Leaving cat at home while we're away

mrspanda_2

Hi

Just looking for views really... we will be going on holiday abroad for a couple weeks soon and we're planning on leaving the cat (9 year old neutered male) at home, as we did last holiday. We pay for a cat sitter to come in each day and feed and play with him, and deal with the litter tray etc. A neighbour can also pop in from time to time to have some interaction.

When we're not away he has access to outdoors via the catflap during the day/evening, but he is kept in the house overnight. With very few exceptions he spends most of his days indoors napping on the sofa or window, so isn't much of an outdoor type. When we are away we keep him locked indoors... for some reason for this trip I'm struggling with this, feel a bit guilty, and wonder if we should leave the flap open or put him in a cattery.

Do you think it's cruel to lock him inside? He has full run of the house and whenever we've done this before and got home he's been in good condition and seemed content, and has slotted back into his routine well. Any thoughts??

starnight_2

I've only ever left my cat for 5 days. But he's timid around strangers (my brother and sister checked on him daily), so I wouldn't put him in a cattery. I had a sitter recently when I was at a wedding, been in the house before but my cat just runs off and hides. It doesn't seem to bother him, just welcomes me home. I know moving him about would unsettle him so leaving him in the house is the option I have went for. But as I said he is timid, avoids strangers and other cats. Also, although he likes going outside he's never stayed out for more than 10 mins, and doesn't set a foot outside he it's cold, wet, windy, rainy, snowing ... really anything other than sunshine XD

LittleTinker

If there is noone in the house for 2 weeks then I would say its a bad idea to lock him in.

What would the cat do if your house set on fire?

geri1965_2

I leave mine on their own when I am away (obviously someone calls in to change the food and water and keep an eye on them) but I leave the cat flap open so they can go in and out. I wouldn't lock them in, just in case of a fire as previously mentioned.

thistledome

mrspanda wrote: »

.. for some reason for this trip I'm struggling with this, feel a bit guilty, and wonder if we should leave the flap open or put him in a cattery.

Do you think it's cruel to lock him inside? He has full run of the house and whenever we've done this before and got home he's been in good condition and seemed content, and has slotted back into his routine well. Any thoughts??

I don't think it's cruel to lock him inside and I think most cats would prefer their own home to a cattery. Especially if that's what he's used to.

I always used to leave mine at home with a neighbour coming in to feed and water. She was very shy and would have hated a cattery.

She could come and go at will, but we did have a problem sometimes with neighbour's cats coming in our flap and scaring her.

I wonder why you suddenly feel uneasy with something that's worked for you in the past?

mrspanda_2

Thanks all for the replies. I take the point raised about fire... What I'm trying to weigh up is the stresses and risks of being locked indoors vs risks of being able to go outside during the night, when he doesn't normally have access to do this.

thistledome wrote: »

I wonder why you suddenly feel uneasy with something that's worked for you in the past?

I think it may be because he is a rescue cat (we've had him a couple of years now) with a troubled history and I'm wary of stressing him. I don't know whether if he were to be stressed because we're away he might wander off overnight... He's come out of his shell a lot lately and is very trusting and affectionate towards us, and I don't want to reverse this progress.

peachyprice

Could the sitter come twice a day, open the flap in the morning so he has all day to go out and close it at night?

If this really isn't possible I think I'd leave the flap open. If he's used to being able to come and go as he pleases during the day he may find it too stressful with you being away and having his outdoor access restricted aswell.

gwhizz75

LittleTinker wrote: »

What would the cat do if your house set on fire?

Surely the odds of this happening are so slim that it really needn't be taken into consideration? Even if there was a fire, what if it started in the room where his cat flap is so he couldn't get out? Will you have to fit cat fire exits?

I'm sure he will be fine in the house on his own for a couple of weeks, it sounds like he gets lots of visits and people come in to give him a bit of company. We always leave our cat in the house alone when we go away. He is very timid, shy and nervous and would HATE to go to a cattery. He doesn't like strangers either and if we take him to stay at my parents he just hides under my old bed all week.

You have to weigh these things up and realistically, he is better off having the run of the house and feeling comfortable than he is being put in a new place with lots of things going on that he isn't used to.

If I were you, I would worry about him going out at night when I wasn't about too. It is much more likely that something could happen to him when he is outside than it is that your house will burn down. You know his routines and would know if something was wrong, but the people looking after him won't. It also puts more stress on their shoulders as he might be out when they come round and they won't be able to check he is ok.

rita-rabbit

I would lock him in whilst I was away. When I have left mine I have done this - as they are far more likely to wander further afield when you are not around (cats are mindreaders you know) - as for fire - changes are fire brigade would break in & get them out.

Regarding catflap - unless you could set it so no other cats could come in & it would stay shut during night time I would just lock it the whole time you are away for your pets best interests. This is my opinion obviously

mrspanda_2

Thanks everyone for your replies and helping me think this through. I think, on balance, it's best to leave him indoors as this is what he is used to, it has worked fine before and there will be people round to check up on him. Chances of a fire will be minimised by us unplugging all electrical items (except fridge and freezer). We'll be in touch with the cat sitter and neighbour while we're away and if they think he's upset at being indoors then we'll try and make arrangements for him to be let out and in again at night with the neighbour (who is elderly and in poor health hence we've not made a regular arrangement with them). If we could find a sitter to come twice a day to do this then we'd have organised it, situation is that the one we ended up using can only visit once a day.

Cheers all :beer:

Littleoldme

When we are away our two are shut in all the time, normally the cat flap is open all day. They seem fine when the cat sitter comes round and do not seem to be looking to get out when she is here.

One time we were away to Australia for just over 3 weeks and they were not out for that length of time with no ill effects (and within half an hour of the cat flap being opened when we got back they were both back inside asleep )