To think my cat sitter was in the wrong?

But the point is she has a choice - OP just wanted to chuck her cat out for 23 hours a day.

My cat can come or go as she chooses but in the heat she often closes to be outside, under a big bush where it is obviously nice and cool.

It’s been boiling hot all week, that poor cat. Your a shitty owner.

They were born on a neighbouring farm and have lived outside all their lives. Having said that, they have timber boxes full of fleeces, insulated with 50mm Celotex for the winters in the barns and I have got them tame.

If they had no shelter at all, I would have them in.

What ever the rights and wrongs of wanting the cat put outside you gave the cat sitter clear instructions and they should not have accepted the job if they weren't prepared to follow those instructions. It was quite an important issue that understandably a lot of people wouldn't have been happy about so the matter should have been thoroughly gone into before they accepted the job and before you went away.

So yes you are entitled to leave a review stating they didn't follow instructions.

Poor cat.

She could, but the RSPCA is about as much use as a barber’s shop on the steps of the guillotine.

The cat sitter may have assumed that the cat preferred to be outside, or at least wouldn’t be distressed by it. Once she realised that wasn’t the case, and in sole charge, she did the right thing.

Cat flap? Easy peasy.

In two minds because she went against your wishes and you had to deal with the poo that you were preventing. But I think it’s very rare that cat owners want their cat shut outside for 12 hours every night and despite the shade it’s been very hot. My outdoor cat has spent most of her time inside this week. If you have a cat flap then I don’t understand why Olivia can’t use that as she seems to prefer pooping outside so that’s where sheI’ll choose to do it. Have you had other pet sitters who have followed your instructions? I think most would not want to shut out a cat that doesn’t seem to want to go out.

then the cat sitter should have declined the contract so OP could have got someone else.

And if the cat sitter honestly believes that OP is cruel, she can go to the RSPCA.

Completely agree.

If you don’t have a proper outbuilding or building type structure for cat to go in, you’re a twat who doesn’t deserve to be a cat owner. It was a heatwave and “shaded areas”, incredibly vague and ambiguous is nowhere near acceptable enough for a cat to shelter in a heatwave. By all means leave her a bad review, but I hope she names and shames you in return for your cruelty because it’s no less than you deserve by the sounds of it! YABVU.

I think if your car sitter had concerns about the weather they could have asked you about it since you are clearly in regular contact. They shouldn't just ignore a key instruction.

I can't judge whether the cat has adequate shade and cool areas outside but I think most pet owners love their pets and will have thought that part through.

And where exactly does your cat sleep that keeps her safe from predators?

You cleaned the poo up. Its a lot less invasive than cat piss.

I would rather clean up 3 shits a day in my living room than lock my cat outside for 22 hours in a fucking heatwave.

I don't blame the pet sitter one bit. I absolutely could not lock a crying animal outside of her home knowing it could reach 34 degrees!

I imagine if you had come home to a dead cat feom heatstroke that would be the catsitters fault too!

Get a catflap! Clean up the poo!

No. Actually. REHOME POOR OLIVIA if cleaning up after her is too much.

She said she was crying to come in. That is not an 'outdoor cat' by choice. She is too messy for you so you don't let her in your home!

Think your cat sitter is in the right

Shelter as in buildings that are protected from the elements? Or just shaded areas?

So they have sheds and shelter - very different to them just being chucked out with no indoor space to go to.

Then you need to get a cat flap, not chuck your cat outside for 23 hours a day with no access to the house, especially in 30+ degree heat.

Your actions towards your cat are unkind. A poo on your floor is much better to come home to than a distressed or dead cat.

I have three cats and none of them come in the house. They have sheds and barns and a massive garden and orchard to actually live in. They don't need to be in the house.

You don’t sound like a cat lover to me. It was boiling last week. My cat loves being outdoors but not so much last week in the midday sun.

Poor Olivia. I‘m on her side here. Most cat lovers would feel the same. Please tell me you have a well insulated shelter outside the house Olivia can access in extreme hot or cold conditions.

But sure, the time for the sitter to object was when you told her about those conditions, not after the sit was over.

We had a live-in sitter once who did the opposite - left our boy out all night because ‘that’s what he prefers’. In our case it’s safer for the cat to be indoors at night. In your case it’s because … you can’t get poor Olivia to use a litter tray for some reason? I confess I left a bit of a passive-aggressive review along the lines of ‘cat appreciated her laid-back attitude’, but then our sitter was not being paid (unpaid sit in exchange for accommodation). If you were paying for the service and she ignored your instructions, then of course you can point that out in a review - just be prepared for every single cat person to think you’re the mean one here.

I think you need a rethink OP - that is not acceptable. You were told by the cat sitter and have now been told by everyone here. Locking your cat outside for 22.5 hrs a day is not ok. Poor Olivia :(