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

The cats ignored me and seemed insulted by my presence, so I assume they are fine! There was water there but I don't know if it is fresh because my sister only left last night and they have more than one water bowl. I've replaced them all anyway so I know they have enough fresh water

Couldn't get in touch with pet sitter, but I'm not sure if she has any children or could be doing something with her mum. We are going to look after them between ourselves and I'm thinking of saying my sister was worried they will be lonely (totally believable for my sister) so my other sister is going to sleep there until she gets back, so we won't need her. I am hoping to get in touch with her tomorrow and arrange to get the keys Do you think this sounds OK? It's up to my sister whether she mentions it when she gets back and whether she pays her

Sounds fine to me. Your sister will have to stick to whatever cancellation agreement there is but presumably won't actually be out of pocket. And the cats will be fine. which was their evil plan all along

I think its abit mean tbh. And i love my cat. This wouldn't bother me at all as long as you can pop in every so often. I feel sorry for her.

this has made my day

It's quite common for cats have dry food in the morning left out for the day and then wet food later. So if this is always what she has done then maybe she assumed it was what everybody did??? Trying to defend the poor cat sitter :-)

Me too. Maybe she just used the word pudding seeing as their was dried food already down. I dont like people taking the pee out of peoples innocent remarks its not like shes a danger. She might really need this money.

She might really need this money

If the job is cancelled while she's doing it, she should really still be paid IMO. The problem is whether the cats are safe being looked after by someone who claims to be an experienced cat sitter but seems not to be. Fair enough we've probably all said or done something that sounds really, really stupid to other people. But I'd be worried that a cat sitter had never previously noticed before that cat food is quite often in jelly.

It would suggest to me that she's not that experienced and that for peace of mind, it's better if the cats are looked after by someone else. I'll take appearing to be a bit mean over risking a pet's health and wellbeing.

Well with my cats, I'd just make sure they were outside and then leave them to it, at least in spring, summer and autumn. But they're farm cats - they're tough.

I don't get the replies of "firing her is just mean" and "she might really need the money". It's completely irrelevant if her knowledge is not up to the job,especially if she was maybe hired on claimed experience. Indeed it's not OP's place to fire her but that's it. Caring for a pet might not be rocket science,but the basics like you know,what they might eat is the least one would be expected to know when doing the job.

. 😄

I bring you cat dessert for all you doubters.

I think you're over reacting and your sister may not thank you for sacking her.
She knows what the food is now so I'm sure she'll be ok.

Mine doesnt have food in jelly. They dont all.

My cat used to lick all the jelly off and leave the meaty chunks.
Clearly she was a pudding girl

My landlady once very nicely accepted to petsit our cats for a week. She fed them clay litter granules for 2 days!

Mine doesnt have food in jelly. They dont all.

No, but as PP have pointed out, you don't need to have fed a cat ever, in your entire life, to know that cat food is frequently in jelly. You just have to see cat food adverts.

Was it Liz Jones? Sounds like something she would say tbh

You must be kitten us, you cat be serious

I'd be furious if I'd paid for a cat sitter who didn't even know what cat food is! I worry enough about leaving him as it is, without thinking someone like that Is looking after him.

It's false advertising as far as I'm concerned, she is saying she's got experience with cats when she clearly hasn't got a clue. Whether she needs the money is irrelevant, the cats' welfare is the important thing.

OP as she's so clueless, does she know they need fresh water at all times?

So is it just my cat that ignores the fresh water I put down for him and goes and drinks out of a filthy bowl of rain water in the garden? We even had to break the ice when it froze, he still wouldn't touch our lovely tap water.

I don't know what will happen with paying her, that is up to my sister to sort out, she will probably pay her anyway

I don't feel comfortable leaving them with her though, if she can't read the pack properly (and she read chunks in jelly etc so she can read) and isn't aware that this is what she is supposed to give them, after my sister talking her through it and then leaving very detailed instructions. I think my sister would go ballistic at us if she came home and found out about the phone call and we had just left her to it. I am pretty certain she has lied about at least some of her past, and had my sister known the truth then she could have made an informed decision

I have to puts the cats first and make sure that they are properly cared for, they are my priority right now

My head is still very and today feels like a surreal dream. It is certainly not the mothers day I was expecting!

My cats will all only really drink from moving water - and if it's not moving they'll shove their paws in and make it so!

We have cat fountains as a result.

statistically my cat will only drink from the grid outside or my glasses/cups inside. she has fresh water every day (away from her food & litter tray etc) but wont touch it. she's rather lick the paving outside after it's rained!

That must be why the Gingers keep catching birds. That'll be their main course, and the stuff in jelly is pud

Oh my god, this is just FABULOUS!! I have actual tears running down my face at the idea of cats sat to the table with napkins and glasses of fizz, waiting patiently for their waitress to bring them their pudding