The Joys Of Cat-Sitting!

[andy-hughes]

I have enjoyed cat-sitting for our neighbours for two weeks - going in morning and evening to feed them.

There are three - two tabbys, and a massive ginger Tom, named Samson - I'm not surprised!

The tabbies are sweet, the oldest is waiting at the door and loves a fuss, the newest is a rescue cat who ran away when she first saw me, but has gradually come around and comes for a fuss as well.

Samson is out most of the time, but has also started to come for a fuss, spitting at the other two when he does!

As a 'gift', Samson left me the biggest dead rat I have ever seen on the hall carpet, how he got it and himself through the cat flap is a mystery.


My neighbours advised that he eats mice, but leaves the gall bladder, it's apparently too bitter to eat, and sure enough, I found a tiny green organ on the carpet, of everything else there was no trace.

Samson was busy tucking into a mouse one morning when I arrived, but it had its posthumous revenge, when I came back that evening, he had vomited it, and all his dry biscuits, all over the worktop.

I'd love a cat but the present Mrs Hughes is allergic to them, so I have to enjoy them occasionally when my neighbours travel.

I do understand the basic difference between dogs and cats - a dog will give you undying love and emotion, a cat will take a message and get back to you!

[AuntLydia]

That made me laugh Andy. I lost my beloved cat on 4th July and I miss her so much.

[Barmaid]

Last year a friend of mine cat sit for my little slave driver. After 3 days he was begging me to come home.

(Although at the time the cat was under house arrest so all it did was stare at him and HOWL).

[kvalidir]

My cats are doors bods and bring in things twice the size of them, no fuss killing machines who like a fuss then bog off again, but my boyfriends cat has lived most of his life in a city apartment and is a fat black fuzzy demanding sod, who likes a lie in ( not allowed to make the bed til the cat has got up), he totally owns the place.

[spathiphyllum]

Maybe the rat was a team effort for a ‘thank you’ ;) x

[Buenchico]

Getting cat+rat through a cat flap shouldn't be too difficult for the average cat. One of my cats once managed to get an adult herring gull (which has a typical wingspan of 140cm) through the cat flap in my front door. That was quite an achievement, as it must have been hard to find a herring gull 20 miles from the sea, at 3am, in the first place! (I managed to rescue the bird and it flew off, apparently none the worse for its ordeal, much to the annoyance of the cat!)

Cats are totally beautiful, enchantingly endearing, ruthless killing machines!

[pastafreak]

My deaf dirtbag is sleeping by my feet. Close enough...he's way too big and heavy for my lap. He's a soppy boy...loves fusses. As he's deaf, he doesn't go out. I wish he could...he might be quieter then...

[Curvylady]

My cat brought a full size pigeon through the cat flap, I rescued said pigeon, it flew off.

[TonyV]

I had a rescue cat, she was of the born killer variety. Came home from work one day to find a dead pigeon in the lounge and feathers everywhere which she had managed to get through the cat flap.

[ducksie]

My neighbour called the other day and asked would I cat sit for them while they head off on holiday, having read your post, I'm telling him tomorrow, I'm away the same time, no way do I want rats or mice left for me, not the gifts I want

[rowanwitch]

Loved cat sitting, but it was my friends totally laid back kitty. I just kept him well supplied with catnip.

[wolf63]

I looked after my friend's kitten for two weeks a few years ago.

He was evil, turbo-charged, climbing everything and totally manic. One minute he was dangling from my year lobe and the next at the top of the curtains.

I vowed never to get a kitten. My first cat was 13++ years old when I got him and the 'twins' were 18 months old.

My two are indoor cats so they are not really hunters. Frankie does like the occasional Spider for breakfast but that is it.

[rowanwitch]

I wouldn't have the energy for kittens now, although there are few things more fun

[murraymints]

ah ..bless them all ..lol

[roopower]

Many years ago my daughter found half a rat on her bedroom floor. A very thoughtful 18th birthday gift from one of our cats.

[Smowball]

When we lived in a house that backed onto fields I woke up one morning to find blood on the hallway walls. Terrified of what I might find I crept down and found the cat had dragged the biggest hare I had ever seen thru the cat flap, given it a good chew and then dragged it along the hallway. Bleugh.

[Barmaid]

I am quite relieved I do not have a cat flap. ASBO likes to bring live things in for me to chase round the house. In my house I have had live rats, mice, rabbits, partridges, bunnies, stoats, coots, pigeon. I worry about the safety of next door's peacock.