Can’t cat sit and feeling guilty

[2beesornot2beesthatisthehoney]

My friend has booked a last minute 10 day holiday and asked me to mind the cat. I work full time , would need to drive over there after an 11 hour day and on 3 days will not be home until even later due to a training course. I really don’t feel able to do it this time . Only recently did a week for her. Friend doesn’t want to use a cattery to save money ( or presumably pay a cat sitter) and has gone huffy with me.
AIBU saying no?

Did you ever suggest that you would?

If not, she's an idiot and you have nothing to feel guilty about!

No, honestly.

She can ask but you have no obligation to say yes.

No, not unreasonable at all. It’s fine for someone to ask a favour as long as they accept that the answer might be ‘no’.

She mentioned her holiday a week ago . I said I would have to check dates at the time. Doesn’t look like she asked anyone else and may have been relying on me to say yes.

Her cat, her problem. Unless she looks after your pets at short notice, you have no reason to feel guilty.

I have cats, and therefore I don't book last minute holidays unless I've already secured a specific agreement from someone who will look after my pets.

She does have someone who could come in at the weekend. To be honest weekends are better for me. When I get in a 7, 8 or even 9.during the week, I want to collapse, not have to go out again . I am a bit worried for the cat if she decides to just leave the cat to survive on weekend feeding only. She has left it before for from friday morning to Sunday evening on its own , so might.

YANBU, but you better letter her know so she can make other arrangements!

Not U at all.

As a dog owner, we know that the cost of our holiday includes care for her. A friend sitting is a great bonus, but we still factor I the cost of a genorous thank you, usually either flowers delivered or lots of wine!

Also, you're saying no because of the welfare of the animal, so focus on that

Your "friend" is a bitch. How dare her get pissy with you! Her cat, her problem, her responsibility. Find a new friend.

No, you just say no. Don't let her guilt you. Her cat, her cat care problem.Is she even offering to pay for your to drive over there and back all week? Not that it matters, the inconvenience after working all day alone is an outrageous expectation.

She can ask her neighbours. Or pay a local teenage DC of a friend to do it. Really, it's her responsibility. You ought have said no very promptly, when asked. But no YANBU.
I'd never expect my best friend to drive 20 mins each way, twice a day, to feed my cats. Let alone after she'd done an 11 hour day at work.

Say no, she has a cheek to expect it of you.

She won't get a cattery in the summer hols at this late time . I booked mine in March!!

Yanbu. People can get a bit entitled once you do them a favour once. Just say no it’s not going to work. (I’m in a similar situation at the moment but the neighbour is much more understanding and accepts a “no” withthout a fuss. As she should!)

Would be better that she come to an arrangement with neighbours rather than someone making special visits! I managed this on my tiny street and it wasn’t one of the other cat owners.

A compromise might be to offer to go 2-3 times during the week to top up food & water -Assuming there is a cat flap.

What a cheeky cow! If she can afford a holiday she can use a cattery or ask a neighbour.

I was recently on tenterhooks to snag an absolute steal of a holiday, there was literally only one seat showing available on the outbound flight and it was perfect dates for work as well.

I still waited before I had my pet care sorted before hitting the book button. If the seat had gone by then, tough luck to me.

I judge her for booking a holiday before organising care for her cat

Don't feel guilty!

We've only recently started holidaying out of the UK, as both of our dogs have passed away. The previous 12 years was holidays in the U.K. complete with dogs! Now it's just a rabbit and fish to look after which my neighbour comes in to do.

Part of being a RESPONSIBLE pet owner is having plans in place. Some of our UK holidays used to cost more than a week AI. But we chose not to put our dogs in kennels, and take them with us. I could never imagine asking someone to walk and feed them several times a day (I know a cat is slightly different!). She's really taking the pee!!

LoniceraJaponica.... I agree. I've always had cats and always booked a cat-sitter twice a day BEFORE going away. This woman is what I call a pet OWNER, not a pet lover.

She's a cheeky cow, and she needs to get someone and pay them.

My son's neighbour went on holiday for 2 weeks, asked my son to feed the cat, he agreed. They gave him the food but no key, said the cat would be fine sleeping in the shed! It was February, snow on the ground, and the shed was open all the time of course. I went round there, bought the cat to my house (it loved it). When they returned, I took the cat back and gave them a right bollocking.

I would have done the same Lynne.

I love cats.

She really wasn't that arsed about your feelings when she expected you to runround to her house every day did she ? So why the heck are you feeling guilty she canget a cat sitter to come in and feed her cat. You said no andthat really is ok.

She has the right to ask.
You have the right to say no.
She shouldn't get arsey that you can't.
I have a cat, hopefully soon two - would have a backup plan then another backup in case my usual catsitter couldn't do it.

I am currently cat-sitting a little sweetie BUT:
I was asked if I could do the favour (well in advance)
I know that they had Plan B lined up if I couldn't do it (a friend who would have to travel a little way to oblige)
I have been consulted in advance as to what form the thankyou gift should take.
As other posters have said, when it's time for my own holiday, the first move will be sorting out cat care.
As well as catteries, you can pay for a carer to come in twice a day. I have done this when my friends were too busy with their own lives - no hard feelings at all!
The cats prefer to be in their own home; for one cat, cattery is cheaper, for two, about the same, more than two, paying someone to come in in cheaper.
I bet your friend would be truly grateful if you passed on the contact details.......

Update:
Bloody hell. After posting this about 10 days ago I thought no more about it. Had made it clear, or so I thought, that I wasn’t going to be involved this time.
No contact at all. Life goes on and in the mean time I develop tooth problems , culminating in a removal this morning as an emergency. So feeling pretty yucky. Come home from work early ( yes had important meeting I could not get out of which happened whilst still numb after) and dozing through the pain. Just went on the web as unable to sleep. Suddenly message comes through. Hi , reminder you are feeding tonight , Monday and Friday 2 others doing it other times. . I have already responded . That I can’t and won’t be.