How much to pay 14yo neighbour to feed cat once a day for a week while we're away?

[TropicofCapricorn]

Hi, how much do you think is sensible for them?

Come in, one sachet, one scoop of biscuits, top up water. Only needs one time a day.

£20?

yes £20

The 14 year old son of a friend and his younger brother looked after our cat last summer for a week. They fed him twice a day and took the trouble to play games with him in our back garden (we didn’t ask them to do that but thought it was really considerate of them to do it). Both lads received a crisp £20 note.

How about the litter tray? Will that need emptying?

I'd give £30 as it's a responsibility that includes checking on the cat's welfare too

We do this and never expected payment so it's nice of you to think of it. If it's an adult, then I'd just give a bottle of wine type thank you gift from your holiday. If it's a teen or someone who you know needs the money, then 20 is plenty.

Edit - Duh - sorry only just saw the 14yo in the title, so yeah, £20 I'd say.

It isn't 'just' feeding though, is it. It's making sure the cat is OK - eats food, no obvious injuries as the bare minimum. What are the plans if there is something wrong? Who's on call to take cat to vet?

£30

I think £20 is a bit stingy . £5 a day more reasonable so £35 .

I used to give £2 per feed and he would feed him twice a day. £20 for one feed a day is fine.

I pay my friends son a fiver a day for this. Both him and our cat seem very happy with the arrangement. It's about 5 times less than a catsitter!

Personally, I think more than £20 for a week. I don’t think the age is particularly relevant. You want the same level of care for your cat regardless of age. I pay my cat sitter £18 a day. She visits twice. You’re also asking a 14 year old to be responsible for making sure your house is locked and secure. I’d say £5 a day. You’d be paying four times that in a cattery.

There's no litter tray

£5 per day seems reasonable

£5 for no more than 10 minutes work for a 14 year old? That's not a good precedent to set for a child of that age! They will barely get that per hour once they start working

£20 for the week ? Or daily

if the week that is not enough considering what cat boarding would,cost you

I would pay £70 making it £10 per day

(edit for litter tray)

It's next door neighbour, mum is around, he's a responsible lad.

He hasn't got to check or play in the cat or do anything if he spotted anything amiss (except tell his mum?)

It’s a neighbour and it’s currying good favour I’d be more generous and go for £30

I think £20 is quite stingy, I’d pay £40.

£5 a day, rounded up to £40 for the week.

My 13yos (nearly 14) would be happy to feed and play with a cat. They would be delighted with £20.

I think it’s a bit stingy too, I’d thought about paying a neighbour’s teen £7.50 a day for 15 days including litter tray, indoor cat. In the end I decided on a cattery, 🐈‍⬛ will hate it for two weeks, but I don’t have a back up if something happens/vet trip with the teen.

I think £20-25 is fine. The fully insured, pet first aid qualified, experienced cat ‘sitter’ we use charges £9.50 a day for one visit of 15 mins so I definitely wouldn’t be paying £10 a day to a teenager popping in for probably less time than that if he’s just putting food down. Might as well pay a proper cat sitter at that rate!

£5 a day minimum, I’d say

£50. Make it worth his while.

It's a daily commitment for a week, so £50. That's far less than a cattery, won't break you and for the boy worth having. It also makes it easy to ask him the next time.

My 14yr old would happily do this for nothing for a neighbour and be very pleased to be given £20 for it.