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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

Leaving cat for 32 hours

33 replies

QueenHilda · 06/09/2024 23:05

I’m going to London tomorrow overnight. I’m leaving home at 7:30 in the morning and will be back Sunday at 3:15.

As it’s just one night I thought my cat would be okay home alone, but I now feel really guilty as 32 hours is a long time and I’ve never left her that long before.

There is nobody I can ask to pop in to check on her Saturday night / Sunday morning. I plan on leaving at least 3 bowls of water and loads of dry food, wedging the doors open and making sure there are no strings hanging about.

Do you think she’ll be okay?

OP posts:
Fundays12 · 06/09/2024 23:08

It depends on the cat. My old boy would have been fine as he slept most of the time but my young cats wouldn't speak to me for a week if I left them without someone to pamper them.

CheeseWisely · 06/09/2024 23:09

I would in a pinch, although I'd prefer at least one visit in that time period if I could arrange it.

Our (indoor by his own choice) cat is a solitary soul though and prefers peace and quiet to company a lot of the time.

If your cat is playful could you get a couple of new engaging toys before you go? We have a 'maze' with a light up ball and a ball that dispenses treats. Leaving something like that might entertain her for a bit of time.

Pearl97 · 06/09/2024 23:11

Have you got a camera in the house you could check they’re ok. We have a cat cat so we can see he’s ok?

DrPeculiar · 06/09/2024 23:12

She’ll be fine. That is my limit for leaving my cat. I bought one of those timed food trays that feed at 12 hour intervals, you put an ice pack under the bowl so you can leave fresh food if you want to.

Original poster
QueenHilda · 06/09/2024 23:15

Thanks. That’s a good idea about toys, I have a few old ones put away that I can get out for her again to provide some novelty.

OP posts:
Original poster
QueenHilda · 06/09/2024 23:16

I don’t have a camera unfortunately. I think I will get one though, I do worry about her when I’m out of the house.

OP posts:
hby9628 · 06/09/2024 23:21

Does she have a cat flap to get in & out? If not put a litter tray down. Expect lots of cat drama when you get home but she'll be fine.

AceOfCups · 06/09/2024 23:23

We've done it, but the cat seemed a bit unhappy when we got home.

OkPedro · 06/09/2024 23:25

My boy would be distraught he's a very nervous cat. Have you ever left your cat with a cat sitter? If not then has he/she ever been left for long periods?
I would definitely get a camera if you can't get a cat sitter at the last minute

purpleme12 · 06/09/2024 23:26

I'd probably leave her on her own for this yes.

I think we left ours for that long once

Wavescrashingonthebeach · 06/09/2024 23:27

My cat would probably be annoyed at being locked in the house for that long. Mine would probably rather be locked out the house for 32 hours (if it wasn't the middle of winter).
But yeah if it's a house cat and you've got everything sorted then should be fine. I'd put 2 litter trays down though.

sunsetsandboardwalks · 06/09/2024 23:27

I know people will say it depends on the cat but personally I don't think it's right to leave a pet for such a long period without anyone making sure they're okay.

I'm not sure what you can do at such late notice but in future please try and have a back up - a sitter or a neighbour - who can come in while you're away to at least put down fresh water and put a pair of eyes on your cat to make sure they're healthy and eating etc.

FacingTheWall · 06/09/2024 23:27

We’ve left our cats for around 48 hours before without any problems. Auto food dispenser and plenty of water, including a running tap. They’re indoor cats though, so used to not being in and out all day.

KnittedCardi · 06/09/2024 23:38

I have left my outdoor cat for a weekend. He's fine. Much better than getting someone in, he hates my neighbour, and gets freaked out by strangers coming in the house. I just feed him fresh before we go, and leave a couple of bowls of dry food down. He doesn't drink water.

ncforcatquestion · 06/09/2024 23:52

I would do it if my cats had access to outside, but not otherwise

SensorySensai · 06/09/2024 23:58

When we lived on a farm, we left our cats for a week a few times, with someone popping in to feed and check on them. They were very independent cats! Now we only have inside cats and the longest we'd do is 48 hours but with cameras. They won't come to any physical harm but may be a bit unsettled. Last time my cat did a dirty protest and shat very neatly in the hallway, right next to his clean litter tray.

JoanOgden · 06/09/2024 23:59

I do this occasionally. My cat has a catflap out into my safe garden and an autofeeder so I can leave wet food for her. She's always been absolutely fine.

TheOGCCL · 07/09/2024 00:01

Yes I’ll think she’ll be ok but I’d definitely get a camera and ideally a one visit cat sitter for next time. I’m the opposite of pp, if a cat goes out I think it’s even more important to check up on them in case of injury.

PoopedAndScooped · 07/09/2024 00:05

Is she the kinda cat after one poop in the litter tray and she wont go in there again?
That would be the only thing i would worry about i think

3 or 4 bowls of water
Wet food the day you go and plenty of dry food
Toys and a soft toy out, with a blanket / Cushion

Make sure no doors can close on her and lock her in / out of a room

Holidayingwithfriends · 07/09/2024 00:08

I think it depends on the cat. Now we just have our girl cat she is happy to be left for one night. She's a quiet girl and enjoys the peace from the kids I think. We have a 12 hour food dispenser. Her brother would have been distraught if left overnight.

UnwantedOpinionBelow · 07/09/2024 00:23

Our cats have been left alone a few times overnight.

We have two though and they can go outdoors whenever they want, so are quite independent and have each other for company.

We ensure they have wet food before we leave and loads of dry food and glasses of water around, also leave all the doors open to each room so they can choose the most comfortable spot in the house to sleep etc.

Original poster
QueenHilda · 07/09/2024 00:43

Thanks, I feel a bit better about it. I am planning on keeping her in, as I would worry even more if she’s out and about. At least in the house I’m pretty sure she’s safe. I think she’ll be unsettled, but she hates visitors and runs to hide from them, which is why I hadn’t arranged a visitor. I will try and get my sister to cat sit for me next time though (the only other person my cat likes!)
Hopefully puss will forgive me…

OP posts:
MidnightMeltdown · 07/09/2024 01:15

Ok to leave overnight but you need a proper cat feeder with ice packs. Even dry food goes stale if you leave it exposed to the air for 24 hours.

PaillettenBedeckt · 07/09/2024 01:26

My cat would be fine with it, as long as she was outside and it was a mild time of year.

When it's particularly nice, she'll only come in for five minutes a day to gobble her food as fast as she can before immediately going back out. So it doesn't make much difference to her if I'm away for a short time, other than having her food left outside instead.

DrPeculiar · 07/09/2024 06:22

I keep mine in OP. He does go out but not every day and barely in the winter. My neighbour used to come in and look after him but had an aversion to going near the litter tray so he now goes to a cattery (doesn’t thrive)!

The cattery has really strict drop off/pick up slots which makes it difficult to go away for a night without putting him in there for two.

He’s safe inside in my kitchen/diner with fresh food on a timer, dry food, water, litter tray and a sofa to recline on.

I’d worry that he’d get into a scrape with no one to notice of he went out.

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