Help? Non cat owner - got to feed DS cat

[FlipFlops4Me]

My DSis has been taken to hospital. SHe has a fairly timid house cat and they are the only two in the flat. I will have to go up and feed the cat, change the litter and water every day.

Do I change the litter twice a day?
How much food do I put down? I don't want to waste - DSis is retired and on a small income.

I have never kept a cat - I'm a dog woman.

No you don’t need to change the litter twice a day.

Just scoop out the solids and dispose and top up if needed.

Regarding food, you need to ideally speak to her. Everyone has their different methods

I have dry food down all day and one pouch of wet at night

You need to pick the poop out, and probably change the full litter once or twice a week although it depends what litter she uses.

Does she use wet food or dry food? That will depend on how much to feed.

You scoop the litter rather than changing it although depends on the type of litter as to whether you can scoop pee and poo. I scoop into a dog poo bag.

Do you know if the cat gets dry and/or wet food?
Top up dry food and put out maybe ½ pouch if going twice a day or 1 if only going once. Top up water bowl too

I hope your sister is ok.
Litter doesn't normally need changing daily. Remove any solids daily and change the whole lot every third day. I feed my cats on demand as they self regulate well, but when we're away they manage fine with dry food left out all the time and a single bowl of wet food each left once daily by the neighbour.

A sachet morning and night of wet food, and dry food down all day if she has it.

Can you estimate how much the cat weights, and what food there is? We can estimate better that way, but as a start, there should be some information in the packet. Dcat eats half what the information says she should, so don't worry if the cat doesn't eat all.

She's a bit delirious, and I'm not sure she's got her phone. I can't get to her - I am my DH's carer and he really needs almost constant attendance. Even getting up the road to DS's flat to feed the cat will be problematic, although if I let my neighbour know I'm going they'll keep an eye out for DH.

A mutual friend borrowed my key to her place, called the ambulance and then stopped off to tell me (and give the key back).

I'll go up at about 4.00 p.m. to feed the cat (sweet little thing) and make sure there's plenty of water, and I'll sit with her for a while but then I'll have to come home. I can't get back until about 9.00 a.m.

Will that be OK?

Thank you all so much for you help! I really am very grateful.

Yeah that sounds fine. When I had a cat sitter when we went on holiday they came in twice a day to scoop litter and put food out.

Cat sitters cost around £10 a visit. Would you be able to stretch to that to save you the stress. One visit a day is fine.

Very kind of you, sounds like you have a lot on your plate.

If your Dsis is going to be in hospital a while, I would suggest bringing the cat to your house for the moment to make life easier (and so the cat has company), if you are up for that. Although not if you have a dog!

One visit a day is fine. Keep dry food topped up and fresh water. She'll be very pleased to see you!
Hope your sister feels better soon. If the cat will need longer term looking after, it might be worth contacting a local cat charity to see if someone might be able to foster kitty for a little while?

Don't be suprised if she appears not to drink the water. I have never seen our cat drink, but she does have wet food.

Could you pay for a cat sitter instead if you're going to struggle?

I'm a cat-sitter and would happily take on a job like this. I charge £15 for two half hour visits each day.

cats are not like dogs, they can happily go all day without company.
When we are on holiday my friend comes in once a day.

Cats are very resiliant, as long as she has access to food and litter tray (and water if feeding dry) she will be fine.
If she is used to company she might like strokes and cuddles when you go in, but my cat feeder sometimes doesn't see my cat at all.