How much to pay a teenage cat feeder?

[CurlewKate]

Never had to pay before- always had reciprocal arrangements with adults. But neighbour's 14 year old is desperately saving, so I offered him the job. Twice a day to give some wet food and top up water and crunchies for 5 days. What's the going rate? No litter trays-just the feeding.

I charge £13 per visit in London but clients expect me to stay for 20-30 minutes. Teenager dropping in for feeds and check cat still alive I'd say £10 a day. Make sure you're happy they'll be security conscious though.

I agree with you about fair pay. He also has the responsibility of locking up your house securely.
Worth considering if you need outside pots watered, any blinds drawn on odd days and bins putting out.

I think that's fair, £50 is a lot of money for a teen

It's not that I am mistrustful, but giving a key to a 14 year old would not be my choice.
However lovely they are, they are 14, and things like getting their mate to do it or letting someone know your house is empty might not occur to them as a bad idea.
What does your house insurer say about this?

£10 per day at least

Count your blessings - if you were paying a proper cat sitter to come in twice a day you’d be looking at £££

Radarkeigh · Today 15:57
gardenmusic · Today 15:55
It's not that I am mistrustful, but giving a key to a 14 year old would not be my choice.
However lovely they are, they are 14, and things like getting their mate to do it or letting someone know your house is empty might not occur to them as a bad idea.
What does your house insurer say about this?

Don't be an arsehole.

There is something wrong with you.
You may not agree with my view, which was perfectly polite and reasonable, but your comment is uncalled for.

@gardenmusic It wasn't polite though was it. Rather than asking the OP if she'd contacted her insurer you went for the typical MN passive aggressive way of questioning "what did your house insurer say about this?", probably correctly guessing that the OP hadn't contacted her insurer at all.

😆😆😆😆. And people wonder why other forums take the piss out of Mumsnet!

What does your house insurer say about this?

Your comprehension is at fault. What does - which is hugely different from what did?
We are talking in the present, and if OP had not thought of looking, she might now.

Growlybear83 · Today 16:14
😆😆😆😆. And people wonder why other forums take the piss out of Mumsnet!

What, readers lack of comprehension, or suggestions that giving your house key to a 14 year old neighbour is not the best idea?
Care to clarify?

My daughter is doing this currently - £10 a day morning and evening. It is a tie and she does it properly - gives them some fuss etc. she prob would have done it for free - that is what the family suggested.

Oh for goodness sake, most 14 year olds will have been locking up their own houses perfectly well for several years, you will know them well enough to know whether they can be trusted, and their parents will be around in case of emergency.

Interested to know how many people inform their insurers that someone is coming in to feed their cat.

Not me!

My 14 yr old is currently cat feeding and 15 mins of stroking - they are paying him £120 for 14 days - so about £8.50 a day.

He has to walk a mile there and a mile back so takes him about an hour a day.

So minimum wage I suppose.

Well the consensus of opinion is that I am being ridiculous in suggesting that giving a 14 year old neighbour, however nice, the key to your house while you are away is not the best idea, and that it may invalidate your insurance.

Right. I'm sure that those who agree that I am ridiculous would do the same.

For 5 days I'd pay £30 if just giving a pouch and topping up water. If also having g to no change the cat litter then £50.

@gardenmusic I don't think you're being ridiculous. I think I just have more faith in 14 year olds than you do. Particularly 14 year olds I know.

CurlewKate, However pleasant, however responsible, at 14 they are not fully cooked.
I have made a suggestion - OP will do as she wishes.

We pay about £80 for a cattery for a week which includes litter trays. Maybe £50.

I'd pay £30 for the week but if he wants to earn more you could say to water plants or find something else to do

Couldn’t agree more! And if it works out well, it could be a nice working relationship in the future.

I'd say £5 per visit seems right. It's important for teenagers to get these kind of jobs / responsibility - nice move OP.