What should I pay a teenager popping in to feed my cat 3 or 4 times while we are away?

[JustAnotherManicUsername]

Teenager lives round the corner, cat has dry food and we leave out lots of water, so they only need to come round every other day or so. No litter tray and their main responsibility is to call the Vet if there's a problem (or get their mum or dad to call the Vet). We might also ask them to water a few houseplants that we'll leave in the kitchen.

£10? More? Less?

How long are you away for?

I pay a professional cat feeder £5 per visit if that helps

No litter tray?
I'd be more concerned about the cats shitting than the cat sitting.

I think my brother gets £30 a week - indoor cats so he has to feed and water every day and sort the litter box.

£20 and maybe a small gift from holiday?

Wait until you get back and see if they've taken the responsibility seriously? I'd say £15 and a gift from your holiday

We're away for a week.

The cat shits outside. He does have a litter tray but he never uses it, so we're not asking the cat sitter to interact with the litter tray at all.

Professional cat feeders round here charge £6 a visit but they are having to travel and pay petrol. My feeling was that for 5 minutes work, 2 minutes from where you live, £5 or £6 was too much - I only pay £6 an hour for babysitting from the same teenager! But maybe I'm being stingy?

I'd probably give them £20. That's a decent amount to a teenager but still cheaper than paying a cat sitter.

I'd give them £10. I do this (free!) for my neighbour and it takes a couple of minutes each time. Pay them when you come back, though.

My neighbour has one of those things for dry cat food where it holds a lot and releases a bit at a time. I haven't had to refill it yet.

£20 and a box of chocs

I pay my teenage neighbour 10 pound a week. She had to clear away a dead bird last time too

I do this for free for my neighbour and she did it for me likewise but if I had to pay someone I think £15 for the week would be fair. A cattery is silly money these days so whatever you pay its a massive saving on that. Pay on return so you know it's been done as agreed.

£5 a day for one visit a day (food and water but no litter tray).

I’d call it £20 for the sake of helping out a teen during the holidays.
Is it ‘worth’ that? For me (if I had a cat, which I don’t) it would be worth it to know the cat had been fed.
Also, you’re doing a good deed!

I'd probably pay £20 provided all is well.

It might not sound like much for them to do but is still a responsibility. £20 is probably ok if that is genuinely all they have to do, with no more than four visits while you're away.

We paid our teenager neighbour 10 a day for two visits, food litter tray and cuddles. She actively wanted to do it as she loves our cats.

£20 and a box of chocolates

£20 would go down really well with my teens

I thought £20 too.

I would say £20 and I’m tight!

I agree £20

£20 isn't much cheaper than a 'professional' though. I would say £10.

We have the same arrangement with a teen up our road, but she also poop scoops the litter trays. We pay her £20 per holiday.

It's win/win - cheap for us, and she loves playing with the cats, plus gets a bit of holiday spending money.