Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

Will this kitten be ok?

27 replies

StopLaughingDrRoss · 16/07/2016 07:21

Someone I know got a kitten last week from her local rescue, 12 weeks and cute as a button.. yay, except...

She's now gone on holiday for 9 days!! There is an automatic feeder which replays a voice message when it opens and she's asked her mum to pop in once a day but I am so worried for this little one.

Surely he shouldn't be on his own all day except for an hour or so when her mum pops in? I worry for his socialisation and last night, DS woke me up in the early hours and I couldn't get back to sleep thinking of this little baby who has been taken from the only home he's known and is now left in a big, empty house?

Am I overeacting (I so hope I am) or would this make you concerned too. I wouldn't do this with my cat who is along 8 years old!

What would you do? I want to scoop him up and bring him here but my cat just wouldn't cope, I work outside the home as well and I don't have a spare room I could lock him in - and couldn't keep my boy inside.

It is so bothering me Sad

OP posts:
Costacoffeeplease · 16/07/2016 07:53

I'd go and get it and take it back to the rescue to be honest

cozietoesie · 16/07/2016 09:22

It would bother me desperately as well.

I guess she didn't tell the rescue that she was going on holiday? Why did she acquire him?

cozietoesie · 16/07/2016 09:24

Do you know the Mum? Is there any chance that she could take the kit to her house and look after it?

chocdonutyy · 16/07/2016 09:25

I'd let the rescue know, presumably they wouldn't have let her have the kitten if she was going away, I worry about my 3 when I go away for the night let alone 9! Being a kitten they can get up to all sorts of mischief as well as losing out massively on socialisation and company.

Icequeen01 · 16/07/2016 09:25

That's just awful, poor little thing. Why on earth would you get a little kitten just before you go on holiday. Apart from the loneliness aspect I would be worried about its safety. They get into all sorts of places and can then get stuck. I agree with previous poster and if possible I would take it back to the rescue or at least let the rescue know so perhaps they can contact friend's mum and go and pick it up. She doesn't sound like she's going to be a responsible cat owner to be honest.

SuburbanRhonda · 16/07/2016 09:26

Can your friend's mum not have the kitten until your friend gets back from her holiday?

I would be less worried about a very young kitten being left for 9 days - although that's bad enough - and more worried about what kind of life it's going to have when your friend is clearly so irresponsible.

ghostspirit · 16/07/2016 09:33

I'm on the fence. She should not have got the kittens knowing she is going away. Would the rescue place do anything. As the kitten is being fed and watered.

Vinorosso74 · 16/07/2016 10:22

An older cat who is settled in this is fine if someone is going in daily to feed/water/stroke cat etc.
A kitten I don't think this is ideal as per reasons previous posters have stated. Can her mum not stay at her house so kitten is in it's own home but with company and someone keeping an eye on it.
Highly irresponsible to get a pet then go away on holiday.

cozietoesie · 16/07/2016 10:31

It doesn't bode well, does it? I know I've been 'trained' these many years but still............

problembottom · 16/07/2016 14:34

I would definitely contact the rescue and ask for advice. My cat, then a kitten, got stuck up the chimney when he was little. And he used to look so sad when we left the house. I'd never have left him overnight!

RubbishMantra · 16/07/2016 15:06

God, this makes me feel so sad. I'd compare it to leaving a toddler who'd been taken away from his mum and siblings and left alone, confused and lonely.

Little Monsieur was 13 weeks when we adopted him, and I would get a friend round to babysit him all day when I was at uni. And he had MCat as company.

It will have a detrimental effect on his mental well-being. Either aloof and non socialised or clingy and fretful (lavish poo and pissing everywhere) every time he's left alone. Poor little soul.

Like a PP said, can her mum not move in for the duration?

I doubt the rescue would have handed him over if they knew he was going to be left alone for 9 days.

Why didn't she reserve him and collect him when back from her hols?

Must be a terrible worry for you OP. Sad

Original poster
StopLaughingDrRoss · 16/07/2016 19:30

Apologies for not getting back sooner - long day out with DC!

I spoke to her mum at length today as I am genuinely really worried.. not helped by the automatic feeder not working apparently Sad Her mum is going back tonight and will spend a few hours there but can't stay as she had a young DS and her GDD staying over.. it's just a mess.

I don't know which rescue unfortunately - I don't think her mum does either as it was sprung on her too! The holiday had been booked way before the kitten but obviously in her place, I would have postponed bringing the kitten home. He apparently is ok (apart from the food, obviously!!) but it just can't be good for him!

I am seeing her mum tomorrow so will offer to take him until mum is home. It's not great as I have a very stressed boy around other cats but perhaps if I can lock him in my bedroom (although it's not exactly cat friendly and that's where my boy hangs during the day looking out the window).. I will suggest that mum takes him?? Will that mess up the 'getting used to his home' smell thing although if I was him, I'd forever associate the house with abandonment!

It's just fucked up and doesn't bode well for the future, it really doesn't! I'm glad I'm not overreacting - I was utterly shocked when her mum mentioned it..

Poor little boy!!

OP posts:
Toddlerteaplease · 17/07/2016 20:26

I know it's not an ideal situation, but isn't taking him out of a familier environment going to cause him to be more unsettled. Surely he's better staying put and getting used to his new home.

Wolfiefan · 17/07/2016 20:30

Poor baby cat. They need so much attention and play at this age.
That's why we spent weeks without cats after losing our old girl last year. We had a holiday booked and it wouldn't have been fair to get a cat and leave it.
We've had our two nearly a year and I'm still worrying about leaving them (in a good cattery. Not home alone) while we go on holiday.
And she will come back and wonder why the sofa is shredded and the carpet is a litter tray and the cat doesn't know who the fuck she is.
Some people shouldn't have animals. Angry

Original poster
StopLaughingDrRoss · 17/07/2016 21:40

The kitten is being left at his home but my friend spent a few hours there today and is hoping to do the same all week.. hard work though! And the feeder is working so that's something Hmm He really is just a baby - her mum sent me a photo today and he is utterly gorgeous and so trusting looking (if that makes sense!)

I agree - some people really shouldn't have animals!

OP posts:
Original poster
StopLaughingDrRoss · 17/07/2016 21:41

And by friend, I mean the new owners mum (just realised that's confusing!)..

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 17/07/2016 21:42

Could we make up a MN kitten cuddling posse? Poor little mite being left. At that age mine needed so much.

LadyLayLay · 17/07/2016 21:48

The kitten is in a warm, secure place. It has food and water, and someone to check on it each day. It's fine.

SuburbanRhonda · 17/07/2016 22:08

Do you know much about the importance of socialisation in young animals, lady?

LadyLayLay · 18/07/2016 08:14

Yes I do Rhonda. Which is why I have always kept my horses in small herds, guinea pigs and rats in groups and generally had dogs in pairs. Ok not disputing that animals need company.

But the girl is away for a week and the OP is acting as if the kitten has been dumped in a shed without food, water, or anyone to check on it.

If you put your cat in a kennel do you think they spend all day playing with it?

Give any rescue a call and I guarantee they wouldn't be interested - there is nothing they can do as the kitten has the essentials.

SuburbanRhonda · 18/07/2016 08:24

Do you honestly think a boarding cattery would take a 12 week old kitten?

LadyLayLay · 18/07/2016 08:44

Yes they do, proving all vacs are completed. I'd recommend Ferndown Cattery Smile

Toddlerteaplease · 18/07/2016 09:09

Lady, I totally agree. It's 9 days. Not 9 weeks! There is someone coming In daily to see to it. It is less than ideal But it's happened.

cozietoesie · 18/07/2016 09:34

My main concern is that it doesn't bode well for the future. There may, of course, have been 'circumstances' but I would be real edgy about the future care that that kitten might receive.

MoonfaceAndSilky · 18/07/2016 09:49

Why didn't she reserve him and collect him when back from her hols?

Exactly this. Which tells me she is very selfish and knows nothing about kittens Angry
I dread to think what that little thing is getting up to, they need to be watched all the time at that age. Let alone how it is feeling, all alone, poor little thing Sad