My little puddy tat was so pleased to see us!

[tigwig]

Well we have been away for 2 weeks and decided to leave our cat in the house to come and go as he pleased rather than use the cattery. My neighbour fed him and spent a bit of time with him everyday but he still didn't eat as much so was obviously missing us. He came in yesterday miaowing loudly and wouldn't leave me alone! Its the longest he's ever been left poor love. Isn't it nice to know your loved though?!

[ummmm]

My cat ignores us if we leave him. I only left him for one night last time and he ignored us for about 3 days...

[wolf63]

I usually put my two in a cattery - I trust the lady to look after them properly.

But it is good that your cat was able to stay at home - much less stressful, it is good that your neighbour too time to chat to him and keep him company.

I left my two alone overnight once and there was no problem - apart from trashing the living-room - all the ornaments on the floor and things toppled over. They both denied that they were responsible.

;-)

[boxtops]

I always leave mine in the house - thankfully my neighbour has cats so we can reciprocate. No1Son is highly strung and very possessive, I wouldn't want to risk him in a cattery, never have.

[boxtops]

PS tigwig - don't forget that he will lie, cats do, and tell you that nobody fed him, all the time you were away... anything to make you feel guilty for leaving him!

[Buenchico]

15 years ago I accepted an invitation to join some friends in their holiday accommodation, on the Norfolk coast, over Christmas. I left home on Christmas Eve, having left my cat with loads of food and given a key to the neighbour who was going to feed him when I was away.

When I got back a week later I was greeted with the loudest possible miaowing, which I took as a sign of my cat's affection. It was only when I went into the kitchen, and saw all of the unopened cans of cat food, that I realised he hadn't been fed for an entire week! I later found out that my neighbour had been found lying dead from a heart attack on Christmas morning . My poor cat wouldn't let me out of his sight for ages after that!!!

[pussnboots]

Oh dear that's awful Buenchico. I know how difficult it is to leave cats when away, I have done it loads of times with friendly neighbours and a cat flap but they still miss the company, but you can't put your life on hold. I have a different problem at the moment, Boots is very poorly and I think not long for this world, he is nearly 17 and being sick all the time and tonight he had a wee in the house which has never happened before also he is sleeping more than usual and when he stands up he wobbles about. Before you all tell me to take him to the vet, I have done many times and they charge me £30 just to tell me..."he's an old cat" so, do I leave him in the comfort of his home or do I bundle him into his cat box and take him terrified to the vet.

[boxtops]

Puss, my Rover is 13 and was vomiting all over the place, looking so thin and sad - a blood test immediately revealed that he has kidney failure and that the bile he overmakes was causing the vomiting. He's been on a Fortekor tablet ever day for the past two years and is right as rain again in himself. Please take him, ask for a blood test for kidney function and thyroid. It may not be that but it's worth eliminating that from possible causes - kidney disease is very common in older cats, but these days it can be kept at bay. Let us know.

[Rosetta]

Puss, a blood test at the vets might rule out some problems, or suggest a treatment. Our little menace has been ill recently but we still keep trying to get her back to normal

[pussnboots]

boxtops.....I'll take him again but he gets so distressed in the cat box, he pants and thrashes about but I suppose it's for his own good.

[boxtops]

oh puss, I know what you mean - two of mine hyperventilate all the time in the vet's. I've got a wire cage now so they can see out... it doesn't stop them yelling but at least they can see where they are going.
Let us know how you get on.

[CatGirl4]

What an awful story buenchico.I have 3 cats and have never been on holiday since i got them,their ages are 17 in April,16 in May,the third one must be at least 14,as i rescued her 13 years ago! You don't always know their ages when you rescue them.