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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

Minding neighbour's cat, haven't seen it in five days

35 replies

Idabelle · 14/07/2025 13:56

Hi all,

I'm currently minding a neighbour's cat as she is on holidays for ten days. This means popping in to feed it twice a day.

The first few days the cat was there in the morning/ evening and was very friendly. It wasn't there Thursday morning, but I didn't think much of it as it is an outdoor cat.

However, it is now Monday and no sign of the cat since Wednesday evening. I've been leaving food and it is being eaten, but I have now confirmed that a different neighbour's cat has been coming in and eating it.

The cat I am minding is quite timid with other cats apparently and I have a feeling she may have been bullied out by the other cat.

I feel sick with worry, and don't know whether to text my neighbour to let her know/ ask for any tips on hiding spots or not spoil her holiday and keep trying to find the cat for a few more days.

So, first I'm wondering if anyone has any tips for finding the cat? We live rurally so it is farmland on all sides, I walked the roads yesterday evening calling for her but no sign. Have other neighbour's keeping an eye out for her too.

Second, if it was your cat would you want to know? Or wait until you're back from holidays?

OP posts:
tumblingdowntherabbithole · 14/07/2025 14:04

If my cat had been missing for five days, I’d be furious if the minder hadn’t told me. You must tell your neighbour as soon as possible.

gggrrrargh · 14/07/2025 14:05

Oh no that’s an awful thing to have on your mind/happen whilst you’re trying to do someone a kind favour.

Personally I’d phone her rather than text. She might sound reassuring in some way and give a fuller picture of what to do and where to try. If you’re not comfortable with that or not possible due to where she is on holiday go with text.

I think you’re going to feel bad whatever you do. I’d want to know though if it was mine.

WTF99 · 14/07/2025 14:07

I'd want to know.
This may have happened before, in which case your neighbour will be able to advise what to do.
I'd just want to know whatever. You haven't done anything wrong. It's just cats!

BlueBlueBerries · 14/07/2025 14:08

Can you stay in the house to check if it is coming and going? Agree that as a cat owner I would want to know Asap if there was an issue.

RentalWoesNotFun · 14/07/2025 14:10

Defo tell her.
Id even ask the neighbour with the burglar cat to keep it in tonight so little kitty can return to her own home for food. Poor cat.

EssentialDecluttering · 14/07/2025 14:12

I'd definitely want to know, I'd want to post it on local FB groups etc.

stayathomer · 14/07/2025 14:18

Our neighbour texted a few times to say ‘haven’t quite seen your cat’. She returned as soon as I returned! I’d say yes text and say you’ve been feeding what turns out to be another cat and don’t want to worry them but just wondering etc. best of luck op, hope she wanders in (maybe sit in the house and see if she pops by if they gave you a key?)

Nevertrustacop · 14/07/2025 14:33

God I'd been parked inside by the cat flap by now, days ago in fact, ready to welcome home the real cat or squirt water at the chancer cat!

maudelovesharold · 14/07/2025 14:39

Definitely tell her asap. If you have an outdoor cat, you know they can be unpredictable/stay out all night etc. She won’t blame you. You weren’t to know that another cat had been eating the food, so now you do, I would tell her. It may be a situation that’s happened before.

Mamamia35 · 14/07/2025 14:40

I’m having to follow this to hear the good news when she turns up. Burglar Cat needs locked up! You’ve done nothing wrong, how stressful for you.

tinyspiny · 14/07/2025 14:47

You need to tell the owners ASAP

Frankley · 14/07/2025 15:00

Some years ago my husband had to go away from home. I was going to work and out all day, house a bit cold. Our cat was definitely my husband's. The cat stayed around for a few days but then completely disappeared for many days and nights. I was worried and thinking I'd have bad news for husband when he returned. But the day he was coming home, in walks the cat looking well fed and pleased with himself. I never found out where he had been.
Don't give up hope yet, I do hope something similar happens

OnTheBoardwalk · 14/07/2025 15:09

I had a very good friend feeding my cat for a week. First minute after I left (while my friend was there) she disappeared never to be seen again until the very second I walked through the door when I returned.

text your friend and as PPs have said try and sit in the house for a bit to see if the cat will come home.

Don’t suppose you've got a cheap video camera? I have one for my cats to keep an eye on them, could you put one near the cat flap

good that the neighbours are aware so they can check outbuildings etc

Original poster
Idabelle · 14/07/2025 15:10

Thanks for the replies everyone, it confirms my own feelings and what I would want if it was my cat.

Where I live is v rural and as a city person my views of cats as pets don't always match up so I wasn't sure if I was overreacting. But my neighbour is also not from here so I think she would probably agree with me. We usually communicate through text/ voice note so I will do that ASAP and see what she says.

Greedy neighbour cat is being locked up this evening (their owner is amused at my worry but has agreed to do it).

I'm going to leave some food out for the lost cat and sit down there for a bit this evening to see if it helps.

OP posts:
EternalLodga · 14/07/2025 15:11

If she is timid with other cats, she might also be timid with strange humans? I would sleep overnight at her house tonight and if/when the cat comes home, lock the cat flap

TokyoSushi · 14/07/2025 15:14

Oh gosh, that's stressful, yes definitely alert the owner ASAP

Original poster
Idabelle · 14/07/2025 15:14

EternalLodga · 14/07/2025 15:11

If she is timid with other cats, she might also be timid with strange humans? I would sleep overnight at her house tonight and if/when the cat comes home, lock the cat flap

I would have thought that but she wasn't timid at all with me first few days, purring, rolling around in front of me etc.

There's no cat flap, it's just a window left open. The neighbour is a nice woman, but her house is a v old and badly maintained cottage and tbh I would not sleep there.

Will sit there for a while this evening though.

OP posts:
Retireornot · 14/07/2025 15:14

If she has a litter tray put it outside together with any bedding she has or a coat or similar belonging to the owner.
Call her name like crazy then sit in the house with TV on and light and sort of live there for a few hours so she thinks her owner is back. Good idea about keeping the rogue cat at home closed in for the night.

MotherJessAndKittens · 14/07/2025 15:19

Just a thought. Cats can hide in the most obscure places in a house. Maybe it's somewhere you've not looked?

rainbowstardrops · 14/07/2025 15:20

Oh blimey, that’s a worry. I’d just say that you thought the cat was coming in to eat the food but now you think it’s the other cat. I’d want to know

Original poster
Idabelle · 14/07/2025 17:49

No response from neighbour yet but possible sighting of the lost cat in a nearby hayshed! I'm still at home but DW is on her way with a sachet of cat food to try lure her out.

OP posts:
Gingercar · 14/07/2025 17:57

My female cat used to go AWOL every time we went away. Her brother came and ate, but my dad, who lived next door, never saw a sight of my female. But five minutes after our car appeared she would be sitting on the windowsill. Every time! We are very rural too. Fingers crossed it’s just à similar thing for you.

herbalteabag · 14/07/2025 18:17

Yes, I would want to know because knowing gives me options, such as coming home early and looking for it. If you wait until the end of her holiday, she'll be even more worried due to the amount of days and hot weather etc, and the lost opportunity to do anything about it. The cat may hide from you, my cats would not answer to anyone except our family as they are very shy. Are you absolutely sure another cat ate all the food and that the cat is not just hiding in a really sneaky place inside the house or outside somewhere nearby?
I would try to be at the house as late as possible as cats are more active when the temperature is cooler and the sun has gone down, so this could be mid evening. Make sure you leave water outside too.

EssentialDecluttering · 14/07/2025 18:21

That's another thing, ours can hide in the tiniest places in our house (especially if they get wind they are supposed to be going to the vet). Hopefully the owner can suggest some places you can check.

MascaraGirl · 14/07/2025 18:22

Greedy neighbour cat is being locked up this evening (their owner is amused at my worry but has agreed to do it).

This is helpful!