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Owner wants me to let her cat outside, only getting paid for an hour

111 replies

Gtathatchers · 09/07/2024 18:02

I’m doing hour long drop ins for a cat everyday for 2 weeks, I’m only a few days into it. Prior to starting we had a meet and greet and they did not mention about her having to go outside. They don’t have a cat flap or anything, so I have to be here to let her out and to let her back in. The problem is that I’m only being paid for an hours drop in, but when I let her outside, she is never back within the hour. Yesterday, I was here for 2 hours, waiting for her to return, and she only did so because it started to rain. The owners said to walk to the park with her, and that she’ll follow me, so I attempted this and she did not. She’s deaf, and isn’t very food or toy motivated. At first they said to use her harness so I assumed she would be comfortable with it, she wasn’t at all. I tried the gentle approach of trying to put it on her back while she was distracted with some wet food but she’d freak out every time I put it on her, and start hissing, so the owners said please take her out without it, walk to the park and she’ll follow you so I braced myself and did it. She did NOT follow me and instead roamed around on top of the garages in the car park next to their house where I couldn’t get her down from. I stayed outside and watched her until she escaped through a hole in someone’s fence. I did laps around the estate trying to find her until I decided to go and wait in the garden for her to come home. This time she came in half an hour after the agreed hour long drop in period. The second time was much the same except she came in an hour after the drop in should’ve ended, only when it started raining. If it hadn’t started raining she would’ve come back in much later. I’m not sure what to do, she meows to go out all the time but I can’t dedicate hours of my day to waiting for her to return as I’ve scheduled my days based on the fact I’m here for an hour plus commute time. Wwyd?

OP posts:
Lighteningstrikes · 11/07/2024 08:28

Don't let it out.

SummerTimeIsTheBest · 11/07/2024 08:20

Either don’t let her out or stop working for the owners and they can exploit someone else.

dawngreen · 11/07/2024 08:15

Don't leave its food and water outside, Other cats or wildlife will eat it.

listsandbudgets · 11/07/2024 07:57

YANBU for cat sitting purposes cats are either outdoor cats with a cat flap or they're not.

We had the opposite problem. Our cats have a cat flap and come and go as they please. We had a cat sitter last year whonwe made this clear to ( hardly unusalnfir cats) who kept sending is crazy texts like

Cat climbed a tree and I had to wait for her to come down have charged an extra half hour

Cat wasn't in when I arrived and looked hungry when she came in after about half an hour very worried about her

Don't think cats food is appropriate have bought something more suitable from vets will add to bill

She was absolutely bonkers .. we refused the extra half hour, gave half the price of the extortionately expensive food and returned the rest of the bag to her and will not be using her again.

DustyLee123 · 11/07/2024 07:55

I wouldn’t want the responsibility of letting it out

newnamethanks · 11/07/2024 07:51

Owners are idiots and will come for you if cat chooses to not return. Don't let it out, cats do what they like and so should you.

RedHelenB · 11/07/2024 07:30

Isobel201 · 09/07/2024 18:49

Just keep her in, poor thing. As she is deaf, I wouldn't let her out at all. They need to come up with safer ways to keep her entertained outside.

The cat wants to go outside.The reason for keeping her in is because the cat sitter isn't being paid enough hours.

DreamTheMoors · 11/07/2024 06:58

AS CAT OWNERS these folks should know that cats - deaf or not - roam.
I agree with the pp who are advising you to speak with them and revise the arrangements.

curious79 · 11/07/2024 06:51

Just don’t take the cat out and never look after it again after this

Chocbuttonsandredwine · 11/07/2024 06:50

agree
owners should be paying you for the time
you are there.

if you continue to let it out do so as soon as you get there (before food) so that it will come back as will be hungry: hopefully

urbanbuddha · 11/07/2024 06:49

You’ve done the right thing OP. It’s crazy of the owners to think that a cat’s going to follow instructions.

HaveAWordWithYerselfWouldYa · 11/07/2024 06:47

She has the run of the house, uses the litter tray, but will sometimes do a spite poo next to the tray or on the upstairs landing

A "spite poo" 🤣🤣

xyzabcde · 11/07/2024 06:46

Don’t let it out. Will they know? Ring doorbells etc.

What’s going to be worse? Them coming back to no cat or off chance them finding out its not been let out?

It’s a daft arrangement. Either it’s an inside cat or an outside one with a cat flap.

MassiveOvaryaction · 11/07/2024 06:41

I'd either not let it out every day (assuming it's house trained and able to use a litter box), or split the hour - go in the morning to let it out and later on to bring it back in.

And if I was doing it as a paid for service id have actually asked these questions before taking on the job..

ANiceBigCupOfTea · 11/07/2024 06:36

AzureSheep · 09/07/2024 18:22

Explain to the owners that you’ve tried the things they’ve suggested but it hasn’t worked. As the cat won’t come in reliably, you think it best from a safety standpoint that the cat stays indoors for the duration of the cat sit. If they insist on you letting cat out they will need to pay your standard hourly rate for each hour / part hour over the agreed original timings (try to be firm about not letting the cat out though).

I think you should ask to be paid for the additional hours you’ve already done, but equally, if you don’t feel comfortable asking I can understand why.

We have 2 cats, one uses the cat flap, the other refuses to. When we have a cat sitter the cat who won’t use the flap gets kept in for the duration. She has the run of the house, uses the litter tray, but will sometimes do a spite poo next to the tray or on the upstairs landing, but I’d far rather that than risk losing her.

This

Hobbesmanc · 11/07/2024 06:34

I just ask my cat sitter to keep them in. They only go out when I'm home anyway so for example on a working from the office day they have to stay in the house.

I do have a cat flap but I don't like them being outside when I'm not around.

MrsWinkly · 11/07/2024 06:30

Oh my god! She wants you to herd a cat?
YANBU OP, that's nuts.

Meadowwild · 11/07/2024 06:27

I don't understand people who have outdoor cats and no cat flaps.

moose62 · 11/07/2024 06:24

When I have sitters in to feed my cats, I specifically ask that they are not let out, no matter how much they plead. If they are cross because no one is home they just wander off and find somewhere else to go! Cats are very fickle and you would be waiting for hours for them.

I don't think I woukd say anything. Just play with the cat for the hour you are paid for and leave it at that.

FangsForTheMemory · 11/07/2024 06:22

My catsitter lets my cat out in the morning and lets him in again in the evening. She does give him a cuddle but I don’t expect her to wait around for him. If he doesn’t turn up to be let in, he stays out. Would this work for you?

caringcarer · 11/07/2024 06:07

Ghgrynn · 10/07/2024 09:18

Message the owners to say you can’t let the cat out as she doesn’t return within the hour, won’t follow you and doesn’t like her harness. Tell them you will play with her during the hour so she has some engagement and stimulation. Alternatively if you’re up for it) let them know that for an increased fee you can stay longer to give her time outside, but make sure you get their agreement in writing re compensation for that.

This is perfect.

Bluebirdover · 11/07/2024 06:05

Bluebirdover · 11/07/2024 06:04

@YouJustDoYou I am allowed an opinion GrinGrinGrinGrin

And it can differ to yours!

Maybe OP will be new careful in future and not risk bad reviews.

Bluebirdover · 11/07/2024 06:04

@YouJustDoYou I am allowed an opinion GrinGrinGrinGrin

YouJustDoYou · 11/07/2024 06:00

Bluebirdover · 11/07/2024 05:02

@EliflurtleAndTheInfiniteMadness she really hasn't, why would she assume that a cat wouldn't need to go out?

As a pet sitter isn't that a question to ask?

It's like a dog sitter assuming the dog wouldn't need a walk.

Ridiculous not to ask what services are needed and just say "they never said".

I'd assume also that OP can't leave them a bad review, so moot point.

"It's like a dog sitter assuming a dog wouldn't need a walk" - no it's not.

Ignore this poster op, it's a lesson learned for next time.

YouJustDoYou · 11/07/2024 05:58

Even if they do leave a negative review, prospective clients will still like to see how you rrespond and I'm sure they will completely understand the circumstances (unlike these batshit owners).