Advice on my roommate's cat. We have a serious difference in opinions.

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strawburrymelk

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Every time my newest roommate has left, she has left her cat behind and not asked me to feed him. She just kind of leaves with no notice, which is her business, but then I am left with her cat (who is awesome and lovely). This has happened three times now in the month we have lived together. The first time she said she left two days worth of food out for him, which I'm giving her the benefit of the doubt and believing, but the day after he was asking and upon checking his bowl I discovered it empty (not to mention water). The second time she just left with no words and I fed him but his kibble bag was nearly empty, which was a week ago. Now she left three days ago and there is no new kibble bag to be found. I have fed him another friend's cat food and bought some at the store. She said that a friend would be stopping by with the food yesterday, but that did not happen and she's mad at me for feeding her cat strange food. I morally cannot let a cat go hungry for that long and am at a loss of what to argue to her other than this and eventual concerns for feline hepatic lipidosis. She says he's fine without food for three days or so, and I on the other hand feel personally offended that anyone would do that to their cat.

I don't know where I should draw the line in this matter. I don't feel comfortable letting an animal go hungry when it is entirely in my power to not let this happen, but she has told me not to feed her cat anymore?
 
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Willowy

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Look up your state/municipality's animal neglect laws. Most state that animals must be fed and watered at least once every 24 hours. Maybe she would take that seriously. If you can't find anything online, maybe you could talk to an animal welfare group in the area for some educational materials.

Otherwise, just tell her you can't let an animal go that long without food so if she doesn't want you to feed her cat strange food she needs to make sure that she leaves plenty of his regular food whenever she goes somewhere.

Does she understand that a cat will start to experience major organ failure if he went without water for 3 days? Even humans can't go much longer than that. Water is very important for a body's functions.
 
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Norachan

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As Willowy said, you need to look up your local cruelty laws. If you let the cat go hungry or stand by and do nothing while he is neglected, you could be held responsible as you are living in the same place as the pet owner.

She doesn't sound like a very responsible pet owner at all. Poor cat is lucky to have you there to take care of him.
 
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strawburrymelk

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Yeah that's what my mother said. On top of this I have had cats for my entire life and am completely baffled that someone would even think like this :I
 
bonepicker

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strawburrymelk said:
Every time my newest roommate has left, she has left her cat behind and not asked me to feed him. She just kind of leaves with no notice, which is her business, but then I am left with her cat (who is awesome and lovely). This has happened three times now in the month we have lived together. The first time she said she left two days worth of food out for him, which I'm giving her the benefit of the doubt and believing, but the day after he was asking and upon checking his bowl I discovered it empty (not to mention water). The second time she just left with no words and I fed him but his kibble bag was nearly empty, which was a week ago. Now she left three days ago and there is no new kibble bag to be found. I have fed him another friend's cat food and bought some at the store. She said that a friend would be stopping by with the food yesterday, but that did not happen and she's mad at me for feeding her cat strange food. I morally cannot let a cat go hungry for that long and am at a loss of what to argue to her other than this and eventual concerns for feline hepatic lipidosis. She says he's fine without food for three days or so, and I on the other hand feel personally offended that anyone would do that to their cat.

I don't know where I should draw the line in this matter. I don't feel comfortable letting an animal go hungry when it is entirely in my power to not let this happen, but she has told me not to feed her cat anymore?
Click to expand...
She obviously knows NOTHING about how to care for an animal.
 
segelkatt

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Isn't there some way you could report her, I don't mean do it but threaten her with it? That may straighten out her act. You may also want to get her a book that shows how to take care of a cat and tell her that if she does not leave food and instructions for the cat then you will get the food and bill her for it,  that you are not an unpaid cat sitter and that not feeding a cat for three days is animal abuse. Obviously you will have to be firm with her and let her know that you are only concerned about the welfare of the cat.
 
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