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[voliny13]

Cpl months ago my friend asked me to look after her husband's cat because they will be out of the country for a month, my friend knows i have never had a cat and told me all I will need to do is make sure he has water, food and litter is clean. I said okay, she brought the cat saturday to my apartment the cat was terrified and kept me up sat and last night howling, he would also hiss at me I was worried and reading online it didn't seem like I was the best person to take care of a cat after all since I have no experience with cats, so I called her today (they are supposed to leave tomorrow) and apologized and told her I can't take care of him - she have always told me that I do not have to keep him all the time if an issue comes up I can let her in-laws know and they will put him in a hotel. The husband and her came to pick up the cat today and the husband was very very upset, he will not look at me, or say hi, or talk to me, he was really mad. The friend did most of the talking and at the end thanked me for at least trying. But I am wondering if I just lose her as my friend?

[ingel]

your friend should have asked you to go over to her house to feed the cat, not bring the cat to a total strangers house (for the cat that is). They have basically up-rooted their cat out of it's territory that it knows and taken it to somewhere completely strange so of course it will hiss and be up-set as it does not know where it is and does not recognise any scents or smells. Cats are protective and work alone so do not need or seek out friends. When faced with a surrounding it does not know it will automatically go into aggressive mode as it's defending itself against possible predators so to speak. It's not at you personally at all so do not worry. When someone leaves their cat, which is fine to do so, it should be in their own house where the cat knows and is comfortable, either a neighbour, family member or someone to trust nearby should come and feed/water the cat. To take it out simple and dump in someone else's house is not a good plan! If anything a cattery would be better as they know how to manage cats like this as are trained and they have a different environment. I think it is wrong of your friends to do this and also very irresponsible as if they have not thought through the consequences? You have done nothing wrong...of course the at will not be happy in a strange house, whether yours or someone elses. Why loose a friend over a cat..? The husband was probably not upset with you (i hope!) but the fact he now has to think about where to home his cat on a temporary basis. i hope they think sensibly about it now...xx

[honi]

If you lose her as a friend over this....then she wasnt a very good friend anyway. just explain to her that you were trying to do what is best for the cat, and that you felt as though you couldnt adequately take care of it, and tell her that it was howling and freaking out. they could find someone else or just take the cat to a petsitter.

[tonibraxton]

If you lose her as a friend over this....then she wasnt a very good friend anyway. just explain to her that you were trying to do what is best for the cat, and that you felt as though you couldnt adequately take care of it, and tell her that it was howling and freaking out. they could find someone else or just take the cat to a petsitter.

The cat should have stayed at their house to begin with. If these people get all butt hurt because you are not comfortable with taking care of an animal you have never had any experience with. You explained yourself well and leave it at that.
I wouldn't hold it against any of my friends if this had happened to me, I'd be little annoyed of course, but I wouldn't flat out hate and un-friend them.

[lawly1]

That does seem selfish. I would be annoyed. They were leaving tomorrow and imagine trying to find someone else at the last minute. put yourself in their shoes. If u say youll do something , then do it. But at the end of the day if u felt really uncomfortable then oh well. If theyre true friends theyll forget about it. At least you didnt harm the cat.

[philibert63]

That does seem selfish. I would be annoyed. They were leaving tomorrow and imagine trying to find someone else at the last minute. put yourself in their shoes. If u say youll do something , then do it. But at the end of the day if u felt really uncomfortable then oh well. If theyre true friends theyll forget about it. At least you didnt harm the cat.

I usually have somebody come to my house and feed the cats, not the other way around. I think it is a bit bullshit that you called them that close and didn't stick it out, but, whatever. They shouldn't hate you over it.

[cuartio52]

What exactly did you expect? The cat was in a new place with strangers. All you needed to do is give him a few more days and things would have worked out. A month ago when they asked you to babysit, why did you not go over and play with the cat and get the cat to know who you are.

I have no idea if you will lose them as a friend, but I certainly would not leave my pet with someone that didn't even really get to know my pet first.

[cinnard]

What exactly did you expect? The cat was in a new place with strangers. All you needed to do is give him a few more days and things would have worked out. A month ago when they asked you to babysit, why did you not go over and play with the cat and get the cat to know who you are.

I have no idea if you will lose them as a friend, but I certainly would not leave my pet with someone that didn't even really get to know my pet first.

If you are worried their is no shame in calling them up and going out for a coffee to tell them how sorrie you are let her husband know that you had the best intentions to take car of the cat but you were unsure since you have never cared for one before and that it worried you that the cat was hissing and growling at you. Maybe next time it would be better suggested leaving the cat at home and pet sit from their doing a daily visit to feet water and change litter the cat will be more confterbul and happy in the situation and you would feel more confterbul doing that as well

I hope this helps since ive pet sit many cats and the best way is to leave them at home and do a in home pet sitting so as not to stress them out