Is leaving one of my cats in the basement for the day tomorrow cruel...?

As long as the basement is not an unknown and strange territory, I assume she has been down there, she should be completely fine. If she has never been in the basement she may be a bit stressed and disoriented ( "Where the h am I? ).

Cats don't have any prejudicial ideas about basements or any other places. It is just another place to a cat, " Oh, I'm here now". Not, "Oh how awful, I'm in the ugh basement".

If she has everything she needs she will be perfectly fine.

It is nice that your son cares enough about the cat to be considering her welfare but I do not think that it is cruel. I am guessing that he is looking at it from a human perspective, not a cat's.

Is there simply another section of the house you can put her in? If it is the first time you are shutting her in the basement as you say, chances are she will not be accustomed to the space and likely not a happy camper. Can you leave her outside during the day and set her food on the porch? See if you can find away around the basement scenario.

I don't think you are being cruel, but I wouldn't do it on a daily basis. Sounds as if you have provided for her. She will probably sleep most of the day anyways. Give her some extra attention when you return. In a way you are doing her a favor if she can't control over eating. Hope you don't feel guilty.

Nope not at all as long as she has plenty of water toys and food/a place to use the bathroom as you said she had.. she should be fine :) I mean if you left her with no food er nothing and kept her in there for a couple of days then i would think its cruel :p haa

But yah she should be fine.

Absolutely not. Unless your basement happens to get extremely cold or hot during they day, she'll be fine. Heck, she'll probably enjoy having a quiet day to herself without all the other cats bugging her.

No it's not cruel.

We leave our cats home alone for a day every now and then. They don't seem to mind it at all as long as you have plenty of food, water, litter, and room for them to be themselves.

No thats fine. As long as its safe down there and there is nothing that she can get into to harm herself, and she has everything she needs she will be fine. It's only for a day.

She will be fine. Cats are independent animals, anyway. As long as she doesn't overheat or overcool, she will be just fine for a day or two.

she will be fine, but make sure she has lots of water!! :D i had to do it once, i felt bad, but she was fine, and glad to see me.

yes very cruel