I leave for work at 8am and get home at 6pm...Sammi is home alone during that time..She has a bowl of water and food down all the time...I personally do not feel it is cruel...There have been days during the week where I have taken the day off and all she wants to do is sleep...So I know when I am not home she sleeps also...I say 90% of the time I come home to unused wee wee pads, like she was sleeping all day and too busy to pee pee