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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

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

199 replies

FeelingSmurfy · 26/03/2017 12:37

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

OP posts:

Thread gallery

Mossop17 · 27/03/2017 21:04

for the record OP you are an amazing sister! To care for those kitties as much as your sister does and be concerned to this level for their welfare is awesome.

Plus cat dessert is so funny! lol

Gabilan · 27/03/2017 21:06

She's in her 30s. And why would you want someone who doesn't know what pet food is feeding your cats?

I mean my neighbours give my cats scraps but they also know what pet food is.

WonderMike · 27/03/2017 21:12

For all of you who thought cat milk was milk from cats: how did you think they milk cats? With full stab proof PPE and a tin of tuna? I imagine it'd be fairly labour intensive.

EachandEveryone · 27/03/2017 21:12

Can itnot just be an innocent mistake which was acted on straight away? Was she recommended as a sitter? Who by?

xrayyankeezulu · 27/03/2017 21:14

Tbh OP I think everything will be ok as a PP said she's probably only known them to have dry food. She's obviously massively exaggerated her pet sitting experience & isn't the brightest bulb in the box but I don't think they'd actually come to any harm, the fact that she actually called you to ask shows that

MovingOnUpMovingOnOut · 27/03/2017 21:19

I think it's mean to sack her for being a bit dim. Presumably she knows where the food is now and will feed the cat. Problem solved.

Although cat dessert ffs. What a dipstick!

Jeanneweany · 27/03/2017 21:48

I don't even have a cat and even I know it's the food. You need to get another sitter or take over yourself.

acatcalledjohn · 27/03/2017 21:49

For all of you who thought cat milk was milk from cats: how did you think they milk cats? With full stab proof PPE and a tin of tuna? I imagine it'd be fairly labour intensive.

Caterina99 · 27/03/2017 22:04

I wouldn't sack her (at least not yet). I'd call in every so often to check on the cats and tell her to call with any (more ridiculous) questions!

As long as she actually feeds them and gives them water and cleans their litter tray there isn't much damage that can be done. Especially with someone checking on them every few days!

EachandEveryone · 27/03/2017 22:07

That's what I keep saying as well

HeartsTrumpDiamonds · 27/03/2017 23:12

This whole thread has made my day.

Original poster

FeelingSmurfy · 27/03/2017 23:20

Sorry, it's been a hectic day

My sisters cats are now in our care and I've managed to sort out who is going and when. I just had to listen to my gut instinct, unfortunately that means the cat sitter was fired, but my priority is making sure the cats are well looked after. As people on here said, what's to say she knows to give them fresh water or empty the litter tray?

She didn't seem that bothered, I said that my sister would be back in touch a few days after she got back and made a joke about the mountain of washing she will have to get through first. My sister is back late evening and I'm going to tell her the following day, but I wanted to give her time to consider what she is going to say and what to do about payment (I think she will just pay her anyway) and not have to speak to her immediately after finding out, while still jet lagged

My gut instinct tells me that I've done the right thing, my head tells me I must be dreaming because this whole thing is just crazy

OP posts:

Orlandointhewilderness · 27/03/2017 23:38

I'd have fired her too. She was hired to do a job she clearly has limited experience doing but hasn't been honest about that. I would worry she would neglect water/litter trays or fail to realise her proper place as staff to the cats! We all have to learn this and there is a real risk she could treat them like any other animal. Imagine, like a pet! awful.

Nonibaloni · 27/03/2017 23:49

Is the point not that OP sister talked her through the whole procedure and left instructions? Which she obviously didn't pay any attention too. If she missed who gets what when who knows what else she missed?

What if she let them out when they are definitely indoor cats?

In any job you have to follow the instructions you are given! Great that she phoned to check but what did she don before hand?

And in 4 years she has never come across chunks in jelly? And at least some of those cats had desserts cause she wasn't thinking it was bonkers?

user1476641978 · 27/03/2017 23:54

Word.

On the upside she is obviously so worried about the cats having dessert for breakfast she phoned you so seems like she cares? I'm really trying to glass half full it for you here LOL! Maybe tell her not to use anything electrical while she's at the house ...!

EachandEveryone · 27/03/2017 23:58

You never said where your sister found her? She must have had recommendations.

Original poster

FeelingSmurfy · 28/03/2017 00:13

I'm not sure how my sister came across her, but she is very PFB about the cats so I'm amazed this has happened, 'Jenny' must be very convincing. I know she met her once, then met her at the house the second time and talked her through everything and showed her where everything was. There was also extensive lists left, so if she had forgotten anything or was confused then I would have thought she would just look at that

I don't know, this whole situation has me , my mind is frazzled, all I can say is that I'm glad she rang and my gut is telling me I made the right decision

OP posts:

Janey50 · 28/03/2017 01:16

Dessert for a cat! That's hilarious!

Broken11Girl · 28/03/2017 01:50

For all of you who thought cat milk was milk from cats: how did you think they milk cats? With full stab proof PPE and a tin of tuna? I imagine it'd be fairly labour intensive.
PMSL

Broken11Girl · 28/03/2017 01:55

Seriously, I think that was the right decision, OP. That's dangerously thick tbh.
Madam BrokenCat would enjoy Dreamies, cat soup, main course (Sheba), and dessert (tuna). Washed down with Pinot Miaow. She genuinely sniffs my .

elephantcuddles · 28/03/2017 01:58

Hahaha. This made me laugh. :) She sounds nice but a bit daft.

Underbeneathsies · 28/03/2017 02:21

Oh I had a mental images of this, and the sitter inviting in all kinds of waifs and strays to sample the obviously superior nosh.

Or just spoon feeding the pfb cats!

Glad it's all sorted out to your satisfaction, and your sister isn't too put out by your firing her sitter?

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

EachandEveryone · 28/03/2017 02:37

She doesn't know I don't think

Megatherium · 28/03/2017 07:15

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.

But the point is that someone that thick can't be trusted to make sure there is fresh water, wash the plates properly, or notice if any of the cats get ill.

Original poster

FeelingSmurfy · 28/03/2017 10:06

I haven't called her for now, it's their first holiday in a long time and she went off happy about them so I don't want to give her reason for concern. I am in no doubt that she would be happy with the new arrangement though, she just didn't want to put us out. She would have had a big problem with me just leaving things as they were, even if the cats were fine when she got home, as I've said before they are treated like PFBs

OP posts:

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