Going Away for a Weekend? How to Leave Pets Fed and Watered

A two-night trip is the grey area of pet ownership. A cattery feels like overkill, a sitter feels expensive, and leaving a mountain of kibble in a bowl feels reckless. Here is the honest version of what is safe and what is not.

Dogs: do not leave them overnight

This one is not negotiable. Dogs need toileting, exercise and company; a night alone is not a welfare grey area, it is a welfare problem. Book a sitter, a friend, or boarding. Everything below applies to cats, and to dogs during a long day out.

Cats: one night is usually fine, two needs a plan

Most healthy adult cats cope well with a single night alone. Beyond that you want someone to look in daily, even briefly. Kittens, seniors, cats on medication and cats with any ongoing health issue should never be left overnight without a visit.

Water is the priority, not food

Cats can skip a meal far more safely than they can run out of water. Leave at least two water sources in different rooms, and make one of them a reservoir. A 2-in-1 gravity feeder and water dispenser needs no power and keeps both topped up, which is exactly what you want if the power trips while you are away.

Food: portioned beats piled

A mound of kibble in a bowl gets eaten in one sitting by most cats, then vomited back up. A timed automatic feeder with a water dispenser releases the same food across several small meals, which is kinder on the stomach and keeps the routine your cat is used to. Run it for three or four days before you travel so you know it works and your cat knows the sound.

Litter, escape routes and boredom

Add an extra tray — a folding travel litter box is a tidy way to do it and packs away afterwards. Close washing machine and tumble dryer doors, shut windows on latches, and remove anything with a cord. Leave out a couple of interactive toys and a cardboard box; a bored cat gets into more trouble than a hungry one.

The checklist

Two water sources, one of them a reservoir. Portioned food. Two litter trays. Curtains open a little for light. Heating on a sensible timer. A neighbour with a key and your vet's number. And a photo of your cat on your phone, just in case.