How Long Can You Leave a Cat Alone? 12 Hours or 24?

Some guides stretch the outer limit to 24 hours, among them the UK insurer Petplan and the vet-written PetMD. Cats Protection's 12 hours is the more cautious line. On the part that matters for planning, though, they agree: for more than one night away, someone needs to come in.

Neither figure is for kittens, elderly cats or cats with medical needs. Cats Protection says they need checking on more often, and a kitten can only be left for a few hours at a time.

What your cat needs for a night, a weekend or a fortnight

For holidays, Cats Protection's advice on going away is a sitter visiting at least twice a day, and Petplan suggests the same for a friend or neighbour.

The prices below are what pop-in sitters and overnight sitters on Sittsy charge in the UK, in their own rates for September 2026:

• a 30-minute pop-in visit is typically £15, and most sitters charge £10 to £18 (314 sitters)
• each extra cat adds about £6 a visit (141 sitters who set that price)
• a sitter staying overnight in your home is typically £35 a night, most £25 to £50 (264 sitters), plus about £12 a night per extra cat (129 sitters who set that price)

A sitter staying over costs about the same as two visits a day, or a little more. For that, someone's in the house every evening and every morning. A friend or neighbour who can reliably pop round twice a day costs nothing, of course, and for a weekend that may be all you need.

Why is a weekend alone too long?

Food and the litter tray. Cats Protection points out that wet food spoils after a few hours, dry food needs replacing at least every 12 hours, and the tray needs clearing at least twice a day. An automatic feeder doesn't change the limit either: Petplan says never more than 24 hours, even with one. And two cats together still need the visits, because, as Petplan puts it, feeding, litter and health checks need a person.

What does a pop-in visit cover?

On Sittsy, a standard pop-in visit is 30 minutes. The sitter feeds your cat, puts down fresh water, cleans the litter tray, gives any medication and spends time with your cat. For cats who need more, some sitters offer 60-minute visits, at about £22.50 among the 43 UK sitters who set their own hour price. Ask for a message or photo after each visit. On Sittsy, updates come through the app.

Get the house ready

This follows Cats Protection's checklist:

1. Leave only as much wet food as your cat will eat in a few hours, and plenty of fresh water.
2. Clear the tray just before you go and top it up to about 3cm of litter.
3. Put away hazards, and skip toys with string.
4. Leave hiding places and somewhere high to sit.
5. Close escape routes for an indoor cat. For an outdoor cat, check the cat flap works so they can't get trapped in or out.
6. Check the microchip details are up to date.

How to brief your cat sitter

Leave a note on the kitchen side. Here's what a sitter can't guess:

• how much your cat eats, and what normal looks like: an untouched bowl is often the first sign something's wrong
• where your cat hides from visitors, so the sitter can actually see them
• where the carrier is, your vet's number and the local out-of-hours vet
• any medication, doses and times, and how your cat takes tablets
• which doors and windows stay shut, and whether the cat flap should be locked
• how to reach you, and a backup person with a key

What to do if something goes wrong

Sort it out before you leave:

1. Ring your vet and tell them a sitter may bring your cat in while you're away, and how you'll pay.
2. Ask the sitter to message you the same day if your cat hasn't eaten, isn't using the tray, is hiding more than usual or seems unwell. If you can't be reached, they go to the vet.
3. Give a spare key to a backup person in case the sitter is ill or can't get in.
4. If your cat is on medication, leave a few extra doses and the vet's instructions.

How long can a kitten be left alone?

Only a few hours at a time, says Cats Protection. It suggests practising with five to ten minutes a few times a day, building up over days and weeks, and checking on your kitten at least every few hours until they're fully grown. Short trip, kitten at home? Book visits anyway.

Cattery or cat sitter?

Cats Protection calls keeping your cat at home "the safest and least unsettling option" when you go away, because cats are less likely to be stressed in their own environment. A cattery can still suit you if nobody can come in twice a day. In England, catteries run as a business need a council licence under the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018, and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own rules. Ask to see the licence, and ask for the total price for your dates including any medication. Check your cat's vaccinations are up to date too, and book early for the school holidays and Christmas.

Book a cat sitter near you

Find sitters who do home visits: pop-in visits in London, in Bristol, or pop-in visits across the UK. If you'd rather someone stayed over, see pet sitters in London or pet sitters across the UK.