Should I be worried about my neighbour's cat?

[Cakedoesntjudge]

I'm feeding my neighbour's cat for 2 weeks while she's away - she's back next week. She's been eating 2 pouches plus a small bowl of dry food (put down with a bowl of water) every day. But for the last 2 days she's barely touched the water or wet food.

The neighbour said she only usually came in for food and wasn't a cat that was overly bothered about fuss and although she's come in for food each time I've been over, she's not shown much interest in me.

However tonight she seemed quite agitated. She was pacing around, but constantly wanted to be near me and have me stroking her but wouldn't stay still. She was also obsessively rubbing her face against things.

On the other hand, she was purring lots, didn't seem to be injured as far as I could tell, was walking and jumping normally and has been eating the dry food.

The neighbour has been checking in with me every couple of days to ask how she is and I'm due to talk to them tomorrow. I don't want to worry them unnecessarily but know very little about cats and so I don't know if this is all normal behaviour and whether she's just missing the neighbour or whether it's something I should mention when I talk to the neighbour?

Any advice from people more knowledgeable about cats than me?!

It sounds like she has either been in a fight with another cat, or has seen one in her territory. I wouldn’t be worried, but keep an eye on her.

This might seem like a silly question, but have you been cleaning her food bowls out each time? We had a pet sitter once you didn't and we came back to loads of uneaten food.

She sounds like an independent cat, but it could be she's missing her owners. If she's full of life I wouldn't worry to much, but if she seems withdrawn then I'd mention it to her owners.

I agree that she may have just had an altercation with another cat. The rubbing her face on things is scent marking. Also agree about cleaning the bowls out each time you feed her. My cats don't get wet food but I've noticed their appetite fluctuating in the heat. I don't think there's a huge problem going on with her though.

Also try moving the water away from the food. Apparently cats don't like them close together. Hope cat settles down

Thank you for the tips, I've been giving her bowl a quick swill each time but I will be more thorough tomorrow and I will try moving the water!

I hadn't thought about other cats coming in - that's more than possible as there's a few around!

I have decided not to worry my neighbour until they're back - they aren't somewhere that they could come back early and it's only a few more days. I'll just give her lots of extra fuss if she lets me between now and then.

Thank you again for the advice, feeling a bit better about it all now.