Looks like I will be pet sitting starting next week

[debodun]

All I know is it's a cat named Susie and she's a 10 year old dark tabby. Owners are going to a destination wedding. They approached me 6 months ago and asked if I'd do it since all of the local family was going to go and there wouldn't be anyone around to tend to the cat. A month ago, one of the cat's owners mentioned that her daughter backed out of the trip and would be here to take care, but would only stop once a day to feed it. The owner added that she'd prefer the cat not be left alone all day.

I said I would still be willing to pet sit, so the owner is bringing Susie next Wednesday. It is not a "special needs" pet or one that needs to be medicated, otherwise I would have to refuse (I went through that with my last two fur-babies).

 

[Jules]

Yay. You’re going to enjoy this.

 

[Aunt Bea]

Enjoy your new roommate but be very careful opening outside doors!

 

[RadishRose]

Have fun with Susie!

 

[dilettante]

Get your shots and lay in some diphenhydramine and antibacterial ointments. Hope you don't own anything fragile that you care about.

 

[debodun]

Enjoy your new roommate but be very careful opening outside doors!

I mentioned my pet sitting to a neighbor and he shook his head. He said another neighbor was tending a friend's cat and it scooted out when he opened a door and it was never seen again.

The owner mentioned that Susie doesn't like the outdoors, but I'm not taking any chances.
In my old house, there were plenty of rooms to put a pet in and close the door if I had to use an egress to the outside. When I had a yard sale, I'd put my cats in my bedroom with dry food, water and a liter box and I'd usually find them asleep on the bed at the end of the day. My new house has an open floor plan and any rooms in which I could isolate the cat have trinkets she could knock around if she got hysterical or bored. My option is to make sure she is not near the access door to the garage, and use the garage as an entrance or exit, making sure the garage door is closed before entering or exiting the access door.

 

[debodun]

Susie has arrived. All she does is hide under furniture. I must have misunderstood. She is not a black tabby but kind of a gray, orange & white mix, semi-longhair.

 

[Jules]

Susie is pretty. She looks content. You both can cuddle up tonight.

 

[Aunt Bea]

Susie has arrived. All she does is hide under furniture. I must have misunderstood. She is not a black tabby but kind of a gray, orange & white mix, semi-longhair.

View attachment 372935

Susie probably doesn’t realize that it’s a vacation but I’m sure that she will settle in.

 

[PeppermintPatty]

Susie looks content at least!

 

[debodun]

Susie is pretty. She looks content. You both can cuddle up tonight.

I doubt that. She is very skittish.

 

[debodun]

I may have made a big mistake. Today I can't find Susie anywhere. I looked under all the furniture she could have possible hidden under. I went into the basement this morning to empty the dehumidifiers, but closed the door behind me.

 

[Judycat]

She's probably wedged herself in some tiny space somewhere. Don't give up hope. Check behind the refrigerator, closets, radiators, top of cabinets.

 

[debodun]

She would have come out by now to eat or use the litterbox. These do not look changed.

 

[hearlady]

Can you open a can of tuna and walk around with it?

 

[CallMeKate]

Can you open a can of tuna and walk around with it?

I was thinking of that... or our baby always came running when I rattled the food or treat bag.

 

[debodun]

I put food in the main part of the house. In case she got in the basement, I put food, water and a litterbox down there, but these, also, have not been used all day.

It's possible she got out when I went out to uncover my plants on the porch this morning, but being aware of this, I kept watch and didn't see her.

She can't hide in too many places - she's the size, shape and weight of a bowling ball and 10 years old.

I don't know what to do. I hesitate to call the owner and spoil her trip. She left me her daughter's phone number, also. but than again, what can she do?

 

[Pepper]

She's there somewhere because you were cautious.

 

[debodun]

She's there somewhere because you were cautious.

I would have seen her by now and all the food has not been touched or have the litterboxes been used.

 

[Aunt Bea]

When will her owners return?

Susie should be ok for a few days and may come out when she hears a familiar voice.

 

[debodun]

When will her owners return?

Monday

 

[debodun]

I even took my bed apart. I have heard of cats climbing up inside a box spring, but she wasn't there.

 

[Pepper]

When my first cat was boarded out so my parents could go on vacation (I was in Europe) he hid the entire time, until my parents came to get him. Like @Aunt Bea said, he heard their voices and ran to them.

 

[Pepper]

This cat could have stayed in her own home, and you could have gone to the cat daily to feed & clean litter box.

eta. Read first post again. Owners were wrong not to leave cat for daughter coming daily.

 

[Jules]

I feel your fear. If anything, tomorrow call the daughter. Maybe she could come over and call Susie. Or put the phone on speaker and have the daughter call for Susie.