To think my cat sitter was in the wrong?

ThisGoldOrca · 05/06/2026 08:46

loislovesstewie · 03/06/2026 07:41

Could I suggest that when you get a cat flap, make sure the door is clear perspex. I had a rather dim cat that wouldn't use a cat flap that she couldn't see out of!

That’s not being dim, it’s being cautions in case of predators on the other side , it shows sense not to just dash through without seeing what’s there.

MurunBuchstansangursCousinRossiter · 03/06/2026 08:07

I love all the posters queueing up to scold the OP even though they have no idea of the circumstances 🤣

It’s perfectly possible that poor Olivia has the choice of any number of shady bushes to shelter under when it’s hot, which would be far cooler than in the house. And there are these marvellous inventions called bowls that you can will with water…

But no. Clearly the OP lives in a place where the houses are surrounded by nothing but concrete, with no shade anywhere, no water… 😁

merrymelody · 03/06/2026 07:56

Our cat loves to be outside but she’s already been caused so much debate on our neighbourhood FB page: “Cats shouldn’t be allowed to roam freely! Cat owners should keep their cats indoors! Cats are decimating our local flora and fauna!” 🙄

Pansykavalier · 03/06/2026 07:54

IPM · 31/05/2026 10:11

If you'd throw a cat out in a heatwave that's distressed and crying to come in, you're very much in the wrong job.

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Very much this…… FFS

Esmeraldathe3rd · 03/06/2026 07:51

You made a judgment, your cat usually has free reign to come and go as she pleases and spends most of her time outside. She'd be better spending most of her time outside while I'm gone.

She is not usually shut outside for extended periods though.

The catsitter made a judgement, it is hot, the cat is distressed and crying to come in, I do not know this cat well enough to know that in this surprising heatwave the cat will be fine outside. It is better to come home to a poo in the house than a sickly cat in the garden. I can be sued for a sickly cat in the garden, I cannot be sued for a poo on the floor.

loislovesstewie · 03/06/2026 07:41

Could I suggest that when you get a cat flap, make sure the door is clear perspex. I had a rather dim cat that wouldn't use a cat flap that she couldn't see out of!

MushMonster · 03/06/2026 06:58

Glad to hear you are taking on board the cat flap option!!!!
I think your cats will love it! Though it may take a bit for them to get used to it. You have to persevere a bit.
Microchip ones are the only real option. Because magnetic ones, that I had, other kitties managed to get in too....

InvestingMimi · 02/06/2026 18:44

she just refuses to use her litter tray for poos

perhaps change the litter. My cat won’t poo in the tray if the litter isn’t to her liking.

Original poster

Tabbyz · 02/06/2026 13:40

Ylvamoon · 02/06/2026 12:54

The issue isn't the cat being inside/ outside. The issue is that the cat pooped inside, an inconvenience to OP. @Tabbyz You do know it's one litter tray per cat, preferably in a different area of your home to sort the issue.

They have two litter trays downstairs and two upstairs. I have taken her to the vets a few times for it just to make sure she isn’t unwell or anything but they say it’s behavioural. I think because she spends a lot of time outside, when she’s in she just doesn’t want to use it. I have tried getting some soil too and mixing it in with the litter. The problem is, if it was just a solid poo on the floor it’s not a problem because I could just pick it up. But she sometimes has runny poo and will do it on the couch or the bed. I didn’t want to come home to runny poos all over the furniture. If my other cat had this issue, I wouldn’t have made the decision to put her outside, because she doesn’t like being outside. She much prefers to be in. I made the decision to keep Olivia out because she prefers to be outside and always has done so figured it solves the poo issue plus she would probably be happier being out for 4 days rather than being shut inside for 4 days. That would have caused her stress. However, I have taken onboard that a cat flap would solve this issue

OP posts:

Ylvamoon · 02/06/2026 12:54

The issue isn't the cat being inside/ outside. The issue is that the cat pooped inside, an inconvenience to OP. @Tabbyz You do know it's one litter tray per cat, preferably in a different area of your home to sort the issue.

Ragamuffin8 · 02/06/2026 12:46

Leaving a cat outside for 4 days with only two short breaks inside would be considered cruel by a lot of people.There’s been a heatwave and it would make a cat more vulnerable to foxes etc, with no opportunity for safe shelter. If your cat died due to being outside all the time, the sitter would be negligent. The cat’s safety is the number one priority. A couple of litter box accidents are more easily resolved.

I do think your sitter should’ve said upfront she didn’t agree with your cat being outside all the time, so you could make a decision whether to hire her or not.

Original poster

Tabbyz · 02/06/2026 12:29

Deboragh · 02/06/2026 08:47

"so she can toilet outside'! You mean crap in other people's gardens fify.

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I have no idea where she chooses to do it

OP posts:

tiramisugelato · 02/06/2026 09:32

IKnowWhatTheAnswerIs · 02/06/2026 08:58

Loads of animals live outside - horses, cows, sheep, dogs who live in kennels, rabbits, Guinea pigs…I don’t understand why cats are so special they aren’t expected to compromise and put up with circumstances we think are fine for other animals. And why it’s the human that has to compromise. As long as suitable alternative provisions were made (proper shelter, water, food etc) in line with whatever the rspca considers actionable standards then I’m not sure the accusations of cruelty are fair. The sitter should have just refused the booking if they didn’t agree with the ask. Not their place to decide if OP should put up with cat poo on the floor of her home.

OP didn’t provide any shelter, though.

And yes, lots of animals live outside but if that’s not their “norm” and they suddenly find themselves locked out of their home for 23 hours a day with only a stranger popping in to feed them, then that is neglectful.

I also wouldn’t rely on anything the RSPCA say - they’re about as useful as a chocolate teapot.

IKnowWhatTheAnswerIs · 02/06/2026 08:58

Loads of animals live outside - horses, cows, sheep, dogs who live in kennels, rabbits, Guinea pigs…I don’t understand why cats are so special they aren’t expected to compromise and put up with circumstances we think are fine for other animals. And why it’s the human that has to compromise. As long as suitable alternative provisions were made (proper shelter, water, food etc) in line with whatever the rspca considers actionable standards then I’m not sure the accusations of cruelty are fair. The sitter should have just refused the booking if they didn’t agree with the ask. Not their place to decide if OP should put up with cat poo on the floor of her home.

Deboragh · 02/06/2026 08:47

Tabbyz · 31/05/2026 10:01

I got back from holiday yesterday and I used a cat sitter for my 2 cats. The instructions were clear, one cat can come and go as she pleases and the other one can come in while cat sitter is there but must put her back out before leaving.

The first day they came, they did a visit in the morning and evening and in the evening report it said that there was a poo outside of the litter tray and they had cleaned it up. I messaged her to say that will be because you kept Olivia inside and if you keep her outside, she will toilet outside.

I got back yesterday to a poo in my living room and Olivia was inside!! I contacted her asking why my instructions were not adhered to and she said she didn’t think it was in Olivia’s best interest to be outside as she didn’t want to go and when she placed her outside she was crying to come back in. But it’s not up to her to make that decision. Those were my wishes and the cat would’ve been absolutely fine, it was only 4 days . What is the point in leaving them instructions? AIBU to leave a bad review and not use them again?

"so she can toilet outside'! You mean crap in other people's gardens fify.

tiramisugelato · 02/06/2026 08:40

toastandegg · 01/06/2026 19:26

My cats would much prefer a shady bush than a stuffy house in the heat - different if your home and can open the door but houses get hot quickly when all the doors and windows are shut

Which is why OP needs a cat flap so her cats have a choice when she’s not around. Locking a cat outside for 22/23 hours a day with no access to the indoors when that’s not the usual set up is unkind, and could even be pretty dangerous.

Original poster

Tabbyz · 02/06/2026 08:08

ThisGoldOrca · 01/06/2026 18:50

No you haven’t read it correctly , she doesn’t have an indoor cat , both go in and out but Olivia won’t use the litter tray so she is left out . The other cat does use the tray so is left in.
a cat flap would solve this issue but the OP hasn’t commented on that.

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Yes I have commented on that

OP posts:

toastandegg · 01/06/2026 19:26

My cats would much prefer a shady bush than a stuffy house in the heat - different if your home and can open the door but houses get hot quickly when all the doors and windows are shut

ThatLemonBee · 01/06/2026 18:59

Leave her a bad review and don’t use her again ! I had this a few years ago and the idiot almost killed my cat for not listening to. I had a cat for years that came inside as she pleased as long as she had access outside . As soon as she felt enclosed she would go crazy jumping around trying anything to leave . Leaving a cat flap open was not an option too as she was an avid hunter and would bring life stuff in . Just like your cat sitter she was too lazy to put her out and not only destroyed the house but she damaged her claws trying to get out and I ended up with a huge vet bill and worse a suffering cat that took ages to trust anyone again . She tried to defend herself saying the forecast said rain but my cat had shelter and access to outbuildings too .

ThisGoldOrca · 01/06/2026 18:50

Stelladid · 01/06/2026 10:25

So many replies here commenting that the OP is making the wrong decision for her cat. That isn’t the question. The question is, is it okay for a cat sitter to ignore the instructions of an owner (who is paying her to do a job) should reasonably ignore those instructions because she doesn’t agree with them. The answer is obviously (to me) no, of course it isn’t. As for suggestions that the OP get a cat flap, she has stated that she also has an indoor cat, so how would that work.

As for heat, cats are completely different to dogs with heat. They don’t suffer in it, they enjoy lying out for hours in the hottest sun with no ill effects and have no difficulty finding shade when they want it. So long as they have access to water, they are fine.

My cats go outside, but my preference is that they don’t when I’m away. If I had a cat that went stir crazy, I may make a different decision. If the cat sitter wasn’t happy following the instructions given here, she should have declined the job.

No you haven’t read it correctly , she doesn’t have an indoor cat , both go in and out but Olivia won’t use the litter tray so she is left out . The other cat does use the tray so is left in.
a cat flap would solve this issue but the OP hasn’t commented on that.

Original poster

Tabbyz · 01/06/2026 18:25

IsThatAHedgehog · 01/06/2026 05:52

Ok so first of all, OP is there any reason why you absolutely refuse to answer the MANY PP asking the same question - why don't you get a cat flap??

And secondly, I genuinely do not understand why people have cats just to chuck them outside 24/7 (or 23/7 if they're actually allowed in the house for a bit each day).

Even putting their food and water outside!?

One PP even said the instruction for their cat is to put it "out during the night let back in for food and put them back out again".

Just WHY?

It's the same as people who have dogs and they just leave them in a kennel outside all day and night?

My cats are in the house with me, safe, on the bed as we speak. I genuinely do not understand people who get cats and dogs just to put them outside and leave them to exist.

Poor creatures

Edited

I haven’t ever done it before, I made a judgement for my trip and I thought my cat would be okay. I’m sure everyone is picturing me as a heartless villain who chucks my cats out every day but it was a one off situation. I let my cats do what they want and go where they want usually. And when I go away I get someone to stay at my house to look after them and they stay in their usual routine. I went away for 4 days with the person who usually looks after them and didn’t like the idea of stressing them out at a cattery so laid for a sitter. I made thought about what to do about the pooing situation, and also what my cat would be happy with and I decided that as my cat spends 80% of her day outside anyway, that she would be perfectly fine for just 4 days. It was a one off situation that I may have misjudged (based off the comments here) and I am going to have a look at getting a cat flap for next time

OP posts:

Original poster

Tabbyz · 01/06/2026 18:19

FriendlyMedusa · 01/06/2026 02:58

Disgraceful to treat your cat this way. I say this as a vet nurse.

I think the fact you said you paid for 2x 45-minute visits then amended it to 2x 2-hour visits in a different comment, to act like the sitter kept it in rather than the truth (wasn't willing to force it outside), says you know this to be true deep down.

You put the sitter in an ethical dilemma. Don't leave a bad review of her business for doing what any decent person living in 2026 does.

Edited

I didn’t mean to amend it and I’m not sure which comment you are talking about. I will have a look because that will have been a mistake. I paid for 2 45 minute visits

OP posts:

tiramisugelato · 01/06/2026 18:18

Tabbyz · 01/06/2026 18:10

Because I’m not asking if I’m right, I’m asking if I’d be unreasonable to leave a bad review on her social media and not use her again, or to give a second chance when I go away again

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You're free to leave a bad review, but I expect she will retaliate and give her side of the story, and as you can see from this thread, lots of people will side with her.

AlleycatMarie · 01/06/2026 18:16

Get a cat flap. How can you expect a cat to stay outside in this heat??

66babe · 01/06/2026 18:13

You are correct Tabbyz, you have not .