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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

Will my cat be ok without food until tonight??

35 replies

8e88e · 17/08/2023 08:12

I don't have a cat flap but my cat really wanted to go out this morning while I was getting ready for work, like he usually does. He doesn't go far and usually comes back in before I leave for work. I put his food down but he didn't eat it, I just thought no problem, he will eat it when he comes back in. But he wouldn't come back in 😩 ive had to leave for work and I'm worrying about him not being able to eat now until tea time tonight when I get back. So he will have gone almost 24 hours without eating.

I'm going to be stressing all day at work now imagining him crying at the door to come in because he's starving 😢

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 17/08/2023 08:15

I'd have put the food outside in the hope another cat wouldn't eat it and he might get some of it

babblingbumblingbandofbaboons · 17/08/2023 08:16

He’ll be absolutely fine, he is out having an adventure and there’s plenty of food out there he can scavenge if he really was hungry!

And the crying at the door when you get home won’t be coz he’s starving, That’ll be him scolding you for having the audacity to leave the house when clearly you should have ditched work and waited for him to come back - how dare you keep him waiting! 😉

Didntmeanto6 · 17/08/2023 08:17

He will be fine

Original poster
8e88e · 17/08/2023 08:18

@dementedpixie I have done this once before but he is on wet food and when I got home his food had been half eaten and the bit that was left had fly eggs on it 🤢🤢🤢

OP posts:
bunhead1979 · 17/08/2023 08:20

He’ll be fine but he we probably punish you tonight anyway.

dementedpixie · 17/08/2023 08:21

OK, maybe not with wet food then. I have done it with dry food though

Cazzovuoi · 17/08/2023 08:24

He’ll be absolutely fine. Hunger doesn’t kill anyone in a day.

Besides, there are lots of yummy critters and insects outside. My boy (who just had breakfast) is currently chewing on a grasshopper I watched him chase down Envy (not envy)

Original poster
8e88e · 17/08/2023 08:29

@dementedpixie I know I really wish I had some dry food 😩

@Cazzovuoi hahaha that's if he can catch anything. He's too lazy these days 😂

Thanks everyone who has posted for reassuring me he will be ok. It's horrible being at work though and thinking he's going to be hungry. I feel guilty

OP posts:
hellsbells99 · 17/08/2023 10:31

If he is anything like my cat, he will go begging to neighbours houses …..which is why my cat is so fat!

Igmum · 17/08/2023 16:45

He will be fine (but obviously he won't tell you that Grin).

Any chance of a photo of this poor neglected feline? (Looks hopeful)

gamerchick · 17/08/2023 16:48

Tsk they do the I'm starving routine at people's houses. You'll probably find photos of the poor starving pussy nomming down some tuna on SM later as 'lost'.

Original poster
8e88e · 17/08/2023 16:49

Yes here he is! I am on my way home now. No doubt he will shout at me as soon as he sees me

Will my cat be ok without food until tonight??
Will my cat be ok without food until tonight??
OP posts:
nolamesallowed · 17/08/2023 16:49

It's not going to die of starvation

Original poster
8e88e · 17/08/2023 16:51

@nolamesallowed I know he isn't going to die. But sometimes people still worry about their pets being uncomfortable or unhappy even if they're not dying

OP posts:
IClaudine · 17/08/2023 16:56

I bet you get full on poor starving kitty dramatics!

LadyVictoriaSponge · 17/08/2023 16:56

Aww he’s gorgeous, he looks like he rules the roost! better give him double helpings to make up for your misdemeanours! I would feel the same OP I would have worried all day as well, it’s not the fact he will die it’s the thought of him crying and being hungry and you can’t help him, totally get it, you sound a lovely cat slave!

IreneGoodnight · 17/08/2023 16:57

Aaaaw a beautiful jet black floof. He'll forgive you after he's had a good feed, a chat and a cuddle.

DiaNaranja · 17/08/2023 17:02

He'll be fine. We only put wet food down for our cats once a day, so technically only get fed once every 24hrs. They always have access to dry food, but rarely touch it, so it ends up going out for the foxes, with any left over chicken we have. Don't know why I bother continuing to buy the dry food to be honest!? We also don't have a cat flap into the house, but put one into our shed door, so they have shelter, beds and access to food and water when we're out.

amylou8 · 17/08/2023 17:12

Beautiful cat. Hopefully he'll have learnt his lesson, but I doubt it!

MushMonster · 17/08/2023 17:14

Lol he will be fine.
You, on the other hand, human how you dare leave him outside, no food, no opening the door when he wants to come in and out? Shame on you! You will have to pay a price for this. I would get him his favourite snack to make amends.

Shopper727 · 17/08/2023 17:17

Cats don’t tend to over eat and if he had some and didn’t finish then tough. One of mine can be a bit fussy she’ll have a nibble then go outside tends to eat more @ teatime cats are pretty resilient- I have 5 and they all do their own thing I’m sure he’ll be fine. My 1 year old boy is currently stalking me as it’s almost tea time

Original poster
8e88e · 17/08/2023 17:31

Thanks everyone who reassured me. You were all right.... He came in shouting, I put his food down, he took two bites and then went back outside 😆 are you kidding me!

OP posts:
tooearlyforthis98 · 17/08/2023 17:36

8e88e · 17/08/2023 16:49

Yes here he is! I am on my way home now. No doubt he will shout at me as soon as he sees me

Beautiful cat and pleased he was ok

Happierwithouthim · 17/08/2023 17:39

Less than 12 hours not 24 GrinGrin

JoanOgden · 17/08/2023 17:39

Haha! Your average domestic cat has significant fat reserves and I think they don't actually need that many calories when it's warm. Mine had only just deigned to eat her breakfast.