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

@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.

You need to be clearer in your Ts &Cs as to what you will/won't do, what each particular package covers etc.

It sounds as though you agreed 1 hour drop ins to feed, clean litter trays, amuse... but NOT to let out and then supervise/walk/wait for the cat to return.

Hopefully you have that agreement in writing?

People will often try to book the cheapest package then get you to amend it without extra charge, so you must be clear as to exactly what you will and won't be doing.

Learn from this - and just do the hourly visits as arranged and do NOT let them stiff you on the bill at the end either!

Have you tried letting her out first and then after half an hour preparing her food.
If she’s not fed immediately then she may return sooner.

OP has gone above and beyond for the client, they're the one being unreasonable, they're the ones that deserves a negative review.

U taking the puss🤣🐱 haha cat can look after it self tbh

Why does she have to go out? Do these people not have litter for her? Black mark against them in my book, if so.

They should leave a negative review, you should've established exactly what was required of you as a paid professional.

You didn't know the cat needed to be let out? So when was it decided you should let the cat out? When they said it, why didn't you advise the additional charge.

That’s interesting @lawnseed. We can’t have a cat flap for various reasons. We have a fairly outdoorish young cat who is used to her butlers opening the door. How long would you recommend is the longest a cat stays indoors for if it is normally used to a bit of freedom? We are going away for a fortnight this summer and am now relieved I’ve got someone coming to live in!

Tell them you won’t be letting her out unless you are paid for the two hours or whatever it takes to get her back.

I'm a cat sitter and non of my clients expect the cats to go out unless there's a cat flap. My longest visits are only 30 minutes long. These owners sound nuts to be honest. I've never had a client ask anything like this. Get them told.

Batshit. Message and say you can’t let it out again because it won’t come back within the hour and you can’t take the risk. Even if they offer to pay you for another hour later still say no as you can’t guarantee the cat will have it’s listening ears turned on by then because it’s a cat FFS, not a teen with a curfew! If this is something you’re trying to make a business of then don’t agree to try anything like this again in the future- you’re just setting yourself up for either an unhappy client or working unpaid hours because cats be cats and it’s so obviously going to go wrong.

I'm more of a dog person but even I know that a cat is unlikely to let a stranger put a harness on it and walk it to the park!

I wouldn't let it out.
They sound bonkers

Do they realise that it’s a cat?
Does the cat not have a watch? Maybe it doesn’t know that the hour is up?

Bonkers! We use cat sitters a lot and our cats usually have free access to the outside during daylight hours but when away I always keep them indoors as it's unfair to expect the sitter to wait around. And we have a cat flap! Definitely let the owners know it isn't working

You say “Hi, letting her out won’t worked with what you’ve booked with me because of my other visits I’ve got booked in,
Ive booked your visit for the hour as requested, if you’d like to change that to a two or three hour visit then I’ll look at my diary later to see if I can fit that in, otherwise we can leave it at the hour agreed and she’ll have to stay in”
Then you invoice adjusting the first two days from one hour to two. Be professional and let know how you work or you’ll be taken advantage off by lots of customers. I learnt the hard way.

You could suggest going back to let him in, when he doesn't return on time, and charge them for the extra.

They're being unreasonable adding instructions to what you've already agreed upon.

Either:
Don't let the cat out.
Ask for more money until the cat comes back.

If you get a "no" to each of this, refuse further business.

I'd stay for the hour, if it didn't come back then leave it food and water outside. I'd leave after an hour. I'd message them go say he didn't return within the hour. Do they want to pay another hour in the evening to bring him back in?

They seem bloody bonkers. And I'm a cat owner! Cats will do what they like and when they like. Just don't let her out.

You explain to the owners

if I let the cat out and she doesn’t come back for 2 hours, you will be charged. Having tried the harness and the walk to the park, neither were successful. That is what has happened on the last 2 occasions. Going forward do you want me to visit for an hour and charge for an hour, or do you want me to let her out and bill you accordingly?

kind regards

"Dear owners, this is not working. If you want me to let your cat out and wait for the return, I will need to charge you for the actual hours that I am here. Here is the excess bill so far, please pay by return. Going forward, I can go back to one hour per day but will not let the cat out, or we can terminate the arrangement."

It's deaf.

I wouldn't let the cat out. I'm currently feeling the wrath of one of mine as we've had to lock the cat flap as he has a vet appointment in an hour and we can't let him out as we couldn't guarantee he'd come back in when we called him.

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.