How would you interpret this?

[User884721]

Newish neighbours asked ds17 to feed their cat while they're away. He looks after a few pets on the street. Fine, no problem with them asking him, all fine.

They left this morning and sent him many WhatsApp messages with instructions about the cat and the burglar alarm. Also fine.

Final message said-

FYI- Many of our home appliances, including all tvs and fridges, are WiFi controlled and we can see if they have been operated in our absence.

All of their messages have been quite business-like, but this one is something else?

Are they assuming ds will raid their fridge and watch their tv? Is it reasonable to assume a teenager might do this and warn them they will get caught? Are they trying to be jokey about it?

Or are they assuming the worst about ds and he should never help them again?

Ds feels like they don't trust him and they will be watching him through the camera the whole time.

I've said I'll go with him this evening and we'll decide what to do after that.

Dh thinks he'll go round and feed the cat and Sellotape a photocopy of his bum over their fridge-cam.

We know all about their super-fancy fridge too, they told us in great detail about it at a neighbour's barbecue recently.

I'm leaning towards this message-

Hi neighbours, X's mum here. After your last message he feels a bit uncomfortable being in your home alone. I will feed the cat myself today and tomorrow but you will need to arrange someone else after that.

And I really want to add "ds would never dream of opening your fridge or watching your tv and he's hurt that you might think that about him" but maybe that's too much. If they're being light-hearted about it.

Doesn't sound very light-hearted though?

Is it reasonable to worry that a teenager might invite all his pals round to your empty house to drink your beer and watch the football and warn him off in advance?

The set feeding times wouldn't bother me , animals like routine and any changes can stress them.
Our cats like a 6am breakfast and their cat door unlocked (That;s when DH gets up) When we;re away our DS and DD (adults) look after them.
At dinnertime they are there waiting .

In your DS shoes I'd just do it , but decline in future

He should reply, thanks but cat was sleeping when I arrived and doesn't appear to have been using the fridge.

I agree OP it's a shitty message. My ds is same age and would be highly insulted, as would I.

I’d personally tell him to do it perfectly, 7.30 on the dot, quick in and out to get the job done. Keep the upper hand, then take great pleasure in returning the key and saying that he’s very disappointed that they didn’t trust him so he won’t be doing it again.

Good call @ABitLow.
I agree that DS should do this job but never again for those miserable gits.
I'd be more than happy for anyone sweet enough to feed my cats for a fiver a day to help themselves to my fridge. Can't say I'd have a problem with them putting my tv on either. Isn't that what pet sitters do? Only they cost way more.