Whats the longest you have left your cat alone?

iammumtoone · 23 August 2013 at 12:21PM

I am going away for the weekend soon (early saturday till late sunday) normally my dad would pop in and look after my cat, however on this weekend he will be away as well. He will be leaving mid Saturday morning and can pop back Sunday morning but will be away again until sunday night.

He suggests leaving the cat outside (he loves it outside anyway) and leave food and water in a sheltered area I have for him. He will just pop in on sunday morning to make sure he is ok, top up food/water if needed and leave him outside.

Do you think this set up will be ok? I don't like to think of my cat wanting to come in but he is not able. I could take him to kennels but he has been before and hates it, it took him ages to settle back at home after last time. At least being at home he knows where he is.

The other option is to do as above but leave him inside. He will use a tray but I don't like the thought of him having to use it twice without it being cleaned in the meantime.

I would appreciate other opinions on which they think is the best option. Kennels/leave outside/leave inside.

gettingready · 23 August 2013 at 12:40PM

I would NOT leave a cat outside for so long.

But I would leave a cat inside with plenty of water dishes/litter trays/dry food - for that amount of time.

stir_crazy · 23 August 2013 at 12:43PM

I definitely wouldn't leave my cat for so long outside - I'd be worried in case they wandered. I have left my two for the weekend with a cat sitter popping in once a day to feed/ scoop litter and play with them and they were fine with that.

mummyroysof3 · 23 August 2013 at 12:45PM

I left my 2 for a weekend once inside with neighbour popping in, I would not leave them outside. Do you not have a cat flap?

Old_Wrinkly · 23 August 2013 at 12:47PM

iammumtoone wrote: »

I don't like to think of my cat wanting to come in but he is not able. I could take him to kennels but he has been before and hates it

I'm not surprised ... all those dogs!
Have you considered a cattery?

The other option is to do as above but leave him inside. He will use a tray but I don't like the thought of him having to use it twice without it being cleaned in the meantime.

Leave two trays?

paulineb_2 · 23 August 2013 at 12:49PM

Leave the cat inside. Using a litter tray twice without it being cleaned isnt going to cause the cat any harm.

Id rather do that than leave the cat outside. If you google you might find some people who pet sit in your area, there are people who feed pets and change litter trays for a fee.

paulineb_2 · 23 August 2013 at 12:50PM

Your dad is going to pop in on the cat on the sunday morning, when I go away my mum feeds my cats every day, but sometimes theres 24 hours between a visit as she works Mon-Fri, I have 6 indoor cats, never been any problem with them, as long as they get fed and watered they are absolutely fine.

Battleaxe44 · 23 August 2013 at 12:53PM

Noo, don't leave your cat outside.

If you can't afford a cattery, do what neighbours does, she has cat inside, with food on in timer dish, plenty of water, litter tray etc.

You cat will be fine for the time you are planning to be away, but as a fail safe, can you ask one of your neighbours to pop in and check on Puss. As you Dad willbe checking on Puss, it will be fine..

HappyMJ · 23 August 2013 at 12:59PM

I'm ashamed to say in a way...4 days...I was working away on little notice and did not have the time to go vet get jabs and book cat into cattery. I had her on Skype (auto answer) and a number I could ring to get someone around if she didn't respond. She talked to me several times a day over Skype...probably wondering where this strange voice was coming from. She had 2 litter trays for the time and plenty of food and water.

iammumtoone · 23 August 2013 at 3:18PM

Thanks all, you have put my mind at rest. I did wonder about leaving him outside for that long but he likes to be outside this weather and spends most of his time out there (but rarely leaves the garden), but of course he can come in when he pleases.

I will leave him indoors he might not like it but at least he will be safe.

southcoastrgi · 23 August 2013 at 3:30PM

yep agree with all the others, def inside, he will sleep for most of the time anyway, & leaving the litter tray for 48 hrs isn't gonna do him any harm