AIBU to fire my sisters pet sitter while she is away (surreal conversation)

[FeelingSmurfy]

My oldest sister is abroad and has hired a pet sitter to look after her cat, she left my phone number for her in case of emergency. I've just had a phone call that went like this -

Me: Hello?
PS: Hi, it's Jenny (not real name)
Me: Jenny?
PS: this is FeelingSmurfy isn't it?
Me: Yes, who is this?
PS: I'm the cat sitter
Me: Oh! Right! (panic sets in) is everything OK? My sister only left yesterday, nothing has happened has it?
PS: no, the cats are fine
Me: phew! Well...
PS: Oh I just called because she hasn't left any breakfast for them
Me: really?? Have you checked the cupboard next to the sink?
PS: no (she goes to check) no its empty
Me: she must have left food somewhere, I will come try to find it
PS: well she left their dessert on the table, I just can't find the breakfast
Me:.... Dessert??
PS: yea, cat jelly, I didn't even know cats had dessert
Me: (realising what's going on) do you mean the x food that says chunks in jelly?
PS: yea, weird or what
Me: that's not dessert, that's the food, just give them that when my sister asked you to
PS: for their proper food? Even though it's jelly??
Me: Yes
Me:Comes off the phone and hits my head against the wall

I still can't quite believe what happened. She told my sister she had cats growing up and has been a pet sitter for 4 years so has lots of experience looking after cats. I'm not entirely sure what to do now, because I've told her how to feed them and I don't know whether to leave it or get in touch with my sister or cancel the pet sitter and find a new one/try to sort it between my other sister, me and parents

I would definitely find someone else.

I am allergic to cats so rarely ever get to be near the lovely things. I never knew that they had jellied food but I can read a tin and would not be so stupid as to think that cats have dessert!!!!

So how many of you mocking cat desert give your cats Dreamies treats or special cat milk?

Our cat has 'cat soup' (few teeth at 17 years old).

Don't all cats have a starter?

Cat soup is FOR cats, not MADE OF cats, I hope?

I'd leave her looking after them for this time as she now knows but wouldn't use her again.

Cat dessert - howls ......

hhahahahahah so funny

how about an amuse bouche for the cat ?

Blimey!

I'd go over there tomorrow and see how things are before sacking her. At least you know that she has your number and will call with any problems

And don't forget a little sorbet between courses.

Every time I see this thread in Active I read it as 'AIBU to set fire to my sisters pets sitter'. That would definitely be a step too far.

I wouldn't fire her if it'll cause a lot of hassle for the rest of you but I would have a chat about food/water. The conversation you had is hilarious but also !

how about an amuse bouche for the cat ?

My I suggest a trio of rat toenails artfully arranged on a piece of slate?

Now you've corrected her, I wouldn't bother sacking her, but would check in every few days to make sure cats seem happy and there's fresh water.

I would sack her if there was any way I myself could possibly cat-sit if necessary, even if it would be an inconvenience - I would look for another cat-sitter, but you can't guarantee that you'll find one at such short notice, so I would only fire if you yourself would be able to take on the job if absolutely necessary. But I would think that my inconvenience for cat-sitting would be much less important than the risk that this idiot might cause harm to the cats - which she very well might. I'm sorry but my pets are my family and I could not leave someone who didn't even know what food to feed them despite being given instructions beforehand to be in charge of their care especially not for two weeks! I'm sure she means well but there are all kinds of things that could go wrong and I wouldn't be prepared to risk that if at all possible.

Clearly I've been failing my neighbours cats when I sit for them. I've not been offering dessert. I'll have to shape up.

Thank you all for the laughter. I was going to ask if the cat was a left or right handed (pawed) one, but decided not to.

I am with those who suggest calling the OPs sister before making a decision.

Next big thing:

Cat Canapes

For those mocking the girl, you do know that some cat owners don't feed their cats 'wet' food at all?

Boney I dont feed my cats wet food at all but I still kniwbit exists and can come in jelly or gravy or whatever. Same as Inonly ever fed my dog raw meat and bones but i know dogs can be fed kibble, wet food, wet food and mixer etc. These things are just common knowledge. I dont kniw how to feed a snake but cats and dogs are just common sense even if you have never had one.

Don't put them in a cattery without checking with your sister as a) it's expensive and b) the cats may get very distressed.

I am getting my teen's friend to cat and house sit for us in the summer because she's actually a trainee vet nurse and also because she volunteers in the rescue that one of my cats comes from and she knows her already.

I am slightly bemused by the desserts for cats though. Mine have cat soup - should we be giving this as a starter followed by chunks in gravy and then dessert?

No idea I had been feeding them wrong all these years!

ineedamoreadultieradult

That "everybody" knows is an assumption.

BoneyBackJefferson "For those mocking the girl, you do know that some cat owners don't feed their cats 'wet' food at all?"

Irrelevant. I've never had a cat in my life, (nor looked after any), but I still know that a tin of cat food labelled 'chunks in jelly' isn't dessert!

IloveBanff

Clearly not "irrelevant" as the girl didn't know.

Don't fire her just yet. Go and check the cats and leave an idiot's guide for her to follow. At least she turned up and was concerned enough about the cats to call you. She may be thick as mince but she seems willing.

Maybe we've all been feeding our cats wrong, they should have a pouch of food in gravy followed by a pouch of food in jelly...my fat boy cat would love that!!

How fat is this cat that she thought it had multiple courses per meal?

If she's so thick, she can't read the cat food labels properly, I'd be worried about water too.