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?

To put it in to context. I pay a professional catsitter to come twice a day to feed and water. She cleans the tray daily. And sometimes sits for a snuggle. She is £220 per week.

We have a young woman (professional pet sitter in her early 20s,) who comes to our place while we're away, and she spends 10 minutes with our cat twice a day. She feeds her, and changes her water, and makes a fuss of her for 5-8 minutes. She charges £100 for a week for doing this. (Approx £8 per visit. She lives 5 minutes walk away.)

Whether this girl is 14 or not @TropicofCapricorn , giving her £20 for the week, is taking the piss. You're talking around £2.80 per DAY. I would give a 14 year old at least £40 to £45 for the week. As has been said, you will pay WAY more than £20 for the week for a professional sitter, or a cattery. £100 or more for a sitter for a week, and probably about the same for a cattery.

Also @TropicofCapricorn why is your sitter/the girl who is coming in to look after your cat, only coming once a day? Your cat will need 2 visits a day. Morning and evening.

I'd pay £5 per day.

It's not just the few minutes the task will take but the responsibility of having your keys and ensuring the door is secured as he leaves - it's not a small thing to go into another person's empty house.

I'd round it up to £40, but other than that, I totally agree with your post.

When DD was that age it used to be £5 a day (2 visits) rounded up to the nearest £10 but now she's older (19) it tends to be be £15 a day for two visits.

£2? Was it the 80s? 🤣

OP, I used to give friends teen £30 for a long weekend, and buy snacks etc for her because she liked chilling out at my house.

id probably pay half of what a sitter / cattery would cost you.

£2 twice a day for what adds up to less than 15 minutes work for a 14 year old is perfectly fine. It worked out at £28 for a week. People talking about £50 for one feed a day must be off their rockers.

you have to remember a few things ie it is a commitment for them - its not nothing they have to schedule it into their day. Also, its not just the act - they have to get there and back - and while with most jobs that's not taken into account this is a 10min job so the 'travel' is prob longer than the job

plus also remember how much you would be paying a pet sitter to pop in for feeding once a day. I think £20 is stingy.

A professional cat sitter, insured, experienced and DBS checked, cost me £60 for a week away, so I wouldn't be paying a neighbour anywhere near that. Maybe £30-£40.

£5 a day. £20 is a bit low.
Also - let your vet know that you're giving permission for someone else to take your cat to the vets in the event of anything happening.

£20 is fine.

My DC happily do it for that amount. They'd do it free tbh.

We always have the vet details and if any issues I'd step in to assist.

Better to be off your rocker, than be a sour and grabby tight-fisted miser, who is prepared to use and take advantage of a teenager, by paying them barely fuck-all for looking after your pet whilst you swan off on your hols!

I would pay £5 a day so they felt it was more like a job than just a favour.

His mum will have the keys, he's nipping round once a day for 5 minutes into the front porch. There's another locked door behind it.

He probably won't even see the cat tbh, she's a bit aloof.

I think £20-30 is about right though.

It's about £10 a day for a professional so I'd give £5 a day.

Okay, getting there and back is crossing the driveway (we have a shared driveway). He'll unlock the porch door, give cat a sachet, a scoop of biscuits and top up water from a bottle. Lock door and take 10 seconds to get home.

He's not having to walk 3 miles in the snow uphill both ways at 5 in the morning.

Why ask if you think you’re right 😂?!!

I agree with the others £5 a day is a fair rate.

There's looking after a pet, and putting food in a bowl. They're different in my mind.

If I'd asked him to play with her for 30 minutes or so it whatever, then I'd pay more,but it's just nipping round to put food and water down. 🤷‍♀️

Because others agree...

Because they get fed once a day.

£20 -£25 for the week seems fine, my kids would happily do this for free as love cats and would be grateful for any money. Our adult neighbour feeds ours - bottle of wine and / or gifts from the holiday destination but they always say ‘please don’t worry a gift is not expected’.

I think £20 is fair enough. I give my adult neighbour a bottle of Baileys and some biscuits to feed my cat for 4-5 days. They do it to suit themselves, once a day. They would do it for nothing, but I don't want to take advantage.

I think a teenager would be thrilled with £20. Maybe bring a small gift back as well depending on where you are going, but some sweets/choc or keyring or something like that.

I think about £30 cash plus a little present

Gosh !

I pay £5 per visit !!! for 2 visits a day, i.e. morning and evening.

mind you I have more cats and litter trays, so the litter trays each need doing once a day and the cats need feeding twice a day and their dishes washed.
The rubbish then needs putting out as no one wants to live with a bin bag containing a dirty litter tray...

I have had neighbour's daughter twice now this year, and worry I am not paying enough.

£20-£25 for the week seems fine, my kids would do this for free as love cats - any money would be a bonus. If there was a litter tray involved would pay more, but that’s more then enough for a quick feed / water / check cat is ok.