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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

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Original poster

Going on holiday - leaving cat at home

44 replies

Maggiethecat · 24/06/2023 14:33

We have a space at a cattery but wasn’t very happy with them the last time.

my neighbour might be able to pop in every day (10days) which was fine time before but am concerned especially about the heat.

also, because cat grazes I’m not sure about leaving her food out with flies around.

at home I cover her bowl which she’s able to get to by flicking the cover off but I’ll replace cover if I’m passing by the bowl. Today for example when I went to cover it there was a fly in it (not loads of flies about but they do wander in if doors are open)

has anyone left theirs at home with someone popping in and how has it been?

is there anything like a good dispenser that works? (am about to google if they exist but opinions on them would help!)

OP posts:

Floralnomad · 24/06/2023 15:01

You need to find someone ( pay ) who will commit to checking on the cat properly , not rely on a neighbour who may pop in .

MykonosMaiden · 24/06/2023 15:03

Maggiethecat · 24/06/2023 14:49

We don’t have many flies but one or two do come in when patio doors are open.

But they're not going to be open when you're on holiday are they?
So it should be fine

MykonosMaiden · 24/06/2023 15:04

22Foxy · 24/06/2023 15:00

You say your Neighbor can pop in every 10 days...! That's crazy, perhaps it's a typo.... your cat needs fresh water, and food.... flies are highly likely to lay eggs on food left out and it won't last in the heat anyway....! No animals should be left alone for long periods of time... I understand catteries are not great.... But there is a fabulous website for pet sitters it's called www.trustedhousesitters.com here you can find someone lovely to stay at your home when away, and look after your pets, often they don't charge anything or it's a small amount... you just put an ad on and you can contact people, or they contact you.... I'm honestly a bit surprised that so many people are suggesting leaving your pet alone.... I think it's actually illegal and certainly quite irresponsible, what if something was to happen to them whilst you're away... ok if the neighbours are popping in twice a day to actually check on them... feed and check their water.... but much better to get a pet sitter...

Her trip is for 10 days not the neighbour popping in!

QueSyrahSyrah · 24/06/2023 15:08

If we're going away for up to 3 nights we leave him at home and a cat loving friend pops in twice a day every day to do his food and litter and fuss him. I would not leave him at home with someone who 'might pop in once a day'.

Any longer and he goes to the cattery, as a PP says he'd prefer home but I like to know he can't get himself into scrapes and isn't lonely.

Now our niece is getting old and responsible enough she may come and stay at our place with him for short trips away in the future.

Toddlerteaplease · 24/06/2023 15:15

I have a cat sitter for short breaks. But I wouldn't leave them
If the neighbour was at all hesitant about looking after them. I much prefer mine to be in the cattery.

RaisinforBeing · 24/06/2023 15:16

Just be careful with an automatic feeder. Ours jammed on a long w/e away and didn’t turn around so my cat only had food for 1 day and not 4!

We use a cattery now but mainly because my cat now often brings birds and mice in the house. She has been known to bring stunned birds up to my daughters room and leave them amongst the cuddle toys .

Original poster

Maggiethecat · 24/06/2023 15:32

lots of food for thought!

perish the idea that the neighbour was popping in every 10 days!!

we get on quite well and he is a serious pet owner himself so we’d both only agree if he could commit to everyday at least once a day.

the fly issue was bothering me (and it’s not that we have lots of them but I know what summer can be like)

but as @MykonosMaiden says, hopefully unlikely to be an issue if doors/windows are closed and it’s dry food too.

OP posts:

Ted27 · 24/06/2023 15:39

I pay a cat lady to come in twice a day for cuddles and food.

She visited to meet him when I was there and they are now best buddies, she texts me once a day to let me know everything is ok and I usually get at least one video of him purring madly whilst she fusses over him.
He gets to stay at home, can still come and go as he pleases, and the advantage of someone coming into the house every day.

Grumpyoldpersonwithcats · 24/06/2023 15:44

NDN minds our four when we are away and we mind 'the beast' for him. Going in twice a day means you really don't need to worry about food going off.

Original poster

Maggiethecat · 24/06/2023 19:52

@RaisinforBeing - hopefully your cat had flap access and was able to fend for itself!!

OP posts:

LimoncelloSpritz · 24/06/2023 19:58

Mine lives outside in the summer. I pay someone to come once a day and feed him/make a fuss and then chuck him back out again. He would hate a cattery. When we moved house years back he disappeared under the sofa and wouldn't come out for a week.

dementedpixie · 24/06/2023 20:12

We've just gone on holiday today and have a cat sitter coming in twice a day for 14 days. We have used her several times before and the cats seem to do OK although I always feel guilty at leaving them

eurochick · 24/06/2023 20:12

We pay our cleaner to come in once a day and use a cat mate with the ice pack so they get fresh wet food twice a day. Generally we don't get many flies as they are indoor cats so we tend to keep windows closed. They are very skittish but are used to seeing our cleaner (=evil hoover lady) once a week and she is a cat lover. Plus it is a few extra £ for her. We have never gone for longer than a week though.

MykonosMaiden · 24/06/2023 20:47

As an aside I'm glad to see so many people using Cat Mate with the ice packs!
It was pretty cheap on Amazon and I'm surprised it works so well
There are more fancy brands but I didn't want to buy as wasn't sure if would work... But cat has taken to it quite well.

ItsOnlyMeNow · 24/06/2023 20:52

I think this is the thing you have to accept with animals - the costs that are involved. My son uses a cat sitter as they have several single friends of their own age . We use a wonderful cattery. The two cats are together in a chalet and are so spoilt. Last few weeks each chalet has a fan as well. It costs but for me it is peace of mind and what they deserve. I will leave them at home for one night with auto feeder and camera.

cinnamonfrenchtoast · 25/06/2023 07:09

I'm a cat-sitter myself and use another sitter when we go away on holiday.

She comes in twice a day to feed them (wet food), and she tops up the dry, replaces their water, sorts their litter trays, gives the youngest his medication and has a cuddle/play if they're up to it.

She also vacuums up any litter that's been kicked everywhere and empties bins etc. I pay £15 a day and she's great. Mine are indoor cats though so I don't need to worry about them not coming back or bringing birds etc. in the house.

Funkyslippers · 25/06/2023 11:08

22Foxy that's exactly what we're doing this year for the first time. I've spoken to the lady on the phone and she sounds lovely and loves cats. She's also go great reviews on the house sitting website

Growingoutthegrey · 25/06/2023 11:13

If your cat is chipped, have a look at sure feed feeders. Actually they might work without a chip too... You can get ones that have a movement sensor to open. Cat would need training to use it but they are brilliant.

Also please don't suddenly switch your car to a completely different food, it can cause very serious blockages. Mix a bit each day ☺️

Also cat sitters are everywhere now, cheaper than catteries and they'll happily wash bowls, check litter trays etc too.

AnnaMagnani · 25/06/2023 11:16

How much does your cat like routine?

One of mine is obsessed with routine to the point she is upset if we sit in the wrong chairs.

Although she doesn't love cattery (spends her whole time hiding under a blanket) she is worse at home as she just doesn't understand why she is home without us. We come home to a cat with bladder issues and accidents all over the house.

Home with a cat sitter isn't right for every cat.

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