Leaving cat for 48 hours - too long?

[WinkyTinky]

I posted a thread a few weeks ago about dH bringing a cat into the home and not telling anyone, long story, lots of replies and useful input. To cut that long story short, the cat (Max) is well looked after by us, not so much dH who still flits off doing his own thing whenever he likes. He's had his second set of injections this morning, and presumably will want a snuggly sleepy day. But at the weekend we are all away for a couple of days at a caravan place and will be out of the house Friday 5pm til Sunday 5pm. I thought that dH would have organised something like a cattery or at least someone to come in the house, but having just asked him, he says his plan is to 'leave three meals out for Saturday and we'll be back on Sunday so all is fine'. Is it? Before I go searching out catteries and taking over responsibility again, do I leave him to it?

On his own, no that’s too long. Can you arrange for someone to call in and spend half an hour with him each day?

Get a timed feeder?
Ideally someone should pop in on the Saturday and check he's ok and has food and water. Could a neighbour do this?

It depends on your cat really, and is it dried food in a timed feeder? There is no way I could leave my 4 alone that long as they would get very upset (as would I!), and they also eat wet food, but some cats might be ok with this. Can he get outside so doesn't need to use a litter tray which could get quite dirty over 48 hours?

Do you have a neighbour/friend who could pop in once or twice to make sure he's OK?

That's a long time. We have someone pop in once a day when we are away. They leave a second meal in a timer bowl for later. The cats don't like it but it is better than a cattery for them. And there are two so they have company. Cats are pretty easy pets but they still take some thought and care.

We use a catsitter who comes and spends half an hour with them. Cheaper than a cattery and less stressful for the cat. Also means there’s someone checking on the house which is no bad thing.

Too long. Definitely.

Does cat use litter tray? That should get cleaned at least 3 times a day. So that would be 6 cleans potentially missing.

I'd arrange a neighbour to visit my cats if we were gone for a long day! Say 08:00 - 22:00 never mind 48 hours.

I also put a cat-cam out to check on them. 😳

I wouldn't leave a cat home alone for anywhere near that length of time.
Cats get lonely and stressed for one, and the litter tray shouldn't be left for 48 hours (assuming they use a litter tray) or you run the risk of them looking for somewhere else to go to the loo.
I would also worry about the water bowl being knocked over and the cat going thirsty (this has happened to me a few times over the years when I've been out for only a few hours).

@eurochick I had to laugh at the words 'thought and care' there. He is very much lacking in both of those things.

No, that's nowhere near acceptable.

Oh, and a cattery won't take him yet - I think he needs to be two weeks post-vaccination as per the law.s

Agree with everyone else.. cruel and far too long to leave him with dirty litter, all alone. If j leave extra food out for mine, he'll gobble it all up at once and have nothing left.

I have someone come in twice a day to feed, do litter and play.

Especially as he hasn't been with you long he won't be totally secure that you will come back yet.

If you have an outdoor cat, and leave sufficient food, they will be fine. Our cat doesn't care, he hates the cattery so better he is in his home, and comes and goes as he pleases.

The issue I would have with your cat is that he is new, and not used to you and your routines yet, and if he is an inside cat, as others have said, the litter will be revolting.

Too long

We leave our cat for 2 nights with an automatic feeder and water dispenser and she does okay. We have this planned in December and have arranged for our cat sitters to pop in on the middle day to make sure all okay and scoop cat litter.

We leave midday 1st day, she pops in middle day and last day we are usually back mid afternoon. But she has also been okay alone for the same period. We leave the lights on a timer and the heating on.

She is however an indoors cat so life is much of a muchness to her really whether we are there or not.

I've replied to his message asking what the solution is to the litter tray problem, and his answer is buy another litter tray......

Honestly this will come up again assuming you will go away again. Find a local teen to pop in.
I agree cats are much happier at home than a cattery but you should have at least one visit ideally.

We have ferals and semi ferals in the garden and are going away for 48 hours in a month.

And WE even have someone coming over each morning to give them their wet food, make sure they are all ok and to check on the auto dry food feeder.

Your husband is an utter fucking wanker.

Do you have a neighbour with a trustworthy older teen who might be willing to do a food/ water bowl top up and litter tray clean on Saturday teatime with a bit of a fuss/stroke for some pocket money? I think with that and leaving out plenty of dry food it should be ok.

Our cats were allowed out with a cat flap and we did leave them that long with a timer feeder and an extra litter tray too just in case, although they usually went outside. Ours hated the cattery so it was lesser of evils.

Too long. My cats litter trays would be overflowing by then.

I hate how this has become your problem OP.

Poor cat. Try to get someone in to check in on him.

I remember your first thread about the poor cat and your utter arsehole of a husband. So you just did as you were told and accepted full responsibility for the cat you didn't want. It's so sad.

It's lovely that the cat is doing well but please start standing up for yourself. Keep the cat if you've grown to care for him - I bet Max is significantly more charming than your husband. But you don't just have to take all your husband's nonsense. You matter. He's not your boss.

We left ours for 2 nights with an automatic feeder but he is an independent outdoor cat. And usually I get the neighbour to feed him. Yours is too young to be left for this Iong I would say. You can pay someone or try to get a neighbour or something.