cat left home alone for a few days

gingin_2

Can you get a cat sitter inbetween? Ours charges £7 per day and plays with them for half an hour, changes food/ litter/ water and even writes a little progress report!

Fridaycat

jess1974 wrote: »

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.

Because if she did not live with humans, the likelihood is that she would not survive for very long, therefore she is highly dependent.

I am not saying that she needs to be put in a cattery if you are away for only 3 or 4 days, but to leave her on her own for that long without anyone checking on her is far too long in my opinion, and also in the opinion of cat organisations such as FAB and Cats Protection.

rising_from_the_ashes

jess1974 wrote: »

i will not put her through the stress and cost of a cattery when i know she is happiest in her own surroundings.

mmmmmmmm.............

I do think there's a difference in a cat being confined to the house (eg with no interaction with anyone) and being able to get out and about but the latter would be more likely to have an accident so..... sorry, it's still a "way too long" from me.

IMHO having pets and assuming responsibility for their welfare means you need to ensure you have plans in place for someone to check on them (if appropriate eg a cat, rabbit etc) frequently when you're away or to be prepared to pay for a sitter / kennels / cattery etc.

Buttonmoons

Well stray cats manage just fine without being supervised every single day

I go away regularly for long weekends, I leave on a Thurs and back on a Monday, although, it's slightly different as the Ex does come past everyday, to feed them and do their litter trays, and normally gives them cuddles/chats to them, whilst he eats the food out my fridge and cupboards

I have 2 cats though and I would happily tell him to just pop by every other day, but Im paranoid they'd go and poop somewhere else, as currently, they do 1 poo each per day and about 4/5 wees collectively, so the tray would be rank after 2 days! Ew!

Fridaycat

Buttonmoons wrote: »

Well stray cats manage just fine without being supervised every single day

A cat that is used to living in a home full of human company is rather different to a stray, and many of them do not do OK - just spend a day at somewhere like CP and see what sort of state many true strays get into

McKneff

I wouldnt dream of leaving our cat for more than 24 hours without someone attending to her.

And we have an automatic feeder for brekkie and lunch, daughter comes and feeds her at night and loads her pet feeder up for next day.

You cant leave 3/4 days of food out and expect the cat to be able to work out just to eat so much each day, cats are clever, but not that clever.

Mine would eat the whole lot within 24 hours.

geri1965_2

I've left mine alone for a weekend before and they've always been fine. Of course they could have an accident or fall ill, in just the same way that I could have an accident whilst I am away. Chances are that it's unlikely to happen though.

Once they were on their own for 5 days when the person I asked to look after them forgot! :eek: Luckily I had the foresight to put down two huge bowls of food and extra water, and they still had food in the bowl when I got back.

I have a different feeder now.

Fridaycat

I think I am going to dip out of this debate as I clearly see my cats differently to some others who have contributed to this discussion.

It may sound cheesy, but I genuinely see my cats as part of the family and not just some independent beings who happen to share the same house as us. I am sure they miss me and my husband when we are not here.

My Friday cat is more like a dog - she has to be sat on me whenever I am seated; if I am stood doing something she needs to be there in the same room or in the garden with me. (the only exception being when I am vacuuming as she hates that!)

My four other cats are not quite as bad, but all are generally in the same room as either me or husband; and they like a play and a cuddle on a fairly frequent basis.

Therefore, I could not imagine just leaving them to fend for themselves for several days at a time, just as I could not imagine leaving a young child to do the same.

McKneff

geri1965 wrote: »

I've left mine alone for a weekend before and they've always been fine. Of course they could have an accident or fall ill, in just the same way that I could have an accident whilst I am away. Chances are that it's unlikely to happen though.

Yes, but did you leave any provision for feeding them.

Fridaycat

geri1965 wrote: »

I've left mine alone for a weekend before and they've always been fine. Of course they could have an accident or fall ill, in just the same way that I could have an accident whilst I am away. Chances are that it's unlikely to happen though.

Once they were on their own for 5 days when the person I asked to look after them forgot! :eek: Luckily I had the foresight to put down two huge bowls of food and extra water, and they still had food in the bowl when I got back.

I have a different feeder now.

I agree - a weekend (i.e. one night) is just about OK, I do the same about 5 or 6 times a year. But some others here are talking about much longer - 4 days without anyone checking on the cat, and not making arrangements like you did (even though they didn't work out )