cat left home alone for a few days

1trainer1

my sister has a cat and she is away for two weeks and has asked me to keep an eye on her cat when she is away.

She has told me that I dont need to go everyday as every other day or every two/ three days will be fine as long as I empty his litter tray and put plenty of food out for him.

I have been going every other day and its fine but I am worried it isnt enough, the problem is that I live over an hour away and have been working most of the time so cant spend too much time with him.

What I am worried about is will he be allright? my brother who lives closer is away as well but will be coming back on Boxing day so that will make me relax once he is back

Alisha2008

Don't worry, the cat will be perfectly fine! We have 2 and leave them alone everytime we go on holidays (sometimes for 2/3 weeks). My OH's parents go every other day to feed them, and they are always ok. My mum sometimes leaves hers for 3/4 days alone, with plenty of food/water and different cat litters, and they've always been fine too, cats are not like dogs, they don't need people so much.

1trainer1

Alisha2008 wrote: »

Don't worry, the cat will be perfectly fine! We have 2 and leave them alone everytime we go on holidays (sometimes for 2/3 weeks). My OH's parents go every other day to feed them, and they are always ok. My mum sometimes leaves hers for 3/4 days alone, with plenty of food/water and different cat litters, and they've always been fine too, cats are not like dogs, they don't need people so much.

Thanks, I know how much my sister cares for him and I would be heartbroken if anything happened to him, I have taken tommorow off work as I was getting worried.

rising_from_the_ashes

Alisha2008 wrote: »

My mum sometimes leaves hers for 3/4 days alone, with plenty of food/water and different cat litters, and they've always been fine too, cats are not like dogs, they don't need people so much.

WHAT!

I'm sorry but that is way too long without someone checking on them!

Every other day is a bit too long IMHO too but in an emergency I guess they'd be OK - mine have been left from lunchtime on Sat to mid afternoon on Sun but any longer than that and I'd have someone going in at least once a day.

What if they have an accident?
What if they fall ill?

3/4 days ..... jeeeezzzzzz:mad:

picklepick

Hmm yes, I would only ever leave mine for 24 hours at absolute max. As Rising says, what if one becomes ill or has an accident? I'd be too worried to leave them any longer than that personally. 3/4 days is way too long!

lazer

rising_from_the_ashes wrote: »

WHAT!

I'm sorry but that is way too long without someone checking on them!

Every other day is a bit too long IMHO too but in an emergency I guess they'd be OK - mine have been left from lunchtime on Sat to mid afternoon on Sun but any longer than that and I'd have someone going in at least once a day.

What if they have an accident?
What if they fall ill?

3/4 days ..... jeeeezzzzzz:mad:

I think the cat is perfectly fine left on her own, she could even look into getting an automatic feeder, which releases the cat food on a set schedule, so she has food available every day.

The cat does not need checked in on once a day - it is a cat, and can look after itself very well.
As long as there food and water available, the cat will be fine

spike7451

When I go away to Ballykinlar on a Friday,I feed Daisy before I go & leave out two litter trays & double the amount of dry food,my downstairs neighbor pops up & feeds her Saturday afternoon & that does her until I get home mid day Sunday...Although I wouldn't leave her any longer than that.

Fridaycat

rising_from_the_ashes wrote: »

WHAT!

I'm sorry but that is way too long without someone checking on them!

Every other day is a bit too long IMHO too but in an emergency I guess they'd be OK - mine have been left from lunchtime on Sat to mid afternoon on Sun but any longer than that and I'd have someone going in at least once a day.

What if they have an accident?
What if they fall ill?

3/4 days ..... jeeeezzzzzz:mad:

Completely agree. The longest I would leave my cats for is 24 hours. Any more than that is too long in my opinion. Especially when there are these new-fangled things called "catteries". No excuse to leave a cat that long. They may be more independent than dogs, but they still need emotional interaction with humans (or at least mine do anyway), and there is always the risk of accident / illness no matter how independent a creature is.

jess1974

We leave our cat too for 3 or 4 days on her own, she has a cat flap and can come and go as she pleases, i will not live my life according to 'what ifs'......

Fridaycat

jess1974 wrote: »

We leave our cat too for 3 or 4 days on her own, she has a cat flap and can come and go as she pleases, i will not live my life according to 'what ifs'......

It is not "living your life according to what ifs".... This is a living creature with emotions and feelings and who is highly dependent upon human interaction. It is also a creature that you have chosen to be part of your family. I'm sorry but a philosophy like yours makes me wonder why you bother to have a cat?

jess1974

Fridaycat wrote: »

It is not "living your life according to what ifs".... This is a living creature with emotions and feelings and who is highly dependent upon human interaction. It is also a creature that you have chosen to be part of your family. I'm sorry but a philosophy like yours makes me wonder why you bother to have a cat?

How do you know my cat is highly dependent on human interaction? When we are here she spends most of her time on my bed asleep, she is 10 years old and i'm sure she appreciates a little peace and quiet away from the children....At the end of the day she is a much loved pet, but she is an animal and i will not put her through the stress and cost of a cattery when i know she is happiest in her own surroundings.