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

308 replies

TropicofCapricorn · 26/04/2025 10:18

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?

OP posts:
poetryandwine · 26/04/2025 13:42

For context, I was earning the equivalent of €50 pw in the 1980s taking care of neighbours’ cats and plants, admittedly in a rather upmarket community.

I am doubting PP who say their DC would be happy with £20. The point is that it is about local standards. I would have thought £40-50 for the week as you describe the job is about right.

You may not require the boy to play with the cat, but the cat may have its own ideas. Also I agree with PPs that surely the dishes should be cleaned a few times and one of the things you are paying for is the fact that the boy is keeping your house secure.

crackofdoom · 26/04/2025 13:43

Lorrymum · 26/04/2025 13:08

I look after my neighbours cat for 2 weeks a year. She kindly gives me £50 and a pressie.
I clearly remember looking after my neighbours rabbit when I was a teenager. Deeply disappointed when I was presented with a stick of rock as a thank you!

I hate that. It's just exploiting kids who haven't got the confidence to speak up for themselves.

poetryandwine · 26/04/2025 13:43

Edit: I am not doubting the PPs ….

ilovesooty · 26/04/2025 13:52

TropicofCapricorn · 26/04/2025 13:01

Literally never had a litter tray for 40+ years,not does anyone I know. Unless there's a reason they can't go outside. Or they're house cats.

Edited

My cats have access to a litter tray because they aren't allowed out after dark. They don't use it much but it's important that they have the facility during the night if needed.

For a visit once a day from next door I suppose £30 - £40 seems reasonable. If I go away for a couple of days my cats are fed and visited morning and evening.

Sammysquiz · 26/04/2025 13:56

I’m feeding my neighbour’s cat this week, it’s taking me less than 5 minutes per day. Hello Tiddles, let me clean your bowl, here’s your fresh food, goodbye Tiddles. Doing it 6 days in a row is really not an onerous task and some of the suggestions on here are crazy!

Mummyto2rugrats · 26/04/2025 14:01

Ours daughter does it for a neighbour took over from my nephew goes in am.feeds set amount of wet and dry has a little play and opens curtains. Goes again in the evening takes in any post closes curtains and gives set amount of wet and dry food has a little cuddle.

She is paid £5 per feed so £10 per day.

I think it depends on a) what can you afford b) what your happy giving and knowing it's not just about food but also interaction even if only 5min with the cat so they aren't lonely c) peace of mind they are in their own environment and not a cattery at cattery rates

Hope that helps

EffortlesslyDecluttering · 26/04/2025 14:25

Yes, it's more than just putting food down, a bit of playing, the bowls need cleaning, water changing, litter tray de-pooping (unlike a PP all the cat owners we share cat-sitting with have trays but we are in a town with small gardens so it's expected, also lots are shut in at night). 15 mins is about normal.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 26/04/2025 14:29

I’d have thought £20 was fine,
We’ve paid a neighbour’s dd of around that age £10 a day, but that’s for daily filling of a bird feeder and refilling 3 bird baths, plus watering at least 10 large pots of plants.
She’s always seemed very happy with that.

VenusClapTrap · 26/04/2025 14:31

I’m a professional cat sitter. Cats and owners vary wildly. Some are high maintenance, requiring multiple litter trays cleaned, a variety of food presented at each mealtime, complicated water fountains to be cleaned and refilled, medication to administer, cuddles or play depending on mood. There may be curtains to open/close, plants to water, parcels to bring in, and other assorted house tasks. An owner that wants full and detailed reports and photos.

Others are very low maintenance; just dry food to be topped up so no messy bowls to be washed up or uneaten food to be disposed off, no litter tray, and a cat that isn’t interested in any interaction, and an owner that doesn’t want welfare reports.

Your situation is clearly closer to the latter.

I charge the same regardless, just to keep it simple. £12 for two visits a day and £9 for single visits. But as your situation is a quick easy one, I think £20 for a 14yo who’s happy to do it is absolutely fine. They’re not a professional, they won’t have insurance and a parent is the one with the responsibility for dealing with any crisis.

The only thing I would say, is please make sure he can wash up the bowls as you’re feeding wet food. It’s quite important. And water should be fresh - when you say ‘topped up from a bottle’ do you mean you fill the bottle before you go and that’s what’s used all week? Please ask the kid to empty the bowl and refill from the tap every day. If he’s only across the driveway he can do this from his own kitchen if necessary. Fresh water is a basic essential (I know they drink from dirty puddles half the time).

saraclara · 26/04/2025 14:34

edited as double post

saraclara · 26/04/2025 14:34

They live next door, and it doesn't much matter what time they come. It's a five minute job with little to no restrictions on their normal life. £20-£25 is more than enough.

If I was their parent I wouldn't be impressed with you giving them more. It sets an unreasonable precedent.

huuskymam · 26/04/2025 14:42

My 14 year old fed, watered and let the my neighbours dog in and out twice a day for a week. He was delighted getting €20. He had said he didn't want paying cause it never took him long and they're good neighbours. But our neighbour insisted cause she felt bad not paying.

BoredZelda · 26/04/2025 14:44

FortyElephants · 26/04/2025 10:28

£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

£5 per day to organise themselves, come round, feed the cat, check they are ok, make sure they lock up. You’re also paying for the responsibility, not just the cat feed.

saraclara · 26/04/2025 14:52

BoredZelda · 26/04/2025 14:44

£5 per day to organise themselves, come round, feed the cat, check they are ok, make sure they lock up. You’re also paying for the responsibility, not just the cat feed.

Organise themselves? What's to organise? Getting out of their front door and walking next door?

Anything untoward that crops up, the mum is going to deal with. There's no real responsibility here other than making sure the door's locked.

Higgeldypiggeldy35 · 26/04/2025 14:52

I pay my 19 yr old neighbour £5/visit, 2 visits a day.

AmusedGoose · 26/04/2025 14:55

I used to charge £6 a visit when I was helping out the clients I used to clean for. That was 5 years ago. You should pay going rate not some random figure.

JellyBellies · 26/04/2025 15:06

I pay a teenager aged 15/16 £50 a week to feed my cats twice a day. He isn't next door, probably a 10 min walk away.

He seems very happy with that and has been cat feeding every holiday for the last 1 year.

QuiteUnbelievable · 26/04/2025 15:07

A cattery will be minimum 12 a day minimum and it's unsettling and unpleasant for the cat.

I would pay her 5 a day to allow you and kitty that luxury of being in the comfort of own home

MiddleAgedDread · 26/04/2025 15:09

My BF pays the neighbours teenager £5 a day but it’s an indoor cat so she plays with him and does the litter tray too. The professional sitter is £25 for one visit a day!

Dunkou · 26/04/2025 15:25

I agree with £5 a day. And if you are not having the bowls washed out that is really poor cat owner behaviour.

Misspotterer · 26/04/2025 15:27

I do this as a sideline and charge £20 per visit! I spend at least half an hour with the cat though, and give medicine etc as I'm a vet nurse. Most cats are actually sociable creatures who like company and a fuss. Mine would be very lonely with a quick 5 minute pop in.
I'm not sure I would trust a teen with my house judging by the number of times my own has forgotten to lock up Hmm

Whyjustwhy83 · 26/04/2025 15:50

I always find it so funny how so many don't read the op properly and then post. I don't have cat's so no idea if once a day to feed/ have cat litter etc but I think £30 is more then enough for about an hrs work over a week. Anyone saying that's unfair only paying £20/30 most give their teenagers £££ pocket money

saraclara · 26/04/2025 17:32

Seriously though, my kids did this kind of stuff for neighbours for nothing. And thought it was really kind when the neighbour brought them a gift at the end of the holiday.

But they saw the adults in their lives doing favours for each other, just because, and were brought up to do so.

TropicofCapricorn · 26/04/2025 17:43

Dunkou · 26/04/2025 15:25

I agree with £5 a day. And if you are not having the bowls washed out that is really poor cat owner behaviour.

What makes you think I'm making them use the same bowl all week?

People still imagining what is going to happen.

OP posts:
Daisydiary · 26/04/2025 17:45

£20 is incredibly tight! It’s £15 at the cattery and at least £10/day for a pet sitter through an agency. I’d say £5/day minimum!