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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Cat pooped and weed bed while we were away - cat sitter didn’t deal with mess

127 replies

Branches1 · 14/08/2020 23:12

Just like the title suggests, we are currently away and our cat is being looked after by a cat sitter from an agency. Lovely lady with lots of experience of cats. Things seemed to be going well until our cat peed and pooped in a bed. This has never happened before but I understand it can be a stress reaction, or perhaps the litter tray wasn’t clean, or the cat didn’t have access to the litter tray for a period of time if the door was accidentally shut, etc.

My issue is that the cat sitter texted about this after they left the property. They left the mess as it was and they won’t attend until at some point tomorrow. I called back to discuss but it is what it is at this point.

I am now worried sick about the state of the bed - i don’t think the smell will ever come out as it will have been left for 24h or more. I worry that it has soaked through to the mattress and we will have to buy a new bed. I worry about the house, cat urine is awful and there might be damage to the property. I worry about our lovely cat who must be extremely unhappy to have done something like this - and for all I know she might have done it again as her own mess is still on full display and may confuse her.

I’m probably going to leave husband and kids and fly back earlier as I am worried sick!

This is going to be very expensive to fix. Husband was laid off and we have no money, this couldn’t have happened at a worse time.

Any advice on what to do? Help!

OP posts:
LovingLola · 14/08/2020 23:15

Where are you?
Are there neighbours that might have a key who could come and strip the bed for you ?

Original poster
Branches1 · 14/08/2020 23:18

Hi Lola
No neighbours or friends with a key sadly, we are thinking if we could get someone to come and help out tomorrow when the sitter visits

OP posts:
FlibbertyGiblets · 14/08/2020 23:27

What are their duties? Is cleaning up on the contract?

Blackdog19 · 14/08/2020 23:28

Ask the sitter to leave their key and get a friend to strip bed for you?

ArtichokeAardvark · 14/08/2020 23:31

Not sure why you think it's the sitter's job to do the laundry?

lydia7986 · 14/08/2020 23:36

It’s not the cat sitters’ job to do laundry, unless you specified that when you agreed terms and payment.

Whenever we go away, we only give our cat access to the kitchen - the door to the rest of the house remains shut so that any vomit/pee incidents don’t take place on soft furnishings, and if she brings dead birds/animals in, she can’t hide them behind a sofa or under a bed.

blacktop · 14/08/2020 23:39

This is going to be very expensive to fix.

Calm down for goodness sake it's a bit of cat shit. Ok, it isn't going to smell good when you get back but it's hardly likely to be costly.

Bunnybigears · 14/08/2020 23:41

Do not fly back early to sort it out that is a complete over reaction. What discussion did you have with her? Is she stripping the bed tomorrow?

lydia7986 · 14/08/2020 23:42

You’re considering leaving your holiday early because of a bit of cat poo/urine?

So you can afford an expensive short-notice plane ticket, but not to clean a mattress?

Original poster
Branches1 · 14/08/2020 23:48

I am not asking them to clean or do laundry, it is however in the agreement that they deal with pet specific messes as accidents can happen. In this case it would have been helpful if they could have helped limit the damage by soaking the soiled items in the tub, or at least removed the poo, or calling me to discuss. I would have arranged for the dry cleaners to come and collect, although I think they don’t accept items with cat urine.

It is beyond me how someone can simply leave a mess like this. The damage was my cat’s fault, but it has been made worse by being left like this.

Judging by the comments it would seem I am in fact being unreasonable for expecting this. I appreciate the input, it is always helpful to get an outside opinion

OP posts:
Notapheasantplucker · 14/08/2020 23:48

Calm down for goodness sake it's a bit of cat shit

GrinGrin

Titterofwit · 14/08/2020 23:49

Its done now - the sitter has left it to dry on its own in the heat and you flying back tomorrow wont reverse the 24 hour drying time it will have had by the time you could get back.

Stay put. Ask if the sitter could kindly strip and air the bed- no washing of its awful .Just bundle up the bedding in a bag to chuck if its smelly or launder once you're back if its just a patch. Or ask a friend to get the key from the sitter and do the same.

Try to enjoy the rest of your paid for holiday and let your future self take care of any damage.

Original poster
Branches1 · 14/08/2020 23:49

Lydia - luckily tickets are not expensive, Ryanair is £12.99 tomorrow afternoon!

OP posts:
QuacksInTheDark · 14/08/2020 23:51

No money but can get the dry cleaners to collect your cat shit bed linen? Ok.

Shoppingwithmother · 14/08/2020 23:54

You’re actually thinking of flying home from holiday because your cat has done a wee on a bed???

It’s a pain in the arse, but you’re blowing it out of all proportion.

If I were the cat sitter, though, I would not have told you about it if I wasn’t going to clear it up - I’d just pretend I hadn’t seen it.

Original poster
Branches1 · 14/08/2020 23:56

It’s not just the bed linen, it’s the duvet and mattress topper which won’t fit in our washing machine. I include bed linen in this because I won’t ask the cat sitter to do the laundry. It is cheaper to have it cleaned than to buy new. Dry cleaner is pretty much next door, and they offer free collection.

We are renting and I don’t feel I can simply leave this as is due to the smell

OP posts:
Illegitiminoncarborundum · 14/08/2020 23:56

This is a wind up, surely?

Veterinari · 14/08/2020 23:57

You don't need to replace your bed because your cat peed on it Confused
Worst case scenario, you'll need to strip the bed and dry clean the duvet.

Flying back early from your holiday is frankly bonkers. I suspect the cat sitter hasn't responded urgently is precisely because this is a non-urgent issue.

ImFree2doasiwant · 15/08/2020 00:00

I'd expect the cat sitter to at least removed the soiled cover to prevent further soaking in etc. I'd also expect them to be able to put it in the wash, or contact you to let you know theyd stripped the bed and can you get so done round to wash it

Passmethecrisps · 15/08/2020 00:01

Well, just do that then and have the dry cleaner collect. Have a sangria and relax.

I am not entirely sure what is so catastrophic. Where has the cat messed? On the duvet? Has the actual matter been removed?

Original poster
Branches1 · 15/08/2020 00:04

Nothing has been removed sadly. It’s all there soaking in

OP posts:
Passmethecrisps · 15/08/2020 00:10

I think you could ask someone (cat sitter or a neighbour you were friendly with) to relive the solids and stuff the duvet cover in the wash. The actually duvet will need washed as well but you can sort that or ask the dry cleaners to deal with.

The reality is that you do need to be responsible for this. Had the cat done it a minute after the cat sitter left for the night and she hadn’t found it until next day, you would still have to Sort it. It’s unpleasant and a little frustrating that she didn’t help out by removing solids

Iknowthingsthatwillhappen · 15/08/2020 00:13

OK, ask the cat sitter to strip the bed when she is next there (and put it in bathroom or similar). Then stop worrying!

BanginChoons · 15/08/2020 00:17

I’m probably going to leave husband and kids and fly back earlier as I am worried sick!

This is a massive over reaction to a cat seeing on a bed. If you were to fly home early, the situation there will be the same by the time you arrive as it will be if you go home at the end of the holiday. Pets get upset when you go away. The cat will get over it. The bed will either be salvageable or it won't, but flying home now isn't going to change anything. And it's not the pet sitter's fault.

Veterinari · 15/08/2020 00:17

@Branches1

Nothing has been removed sadly. It’s all there soaking in
It's been there more than 24 hours - it's pretty irrelevant how long you leave it - it's likely dried and isn't 'soaking' anything