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Original poster

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:
Original poster
TropicofCapricorn · 26/04/2025 17:47

I was just trying to be nice to the lad and give him an easy way to make a few quid.

I'll fuck it all off.... and just ask the other neighbour, who has done it for free in the past (as we do for them).

You've all just pissed me off telling me I'm exploiting children, I'm a bad cat owner etc

OP posts:
Seafloral · 26/04/2025 17:49

Off you flounce then..

Original poster
TropicofCapricorn · 26/04/2025 17:49

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).

Cat doesn't even drink from the bowl, I only put it there because people raise an eyebrow if it's not. The water ends up in the birdbath usually.

God knows where she drinks,but it's definitely not from the bowl we provide. We've tried wide ones ,deep ones, plastic, ceramic, metal etc... nothing.

OP posts:
Original poster
TropicofCapricorn · 26/04/2025 17:49

Seafloral · 26/04/2025 17:49

Off you flounce then..

I have.

OP posts:
Original poster
TropicofCapricorn · 26/04/2025 17:50

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!

Yeah. I'm tight. I exploit children and am a terrible cat owner and person. I get it..

OP posts:
Original poster
TropicofCapricorn · 26/04/2025 17:51

ilovesooty · 26/04/2025 13:52

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.

Show quote history

So what? My cat comes and goes as it pleases...

OP posts:
Dunkou · 26/04/2025 17:52

@TropicofCapricorn because you’ve said he is just going into the porch, and topping up water. Presumably no sink in your porch. So what, you have 6 bowls for food and he just fishes out a new one and leaves the rest stinking?

Original poster
TropicofCapricorn · 26/04/2025 17:54

Dunkou · 26/04/2025 17:52

@TropicofCapricorn because you’ve said he is just going into the porch, and topping up water. Presumably no sink in your porch. So what, you have 6 bowls for food and he just fishes out a new one and leaves the rest stinking?

😂 the cat eats the entire sachet in 3 minutes. Locks it clean has a few biscuits and goes iff... And then goes at the biscuit bowl in the evening.

There's literally nothing to go stinky.

But it doesn't matter, because he won't be doing it any way. The other neighbour will do it for free.

OP posts:
Seafloral · 26/04/2025 18:01

So the cat can't even get into the house when you're away, just the porch?

Original poster
TropicofCapricorn · 26/04/2025 18:03

Seafloral · 26/04/2025 18:01

So the cat can't even get into the house when you're away, just the porch?

Of course it can. Through cat flaps.

We have two for the front.

One for the back.

Microchipped. But the front cat flap will be closed, it always is. it can get in and out the back door and through to the porch through internal door..

OP posts:
Ddakji · 26/04/2025 18:03

TropicofCapricorn · 26/04/2025 17:49

Cat doesn't even drink from the bowl, I only put it there because people raise an eyebrow if it's not. The water ends up in the birdbath usually.

God knows where she drinks,but it's definitely not from the bowl we provide. We've tried wide ones ,deep ones, plastic, ceramic, metal etc... nothing.

Show quote history

Top tip - don’t put their water bowl next to their food bowl. Put it a few feet away or even in a different room.

Original poster
TropicofCapricorn · 26/04/2025 18:04

Ddakji · 26/04/2025 18:03

Top tip - don’t put their water bowl next to their food bowl. Put it a few feet away or even in a different room.

Show quote history

I'll try that.

OP posts:
Growsomeballswoman · 26/04/2025 18:05

£10 a day

Seafloral · 26/04/2025 18:05

TropicofCapricorn · 26/04/2025 18:03

Of course it can. Through cat flaps.

We have two for the front.

One for the back.

Microchipped. But the front cat flap will be closed, it always is. it can get in and out the back door and through to the porch through internal door..

Edited
Show quote history

Ah so cat can come and go front and back, not just off into the fields like you said earlier when you were so sure that's where they do their business. There's another post from a gardener complaining about cat poo in their garden, maybe you can explain the rational to them of not having a litter tray which forces cat's to go outside often in other people's gardens. I'm sure they'd have a great discussion with you.

CurlewKate · 26/04/2025 18:05

What would you pay a grown up? That.

Original poster
TropicofCapricorn · 26/04/2025 18:05

Growsomeballswoman · 26/04/2025 18:05

£10 a day

The ship has sailed.

He's not going to be given the opportunity to earn the money now, the other neighbours will do it instead for free 👍.

OP posts:
Original poster
TropicofCapricorn · 26/04/2025 18:06

CurlewKate · 26/04/2025 18:05

What would you pay a grown up? That.

Literally nothing 😂 we have neighbours the other side who usually do it (and us in return for theirs)

But it's irrelevant, the boy isn't being given the chance to do it now.

OP posts:
Original poster
TropicofCapricorn · 26/04/2025 18:07

Seafloral · 26/04/2025 18:05

Ah so cat can come and go front and back, not just off into the fields like you said earlier when you were so sure that's where they do their business. There's another post from a gardener complaining about cat poo in their garden, maybe you can explain the rational to them of not having a litter tray which forces cat's to go outside often in other people's gardens. I'm sure they'd have a great discussion with you.

Edited
Show quote history

Yes.

I'll draw a diagram....

OP posts:
Ddakji · 26/04/2025 18:07

crackofdoom · 26/04/2025 13:43

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

Show quote history

Or maybe it’s teaching kids what being neighbourly is. I’ve never asked for, expected nor been given money for feeding neighbours’ cats, nor do I offer it in return (obvs if they have cats I reciprocate). I would not allow DD to accept money for doing so. It’s not work. It’s a favour. People can say no if they won’t do it as a favour.

QuiteUnbelievable · 26/04/2025 18:07

Water fountain.

Gosh this has turned out mean hasn't it.
I'd be so grateful to pay a measly 5 per day and be able to have kitty at home in her comforts....

NeilDiamondsBlowDry · 26/04/2025 18:07

So rather than pay a paltry sum - like £30 - you’re now going to get someone to do it for free, sorry OP you don’t half sound ‘thrifty’ 🤣

whatsinanameeh · 26/04/2025 18:10

£20 is fine, my 13 year old did this for a neighbour for 4 days twice a day for £10 and an Easter egg, He would be delighted to get £20 for a week once a day.

Original poster
TropicofCapricorn · 26/04/2025 18:11

Here's the set up

Porch has external and internal door, both locked.

Cat flap accessible from hall (and outside access via cat flap in kitchen.

External door has a flap, but we lock it at all times.

Neighbour unlocks front door, feeds and waters cat, locks front door, as per the last 9 or so years, and she'll do that again when we're away...

OP posts:
Original poster
TropicofCapricorn · 26/04/2025 18:12

Haha whoops.

How much to pay 14yo neighbour to feed cat once a day for a week while we're away?
OP posts:
Original poster
TropicofCapricorn · 26/04/2025 18:13

NeilDiamondsBlowDry · 26/04/2025 18:07

So rather than pay a paltry sum - like £30 - you’re now going to get someone to do it for free, sorry OP you don’t half sound ‘thrifty’ 🤣

It's fine, we have been doing each others cats for nearly a decade now. It's not an issue, just thought it might be nice for other neighbours lad to earn a few quid.

But I wouldn't want to exploit any children, by making them do a quick 5 minute task..

OP posts: