Expert: Lee Meyer - 8/16/2008

Question
a friend of mine that lives in Canada that's going abroad for 3 weeks says they are leaving their 3 cats at home with 2 bags of food (2Kg each) down, lots of water with taps dripping and several litters around the house.  I told them that they can't do that. It's illegal and the cays can die from the possibility of not enough food and water.

Is it illegal though?  Is that much food and water enough to last 3 weeks?  should I tell them to find a sitter?  I would If i was in the same country but i don't but i know people in their city that would in a pinch.

I need a little advice, please.

Answer
Hi,

well, it probably isn't the best solution that you and I would pick for our own animals, but they are making provisions for them.  I can't really say if 2 Kg (about 4.5 pounds) of food for three weeks is enough, but I would guess they know how fast they go through food and are probably padding it up a bit to make sure they don't starve.

I would also guess the cats are smart enough to find water from dripping taps (but for me to leave a faucet dripping is scary because what if the cat bumps it wide open and the drain stopper closes?  

The thing that would probably concern me the most is the litterpans.  I looked after my neighbors' cats for a couple weeks several times and I scooped out the litterpans every day.  I don't know if it's all cats but if the litterpans aren't changed and freshened eventually they will stop using them and going where you wouldn't want them to.  This is probably the biggest thing, along with if they wind up eating too much because 'it's there' they will vomit and that will sit around for a few weeks.

I think they would probably fare okay, but I would expect them to come home to very used litterpans, vomit/hairballs, but most likely alive and okay cats.  It certainly isn't the way I would do it, but as they are making provisions for them, I wouldn't call it neglect as much as I'd say bad planning.  I have no idea if it is against the law or ordinances.

Lee