Letting young cat out when I'm away?

[MaudesMum]

I have a 9 month old kitten (neutered), who I've been letting out over the last few months. She loves it - lots to see and do - and the catflap leads to my and lots of other small back gardens quite a long way from any road. She's wary of strangers, and frightened of cars, and (as far as I know) doesn't wander that far. I entice her in when its getting dark by means of dreamies, as I want to keep her safe. In a couple of weeks I'm away for 4 nights, and then again for 10 days in about 6 weeks - and I've got a cat sitter lined up, who will come in and feed etc. Because she only comes in once a day I can either keep the catflap closed or open for the time I'm away, and I don't know which to do. Closed, and she's safe - but also will miss the outdoors, especially if the weather is warm. Open, and she has the opportunity to be out at night, so bigger risks - and also she might not be in when the catsitter visits. I did leave the catflap open one night by accident and came downstairs in the morning to find her curled up asleep on the sofa. What should I do??

Leave her in. She's settle down. I'd worry about her too much if she was allowed out.

I'd keep her in or find a decent cattery.

I couldn't cope with the worry of her being out all that time.

I also have an older cat, who would hate a cattery (Last put her in when I moved house - didn't eat for 4 days and attacked the cattery staff!) which is why I've always gone down the catsitter route. At least that way they get to be in familiar surroundings and have space to get away from each other..

Leave it shut, or put her in a cattery especially for the next 10 day trip

Does the older cat go outside? If so you have to leave the flap open

I once left my 2 older cats at home with adult DS2, but took 3-4 month old kitten to a cattery because I didn’t think DS2 would have time for him. He had a wonderful time at the cattery & was spoiled rotten. Could you put your kitten in a cattery & leave the older one at home?

(On our next trip away all 3 cats had to go in. It’s a lovely place, but is a 30-min drive away, & both former-kitten & 1 older cat were very panicky in the car & pooed everywhere so since then I’ve used a sitter)

The older cat does go outside, but isn't very bothered. Except in the early hours of the morning, when she repeatedly head-butts the locked catflap. So, the vote seems to be coming down to keeping them both in - thank you!

At our rescue we advise people to keep cats strictly indoors while they're away and have a cat sitter. It's far safer that way; a cat with no one to come home to is likely to wander off and not return. It's also not very safe if an accident does happen as no one will be at home to see the cat potentially for a long time. Being indoors for 10 days is not problem at all.

Thank you all. Now all I have to do is get the catflap repaired as someone has snapped off one of the little plastic tabs....