How long would you leave your cat on their own?

[FishfingerFlinger]

We used to leave our cat alone for up to 2 nights, mainly because that was maximum number of meals his automated cat feeder catered for. We’ve now upgraded to a fancy new automated feeder that will dispense biscuits for up to a fortnight…which raises the question how long is too long for a cat to stay home alone?

I think they need company now and then and I would want someone to check on their welfare at least once a day.

My cat definitely has more than one home so l wouldn't worry too much about him but probably no more than a week

We have two so they’re not technically alone. We left them for one night this week completely on their own and are leaving them for a week soon but with my dad popping in every night to feed them and sort the litter tray. We don’t have an automatic dispenser so need someone to come in to them.

Who would clean the litter tray if you left your cat longer than a few days or do you have a cat flap?

We’ve done similar in the past. A 2 night weekend away with a very laid back, independent cat.
I think that’s about the limit for me especially if they’re being kept in. The litter tray would be awful if left any longer.

I have never left mine for more than 2 nights.

My next door neighbour used to leave her cats for a week when she went on holiday, which used to result in them crying at our door after w couple days, I thought it was cruel. Couple of nights I would say.

Oooh that’s a good question. Guess it depends on your cat-litter tray or no? Needy or independent etc.

When we go away, our neighbours come and feed her but they don’t really spend any time with her so I guess it’s similar to an automated feeder? She’ll go and visit the other neighbours and goes out and about a bit, no litter tray so I guess she’d be ok for a week although fresh water might be a problem?

A week at the most with someone popping in twice a day. I don’t think I’d be happy with that. 3 days would be fine.
We tend to take each other’s cats in in our family for holidays. One cat is so used to visiting he rules the roost. A large do crate is ideal and not dissimilar to the space in a cattery.

Ohh that feeder sounds great. I would go for a week

I wouldn't. I have a neighbours daughter look after the cat.

My cat couldn't give a toss if we were about. So as long as I could get annual leave approved for 😂

when we are away, we get someone to check on them every other day. They have an automatic feeder etc, so don't need feeding, but I like them just to be seen and checked for any injury or illness

Feeder great but would still need someone coming in daily to check welfare, lights, post, etc.

We leave ours for a maximum of two nights if there’s nobody to drop round. They are very much friends though so not entirely alone, as it were. Access to outdoors too so not so deadly boring.

Otherwise/more usually, we have friends drop by each day that we’re away.

He has a cat flap - he used to have a litter tray but he never used it so we got rid.

He also has a water fountain (fussy about drinking!) which only needs replenishing once a week if that so he really doesn’t need us for much. We have an indoor WiFi camera we can set up so we can check he is coming and going normally.

So he could be pretty self sufficient for at least a week - but it seems a bit wrong to just let him fend for himself that long!

We used to feed our friend’s cats while they were away and we’d never actually set eyes on the cats, we just knew food was being eaten!

Actually we’ve done every other day drop ins too. At that time we had two older cats who were extremely good friends.

We leave ours for a week. We have an automatic feeder but the neighbours still come in daily to check she's OK, the feeder's still working, change water etc.

Our garden is cat proofed and she has an outdoor litter tray so hopefully can't get into too much mischief. She hates other cats with a psychotic passion so I think would be very unhappy in a cattery. I do worry about her getting lonely but feel it's the least worst option.

My cats will super affectionate with anyone coming in to feed them but they are very people orientated. So I guess 3 nights at most then a visit etc.

I used to look after unpredictable vicious monster cat over the road. My day 4 he was insistent he wanted strokes and cuddles despite regularly attacking anyone that tried to stroke him!!

@FishfingerFlinger We used to feed our friend’s cats while they were away and we’d never actually set eyes on the cats, we just knew food was being eaten!

Good point. I’ve had that experience when cat sitting too. A lot of cats are really not that interested in people. Ours are (Siamese), they’re very keen on visitors. Feckers come when they’re called by anyone they remotely know, so always put in an appearance.

Go with your gut, if you think he’d be happy enough he might well be. Obviously good to have someone on call in case you spot something worrying remotely.

I wouldn't leave mine without someone coming in daily to check on them. It's not just food and water, they've had regular run-ins with neighbouring cats and although we have a cat cam and microchip flap, I'd still want someone checking in on them to make sure they were ok.

I wouldn't leave mine alone without someone checking on them at least twice a day.

If there's a medical issue and there's nobody there to check on him and get him seen, would you ever forgive yourself?

I'm also a cat sitter and 95% of my cat clients want twice daily visits.

Ours is ok for a couple of nights. Beyond that I like to have someone check he is ok, change water etc.

I pay my neighbours grown up son to stay and cat sit. My cats have always known him and he is wonderful with them.

You can’t leave a cat alone for a week, it’s just downright cruel. Our water fountain is changed every day. Would you like to drink water a week old?

I left the cat for a weekend once with an automatic feeder….came back to find she’d been shut in a wardrobe with no food or water the whole time! Never left her since.