Leaving cats outside

[Sue Balou]

We have 2 female cats (both about 6 years old) that we have had since a few months old. We are going on holiday for one week at the beginning of September and I am considering leaving them outside in the garden while we are away. Someone will visit twice a day to feed and water them. They will have access to the garden shed and their food will be in a dry place. My concern is that their routine is to come indoors at night and leaving them outside would upset them. We don't have a cat flap so they can't pop in and out of the house.

We have taken them to catteries before but one of the cats gets very distressed by this, not just the journey there but actually staying at the cattery.

What do other cat owners think?

Thanks, Sue

[JennyM]

I have four cats and when we go away we leave then at home and friends come to feed them.  this holiday though we have booked 1 of them in to a cattery as she has gone blind and needs special food and medication.  I THINK THAT CATS ARE HAPPIEST AT HONE.  Have a good time and dont worry.

[mycatis]

Unless you are really sure this is a good idea then (if you're anything like me) you will end up ruining your holiday by worrying about them, probably better to keep them in the house at least you'll know they're safe.

[ursula62]

If you are leaving your house keys with a neighbour to feed your cats, make sure its someone you trust implicitly, and ask them to keep your keys with them at all times.

A friend asked her neighbour to feed the cats while she was away. The house keys were stolen when the neighbour was burgled and my friend's house was burgled too. It was a nightmare because the insurers were very awkward about the burglars using the keys to gain access.

[cat woman]

When we go away our neighbour looks after our cats and house, ie - drawing the curtains morning & night, we used to leave the cat flap open while we were away,that was until my oldest cat Sooty got knocked down the day before we came back, about 10yrs ago, which resulted in him having his right front leg amputated.   My neighbour was in floods of tears and blamed herself, this could have happened whether we were at home or not.  So now when we go away we lock the cat flap for her piece of mind and we know the cats are safe, and it doesn't hurt them to be in for a week or two, and we have two litter trays for them to use which my neighbour see's to also.  It is down to you whether you feel comfortable letting your cats roam free while you are away and not worry about them, I learnt the hard way but thats not saying anything horrible would happen to your cats, but if it was me and for my sanity I would keep them in while you were way.  Best Wishes cat woman  :-)

[FP]

Personally, I think the cats might wander away as their normal routine will be disturbed.  Contrary to what a lot of people think, cats do relate to their owners and will miss them and your cats will not understand why they suddently cannot get into the house.  I would agree with cat woman that leaving them in the house with cat litter would be better (you could get them used to this before you go).  You will at least have peace of mind knowing that you will come back to healthy cats even though they might not approve of being shut up for a week. (After all, in kennels they would be shut up in unfamiliar surroundings - and that would be worse),

A better solution would be if a neighbour could get them into the house at night and let them out in the morning, although I realise this might be impossible.

Good luck and have a good holiday.

[delilahcat]

Agree with FP, I think they might be confused that they can't get in the house. Is there any chance of you getting a catflap so they can come and go as they please? (Then their food would be where they are used to it being but they could still go out to do their business). If not could the person who is coming to feed them get them in at night as that is what they're used to?

[cherrybomb]

I have used a cattery when I had 2 cats but with 4 we couldn't really afford it. Since then we leave the cat flap open and a friend feeds them but I do worry about something happening to one of them when we are away. If you can afford a cattery then it's worth it for peace of mind and a more relaxing holiday.   

[Brinjal]

I generally leave my cat at home and the dogs and a neighbour comes and feeds them.   The dogs go in the garage at night and my Laundry is attached to the garage so I leave a window open and kitty goes in and out at night.

[Sue Balou]

Thanks for all the replies. They included some angles I hadn't thought of.

The person coming in to feed them does this pet care as a business and would be paid, but it's slightly cheaper than the cattery. She could let them in and out, morning and evening but there's the risk that they may not come in for a "stranger".

I've got 5 weeks to make up my mind what to do!

[smudge]

Hi Sue, I always look after my neighbour's cat when they go away. They prefer for him not to go outside until they return. They leave a litter tray in the kitchen & all the interior doors open, so he can still roam around the house. He seems quite happy to do this & finds comfort in lying on his cat blanket on their bed.

If we still had our Smudge, we would prefer to do this too, rather than her be shut away in an unfamiliar cattery.  Good luck & enjoy your holiday.

[FP]

Please bear in mind Sue that the majority of road accidents involving cats happen around the hours of dawn and dusk when they hunt the birds and small animals that are usually around more at this time,  and the roads are quieter.  They get carried away with the hunting and forget about the traffic!

I am sure you will sort something out.

[cat woman]

Hi Sue, I promise you that keeping your cats in the house while you are on holiday will be o.k. I even leave the radio on low for back ground noise.  Good Luck whatever you decide.

Best Wishes  cat woman  :-)

P.S. have great holiday.