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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.

Original poster

For how many hours do you leave your cat home alone?

77 replies

Clara9283 · 01/07/2023 13:05

A bit of background, I had a cat for more than 10 years, she was a very affectionate cat and loved to cuddle, but also was entirely ok on her own for some hours. That was more than 10 years ago and I consider getting a cat again. The first rescue I checked asked me whether the cat would be alone at home for 4 hours or more at any point at all...apparently this is one of their vetting criterias before they consider me to adapt any of their cats.

I wouldn't leave my cat on her own over night and I wouldn't adopt a cat if I was regularly out all day (I'm not, I WFH full time), but I probably wouldn't have thought twice about going out for an afternoon and leaving my cat at home for a few hours.

I'm happy to be told that I am wrong, it's been some time since I had a cat so I rather do some research and see what is considered the best thing to do now before getting a cat again. I wouldn't get one if I can't give it a good life.
How many hours on its own - occasionally, not regularly - would you consider ok for a cat?

OP posts:
whereaw · 01/07/2023 13:07

My cat left me home alone, all day and all night , on multiple occasions.

whereaw · 01/07/2023 13:08

I adopted from cats protection and was never asked anything like that!

Original poster
Clara9283 · 01/07/2023 13:10

whereaw · 01/07/2023 13:07

My cat left me home alone, all day and all night , on multiple occasions.

😂😂

OP posts:
sunshinesupermum · 01/07/2023 13:11

My DCat sits on the bed and doesn't move when we are out for an afternoon!

Whyohwhyohwhy123 · 01/07/2023 13:12

Not regularly but all day. The cat is fine, it’s actually very happy if it manages to sneak into a bedroom and sleep in the bed.
Always leave food out though

EvenmoreDetermined · 01/07/2023 13:12

We were never asked that (Cats Protection). We both work full days out of the house. We have two of them, nominally to keep each other company but they ignore each other 99% of the time (the other 1% is hissing and raising claws).

IsItNormalFTM · 01/07/2023 13:13

I never even think about it to be honest. Cat doesn’t much care where I am 😂 obviously if we will be away overnight then we get someone to come in a feed him. I’m actually really confused by this as it’s totally normal to get cat sitters whilst you’re away who just come in once or twice a day? I’ve never heard anyone question this.

Original poster
Clara9283 · 01/07/2023 13:15

Oh I'm glad to hear that I am not the only one who is confused by this question! I started to wonder if I am out of touch for thinking that cats are happy / don't care to occasionally have the house for themselves.

OP posts:
kwetu · 01/07/2023 13:15

Goodness, most cats are so independent I'd have no worries about leaving them alone for the day, so long as they have food/water/litter tray that's all they need, I realise there will be some exceptions to the rule but come on, cats generally just want a human slave and will sometimes allow said slave to pet them assuming their food bowl is constantly re-filled!

Smartiepants79 · 01/07/2023 13:16

All day, she barely notices we’re gone, especially if there’s food out.

Fuchs1a · 01/07/2023 13:16

Of course you can leave a cat all day while you go to work, as long as it’s got food, water and a litter tray.
Pre Covid my husband and I were out the house from 5.30am to sometimes 7pm as commuting into London. Out cat didn’t care.

BelindaBears · 01/07/2023 13:16

Full days and the occasional overnight. They’ve always had access to outside. We’ve generally had 2 at a time too.

Shallysally · 01/07/2023 13:17

I’m out of the house for 10-12 hours probably 3-4 days a week.
Cat is fine, she has fresh water and food, she doesn’t have free run of the house but can access the back room, kitchen and her catio.

Like others, I’ve never really thought about it.

RosesAndHellebores · 01/07/2023 13:18

I think our rescue was keen for someone to be around much of time but we rescued a very anxious and distressed pair. They are almost 100% settled after 4.5 months.

We occasionally leave them all day but someone is generally wfh.

Our old boy we left for a month th at a time with a cat sitter going in twice daily. He was fine but he was a very bold, friendly and grounded chap.

TroysMammy · 01/07/2023 13:20

Some days he can be out for about 8 hours whilst we are in work but never out at night. He has the greenhouse for shelter, a bowl of water but no food as he gets fed morning and evening but I know he also steals biscuits from a neighbour's cat. She grasses him up quite regularly with his antics. He has a few favourite places within calling distance.

If it's winter or raining and cold he'll say indoors on his own.

ItsCalledAConversation · 01/07/2023 13:23

Our cat lives in and out and we never even think about it. If we are away overnight we just leave food out. If longer we get a neighbour to come in and feed/water him. He is pleased to see us when we get back but comes for a quick stroke and heads off again. A house cat is different. If you’re going to keep them trapped indoors for their whole lives then your probably shouldn’t leave them long, more than a few hours I guess.

OakleyStreetisnotinChelsea · 01/07/2023 13:23

Pre covid and working from home the cat was left from 7/8am until 5/6pm most week days. Now it is more like once a week. But we go away for weekends and just leave dry food out (one night only) and for holidays just have a friend pop in and feed the beast. The cat gives not a single flying fart about the fact we leave him. So long as he has food, access to a fleecy blanket and various beds he's happy.

Fallenangelofthenorth · 01/07/2023 13:24

I've left my cat for weeks alone! Just get a neighbour to call round and feed him/change litter if he's used it, which is rare. He's feral really, spent his first 4 years on the streets so I really don't think he cares where I am as long as he's fed and has a comfortable place to sleep.

GiraffeDoor · 01/07/2023 13:24

This was why I had to buy kittens in the end. Weirdly, we were allowed to adopt semi-feral farm cats specifically to live outside (stables) with zero human interaction. But I wasn't allowed to adopt a cat with full access to the whole outside world and also the choice of a lovely cosy house. Go figure.

(Fwiw I have two cats now. I regularly leave them overnight. I wouldn't leave them more than 24 hrs without asking someone to pop in and feed/check on them)

NeverDropYourMooncup · 01/07/2023 13:28

ItsCalledAConversation · 01/07/2023 13:23

Our cat lives in and out and we never even think about it. If we are away overnight we just leave food out. If longer we get a neighbour to come in and feed/water him. He is pleased to see us when we get back but comes for a quick stroke and heads off again. A house cat is different. If you’re going to keep them trapped indoors for their whole lives then your probably shouldn’t leave them long, more than a few hours I guess.

Mine are house cats from their own choice.

They barely even notice when we're in the house if it isn't food time or 10-11pm (zoomies under the bed followed by declaring undying love and nicking the biggest share of the bed) and 5-6am (you're supposed to be up for work by now - don't forget it's breakfast soon).

I've come home early to find them asleep and they can't even be arsed to wake up, never mind acknowledge me.

You've just encountered another animal hoarder who doesn't want to give up an animal.

Hugasauras · 01/07/2023 13:31

I can honestly say I've never even thought about the cat when planning a day trip or even going away overnight.

ChineseFakeaway · 01/07/2023 13:34

I think I’m a pretty indulgent cat owner and with a new kitten right now I’m staying in a lot.

But are they seriously suggesting that you should not be travelling more than two hours from home if you have a cat and live alone?

I mean come on… no more trips to the beach, I could forget about going to Ikea, and even dinner and the cinema could be tricky 🤪

mondaytosunday · 01/07/2023 13:36

My cats come and go. I wfh now but in the past I've worked in an office and they've been alone ten hours plus a day. I do try and always have two cats though.
I have left them alone the odd night but if more than one night have someone come in and feed them.

Floralnomad · 01/07/2023 13:41

I think this is only important if they are going to be indoor cats and even then less of an issue if you have multiple cats . If you have a cat that goes out and has a cat flap so it can get back in I can’t see what difference it makes whether you are in or not as surely the cat could choose to stay out all day .

helpfulperson · 01/07/2023 13:42

When I rescued cats they asked questions about how long I would leave them alone in the first couple of months, and asked about holiday plans. I can understand it's not fair on a new cat to adopt them and then leave them long periods while they are still getting used to everything but now I frequently leave them for two weeks with someone coming in for an hour each day and they are fine.