Would you leave cats alone overnight?

**Abbie** · 15-02-2010, 12:30pm

Only my neighbour is going to report me to the RSPCA.

We picked up the keys to our new house on Saturday so stayed overnight in the Isle of Wight.

We left here at 7am on Saturday morning, leaving them a huge bowl of food and water each, a litter tray, and left their catflap open so they could come and go as they pleased.

We were home by about 3pm yesterday.

When we go on holiday we usually get a friend to nip in and feed/water them, but as we were only 1 night I just left out enough food and water for them - about half of it was still sitting in their bowls.

Is that a totally wrong thing to do?

Thanks

**Pippin** · 15-02-2010, 12:34pm

I don't think thats cruel atall, I've done it myself tbh. Infact we have those dish timers

**Booh** · 15-02-2010, 12:35pm

Well then I probably report my friend who has gone skiing for 10days.........I am going in once a day to check them (there is 3) and feed them and put water out!

I went yesterday at 8am, and am going again around 2pm on my way out shopping!

Cats will be fine - and I doubt the RSPCA will be concerned

**DillyDally** · 15-02-2010, 12:38pm

I've got one of those timer dishes, too, and use that if we are just going to be away one night, as I can set it for his tea, and then for his breakfast the following day

**Lomie** · 15-02-2010, 12:38pm

good grief no!!!I leave mine a fair bit overnight,I've even left them for a weekend and they've been fine.I leave a massive bowl of dry food and bowls of fresh food just before I leave so I know they'll eat it straight off,I also leave a big bowl of water and they can come and go via the catflap,its not cruel,they're cats who can fend for themselves.

Why does she even know your business?I would report anyone who I thought was being cruel or neglecting an animal who couldnt fend for themselves but this situ isn't in that league at all.

**Abbie** · 15-02-2010, 12:38pm

Originally Posted by Booh

Well then I probably report my friend who has gone skiing for 10days.........I am going in once a day to check them (there is 3) and feed them and put water out!

That's what we usually do when we go away. We usually get a friend to pop in and feed/water them once a day.

They come and go as they please. They make the most of no dog and no kids by lolling all over the beds and kipping on the sofas. They're absolutely fine.

She came round to complain about some noise initially, and when I pointed out that it couldn't be us due to us not being here, she then got funny about the cats.

Oh well, less than 2 weeks to go

**Bubble** · 15-02-2010, 12:39pm

We've done it loads of times in the past.

I really wouldn't worry about the RSPCA - I highly doubt they'd be interested.

**dingbatsbird** · 15-02-2010, 12:42pm

We leave ours overnight a couple of times a year. Most of the time, they are asleep when we get back and give us dirty looks for waking them up

Don't worry, you're doing nothing wrong

**Tekkencat** · 15-02-2010, 12:49pm

dear deity abbie - you neighbours are priceless - over night good grief no - why they feel the need to waste the rspcas vaulable time over someting like this is beyond me - bloody wierdos

**wickenwoman** · 15-02-2010, 12:51pm

Yes I would, yes I have and no-one's ever reported us for it.

My mum (ansd several other people) recently reported the state of some local horses and no action was taken by the RSPCA so i don't think the fact that you left a cat overnight with food, water and access to outside would be of any interest to them.

**Abbie** · 15-02-2010, 12:57pm

Originally Posted by Tekkencat

you neighbours are priceless

Our relationship with them has got really bad lately. She's constantly complaining about noise and has been making countless threats about reporting us to the council.

It's got so I dare not fart or she's on the door. I don't think we make excessive or unreasonable amounts of noise so have let her get on with it.

I'm counting down the days until we leave

**fizzle** · 15-02-2010, 01:09pm

Yes I would, and have done, quite regularly.
I leave my 3 with 2 bowls of water, plenty of food and biscuits and a clean litter tray, make sure the heating is on timer so its warm for them and they are fine.

**bubbasweet** · 15-02-2010, 01:10pm

I wouldn't worry about it then

She's obviously got a bee in her bonnet about something entirely unrelated to you leaving your cats and is using that to get at you.

**nickimacrae** · 15-02-2010, 01:12pm

Yeah, we leave our cats all the time - in fact that was the original reason we got two cats not one, as we were both out at work all day and so they would be company. When we go away our neighbours pop in daily, but they rarely see the cats!

I agree - definitely NOT about the cats really

Keep counting down

**trinity_bleu** · 15-02-2010, 01:12pm

are they for real???

We leave our 4 overnight regularly, with food and water in bowls, and over 2 nights with a 48 hour auto feeder thing on.

Any longer than that and a friend pops in every other day to refill the auto feeder.

**Lomie** · 15-02-2010, 01:14pm

I used to have one of those auto feeders for my old cat,but I gave it away after he learnt how to flip the lid around and eat all the food in one go!!!

**Abbie** · 15-02-2010, 01:25pm

Originally Posted by bubbasweet

She's obviously got a bee in her bonnet about something entirely unrelated to you leaving your cats and is using that to get at you.

I think you could be right.

I don't know what's wrong with her really. She started complaining about a year ago about noise, and pretty much every other day she comes round to moan about something.

I've checked with our neighbour the other side and they don't hear anything from us.

We did try and get to the bottom of it, but I CBA any more.

12 days to go!!!!!!

Thanks!

**Hello Kitty** · 15-02-2010, 01:37pm

Originally Posted by Bubble

We've done it loads of times in the past.

I really wouldn't worry about the RSPCA - I highly doubt they'd be interested.

WSS

Cats are not like dogs are they. Ours are usually gutted when we return!

**Abbie** · 15-02-2010, 01:40pm

Originally Posted by Hello Kitty

Ours are usually gutted when we return!

Ours were as well I think.

I think they enjoyed the peace and quiet and the chance to kip on my bed.

The dog always goes to my Mum's. He goes there if we're away or going to be out for more than 4 or 5 hours

**Katiekipper** · 15-02-2010, 01:40pm

Are you kidding???? My cats only get fed once a day so the other 23 hours and 58 minutes they don't need a human to be here at all!!! As long as they don't go 24 hours without being fed how can you possibly have done anything wrong???