't generally a threat to adult cats, so try not to worry about that, but they will of course eat their food.

The problem with your plan as far as going away very soon is concerned is that it can take cats weeks to get used to using a cat flap.

We always leave our two overnight. Just make sure she has plenty of food and water :)

But be aware if she's not used to using a litter tray she may wee all over your floor....