From time to time I look after dogs/cats for people as a very little business. Since last Saturday I've been looking after a lovely white cat who lives locally to me. I'll be looking after her for two weeks and this is in her own home.
The family - who've gone abroad on holiday - only moved to the area three weeks ago. They live in a cul de sac approximately three mins walk from my house. I live in a very busy main road and their house is right behind mine, removed a little
The instructions are to let the cat out twice a day. She's already been going out and about for over a week which I was surprised about as understood that cats need around 6 weeks to get their bearings in a new area. But those are my instructions So I've been popping round and feeding/petting/changing litter etc and letting her out then letting her back in hours later which is what they want
Today I glance out my own kitchen window onto the busy main road and see the bloody cat on the path opposite! Clearly very scared and looking frantic. I froze and watched her run straight across the road, a car missing her by inches. I go out immediately and walk round calling her until I find her near her own house. Let her in, fed and petted and that's that. She's in!
So my question... my instincts are to keep her inside now until they return from their holiday on the 12th August. Obviously going round several times a day! I honestly nearly had a heart attack when I saw her dash across the main road! I really really do not want what would be a fatal accident on my watch thank you very much.
So what would you do? Don't really want to contact the owners on their holiday unless I have to - on the note left for me she put ' contact me via email in case of emergency and I'll try and check emails if I can ' and not sure this is an emergency!