Go to a local pet supply store and check the bulletin board for pet sitter flyers. Also can ask the owner who they use. I did that and I’ve had a great pet sitter for 12 years.

Do you trust your friend to spend time with your cat? I'm going to be in a similar situation in the near future. I will have my cats stay at home and a nephew will come over, clean litters and feed my cats. My nephew does not have the same philosophy on cats, ie. giving them attention, but I trust him enough to feed mine.

The other option is a kennel. One of my cats did OK with that. I haven't hat to do it for a long time.

I usually ask one of my adult kids to come over and clean litter box and put fresh food and water out.

Leave the cat home while you are getting well, leave food and water and have A TRUSTED FRIEND to look in everyday...A new environment with you gone...The Furbaby will not be happy

Firstly, best of luck at the hospital. Secondly, I "house/cat" sit for my sis & BIL when needed. I check food water, feed the canned to indoor & the outdoor. I make sure the litter box is clean. I try to hang out for a bit so they have some company, if they want, again, both in & out. If you can trust anyone to come out to your place to at least check in on your cats, that is the best, from my experience, anyway!

If there is no one to come in - I'd say the friend's bedroom

Can the friend not stop in once a day?

A week is too long alone. If anything went wrong you'd feel terrible.
Granted things can happen while you are home too. But a week is a long time.

If you were going to leave kitty home I'd recommend a timed feeder.

I hope your surgery goes well!

They can survive for a week, but that's a long time for them to be alone.

Can you hire a pet sitter? I've done it several times over the years and it's always worked out great.

We leave the cats in THEIR house and have the neighbor girls we trust stop in twice a day for feeding and litter box patrol. They also sit and watch TV with them and pet them.

That's about the longest you can leave a cat for - but it's doable. Ours get waaay overfed, with a zillion waters laying around. Double the litter boxes... Oh, and I duct tape all the latches on interior doors, because I have an insane fear that one of them will lock himself somewhere he can't get out of. Just having someone stop through after a couple days might ease your mind considerably, as well.

That is what is so great about cats. Leave enough dry food , water & extra litter boxes & they should be ok. But let the hospital know in case your stay in the hospital is longer. Or a reputable sitting service. Just take your valuables to a safe deposit box.

Comforts of home but with a friend or family, or pet sitter to come in every day or so to feed and water, change litter, and play.