How long would you leave a cat home alone for?

gunsandbanjos

gettingready wrote: »

I have seen an interesting article today, unfortunately in Polish and long so can not link/translate but - it was to encourage working people to adopt shelter animals proving that even 10 hours per day alone is way better than 24/7 in a shelter for years. And I totally agree with it, Pity that most UK organisation flatly refuse to allow working people/people living in flats to adopt rescue dogs/cats - instead they mass PTS as no "suitable" homes can be found.

Totally agree, lovely as the people working in rescues are its no substitute for a loving home.

I just adopted a new cat from my local shelter on Monday and they were quite happy that I lived in a flat. I think they're just happy to get a home for the cats! The first question the lady asked me when I said I was looking to adopt was indoor or outdoor?

They had a whole room of indoor kitties:)

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

My two wouldn't notice if there was nobody home. There's usually somebody in all day, but when we've had to be out/work at the same time for several days and evenings on the trot, they only seem to make a point of stomping around on our laps for half an hour before wandering off to sleep somewhere again.

They are always at the door to greet anybody who comes in, whether they're part of the household or just visiting, but that's only to see whether they've brought some cat food with them. Once they realise there isn't any, they wander off again.


They won't be traumatised by being left to sleep for a few extra hours; the Idiot Cat only gets himself into trouble when he's showing off for some attention/thinks we've been sitting quietly for far too long when he could be fed again.

chookmom

I don't know anything about cats but people may be interested to know that an RSPCA inspector told me (when I reported my neighbour for going away for 2 weeks and leaving her cockateils home alone to die) that any animal left alone for more than 24hrs without human attention is classed as abandoned.

calicocat

noelphobic wrote: »

My cat is 99% a house cat, with the occasional brief foray outdoors in good weather - and she will come in to use the litter tray, rather than going outdoors.

She doesn't eat much - a maximum of 2 x 100g pouches of wet food per day, plus some snacks - treat stick, lick e lix or Whiskas Temptations.

I leave dry food out all the time, which means she doesn't go hungry if I get home later than anticipated.

I'm going to my son's for Christmas Day and may be away for between 24 and 30 hours. Do you think she will be OK if I leave plenty of food and water out?

She will be fine. I will be doing the same, but putting two litter trays down just in case (as mine doesn't like dirty litter). Plus she is getting old.

I have left my cat/cats every now and again for this time no problems at all.

Go....kitty will be fine.

calicocat

chookmom wrote: »

I don't know anything about cats but people may be interested to know that an RSPCA inspector told me (when I reported my neighbour for going away for 2 weeks and leaving her cockateils home alone to die) that any animal left alone for more than 24hrs without human attention is classed as abandoned.

Utter rubbish.

If your cat has access to enough water and food for that length of time, and a clean litter tray to start with.... you have no problems at all.


Enjoy your holidays.

Feral_Moon

chookmom wrote: »

I don't know anything about cats but people may be interested to know that an RSPCA inspector told me (when I reported my neighbour for going away for 2 weeks and leaving her cockateils home alone to die) that any animal left alone for more than 24hrs without human attention is classed as abandoned.

What a load of rubbish!! RSPCA rarely intervene anyway. They care more about collecting donations than treating animals. And donations made to central RSPCA don't help any animals. They expect each shelter and hospital to do their own fundraising. They don't offer any financial support whatsoever. Hence all the fundraising schemes local RSPCA have to employ just so they can exist.

Kathy535

I've just returned home after leaving my two cats for about 28 hours. They had access to outside and double amounts of water and food. They were fine, I suspect they barely noticed we'd been gone. If I leave them for more than 48 hrs I ask a friend to call in and feed them once or twice a day.

Lily-Rose_3

chookmom wrote: »

I don't know anything about cats but people may be interested to know that an RSPCA inspector told me (when I reported my neighbour for going away for 2 weeks and leaving her cockateils home alone to die) that any animal left alone for more than 24hrs without human attention is classed as abandoned.

calicocat wrote: »

Utter rubbish.

If your cat has access to enough water and food for that length of time, and a clean litter tray to start with.... you have no problems at all.


Enjoy your holidays.

Feral_Moon wrote: »

What a load of rubbish!! RSPCA rarely intervene anyway. They care more about collecting donations than treating animals. And donations made to central RSPCA don't help any animals. They expect each shelter and hospital to do their own fundraising. They don't offer any financial support whatsoever. Hence all the fundraising schemes local RSPCA have to employ just so they can exist.

I agree with Calicocat and Feral Moon. A pet left alone for 24 hours is classed as abandoned? Really? I am shocked to hear that an RSPCA person would say this, seeing as how they don't seem to give a fluff when someone reports an animal in distress.

I remember a dog being left by someone one, (when they moved out,) and the RSPCA was informed, and they told her to push some food through the letterbox for him! Amazing. All they care about is glory points (rescuing a cute kitten,) and getting funds.

Feral Moon is right about them!

sheramber

except when the tv cameras are on them.

Slinky

I do feel sorry for my local RSPCA branch that you suggest they do nothing for animals.

They do a huge amount of hard work rehoming 600-700 cats every year and still more keep turning up. We've adopted 2 cats from them over the years and support them with food donations on the several times a year they have to appeal for food.