How many times to get cat feeder in whilst away

[DialsMavis]

We got our rescue cat in February 2020 and she has yet to be left alone while we are away. I have just found out that adult DS is away at the same time as us next week so DCat will be home alone.

Our previous cat who we adopted in his very old age was a total people cat and we got someone to pop in twice per day to feed him and hang out with him for a bit when we went away.

Current DCat is the opposite and still very shy, she will probably leg it upstairs is someone other than us comes in. She also eats throughout the day and night rather than in one go twice per day, even though we feed her morning and early evening.

She eats a mix of wet dry food.

Would we be terribly cruel to just get someone in once per day to put out a double helping of food and change water, top up dry food if needed?

A cattery is not an option and would stress her out terribly. We had to get a mobile vet round for jabs etc as we failed 4 times to get her in a carrier to the vet.

DH will feed her very early next Thursday when he goes to work and a friend would then pop in that evening. I will arrive home mid pm on Sunday and friend would come Sunday am. So it is just the Friday and Saturday I am wondering if she needs someone to come twice.

She has a cat flap and comes in and out as she pleases.

Thanks in advance for any advice or opinions.

We do once a day and our cat is always fine, he's very chilled out and a bit indifferent about humans that aren't us. Our cat sitter is great and sends pictures and videos of what he's been up to

Back in the day when these things were allowed(!), we got a pet sitter to come in once a day to see our cat (who is also very shy but soon warmed up to them as food giver!). They would do wet food for then plus set up an automated feeder with another set of wet food for the evening. Then dry food and water put out fresh each day as well. Seemed to work well. And we have a perpetually hungry kitty. He adapted to the new routine very quickly. And we got sent photos and videos each day of him and he was such a flirt once he got used to them arriving!!

We did twice a day when we first left them for seven days - they never warmed up to them but we got photos twice a day most days.

We thought next time we'd do once a day as it was food and litter tray being done as they just wouldn't interact - though we've not done it yet as yet as all our plans got canceled last year

I get the cat sitter in twice a day, as my cat does engage with her, albeit tentatively, plus I worry about the cat feeling lonely or coming to harm in some way. Once a day would probably be fine, though.

Thanks all! I think I will ask friend to come late morning/lunch time and if DCat shows any interest at all in spending time with her pop back in the eve. We only get cuddles about 9pm so they won't be on the cards. I will also look at the timer thing for food

I'm a cat sitter and the vast majority of people ask for twice a day, and personally I book someone to come in twice a day too - for several reasons.

• it they become unwell, potentially leaving them alone for 24 hours before someone checks on them and is aware of the problem makes me very uncomfortable.

• the timed feeders could easily break, water bowls could be knocked over etc. and I'd want to make sure their feeding times/routines were stuck to as much as possible.

• house security. I like the fact that someone can come in and leave a light on, open/close curtains, move the mail, put the bins in/out etc. I do all of those things for clients and I know it's much appreciated if they're away for long periods.

Thank you @cupsofcoffee