I went out of town for 12 days...(sorry, it is long!)

Question

...and my kitty is about 15 months old. I asked my neighbor if she could look over him while we were gone. Check on him daily, clean the litter boxes, feed him, etc. I had a bad feeling about it, but she seemed up for the challenge, she seemed happy I asked her to do it. We live like 15 ft away from each other, so it wouldn't be too out of her way.

On the way home I knew something was up(had a feeling). My cat is an indoor only cat, and I shut the rooms upstairs so he only had access to the downstairs and one upstairs bathroom. When we got home, obviously he hadn't been looked after too much. There were 5 piles of poo in the upstairs b-room, two throw up stains downstairs, and one of the litter boxes was gone, & where it was was a litter mess with pee. Not much of the food was gone, it was a mess. I was FUMING b/c I could have asked someone who would have appreciated my cat/ our house. (Needless to say I haven't gone to talk to her yet, I waiting until I calm down)

My cat was on a chair in our carolina room, and he looked scared, almost rabid. Then he hid. I started calling his name a time about 15 minutes later, calling his usual nicknames. He meowed, and we "talked"(meowed) back and forth and then he came out, super lovey. He has been right next to me since. SUPER lovey, almost scared I may leave again.

He bit me last night (drew a little blood) when I picked up my purse, obviously he isn't over it yet. I know he is going to be mad at us for going away and the person I THOUGHT was taking care of him didn't, but how long until he gets over it, and forgives us? I was a bit concerned about the bite, he is indoor only, but they have an outdoor cat, and since they cared so little about mine, did they let him out and now he is rabid? But I asked my father and he seemed to think that with the messes in the house and the little food that was eaten, he didn't get out. But back to the point, how long until he forgives me? He is my baby and I feel HORRIBLE the neighbor cared so little. I may be a LONG time until we speak agian, if ever, I am MAD. Thanks in advance for your answers and any advice!

Answer 1

I feell extremely bad for you and your kitten . Wow . I don't even know what i would do if i came home to find that. He's probably really afraid that you might leave and never come back . Don't worry i don't think he'll be hung up on it for more than 2 weeks . Do the regular things. Go out , play with him,etc. He'll realize that you guys won't be leaving like before. The only concern would be what to do when you do leave . how will he react with you gone and a petsitter/ some other person .  

Answer 2

Your cat isn't rabid! Even if he got out once, this doesn't mean that he got rabies right away! Otherwise all cats and animals that go outdoors would have rabies and die. Do you live in an area with rabies epidemic?

Other from that, he will forgive you in 2-3 days, don't worry. It's just until he gets back to your old schedule and knows that you won't abandon him!

Answer 3

you need to bribe the catwith cuddles and food and treats till it forgetss , your neighbour needs speaking too its animal cruelty. the cat is just scared and didnt mean to hurt you when it bit didnt know how else to tell you it didnt want u to go. although somehow i think it would take more than not being fed to make a cat thatscared, although all my cats go out and none of them are vicious at all so i reckon that neighbour was nasty to it. i dont know how housecats behave but im guessing it missed you alot. good luck with bribing it

Answer 4

Is your cat up to date on its rabies vaccine as it should be?  If so then the cat is probably fine. I would be po'd at the neighbor. It's not a lot of work caring for a cat but since she lets her outdoors then she probably has no idea what she's doing. I usually hire a petsitter or bring my cats to my parents. I have asked a neighbor to check in on my kitties every couple of days just to be sure that the petsitter is visiting. That's all. Your cat will get over it. It will take time. It was obviously traumatic.