Damage caused by pets - how to handle?

[Newyearnewname20]

Have been looking after a friend’s dog and cat in her flat, and have noticed they’ve scratched the carpet and sofa pretty badly in one of the rooms.

I’m sure it happened whilst I’ve been there, as I didn’t notice anything in that room when I first arrived.

I’ve now closed the doors to those rooms so cat and dog can’t access them. (They’ve got plenty of space in rest of flat, access to all their food and water etc, scratching posts and lots of toys, and can go outside too).

AIBU to ask for advice on how handle this?

My plan was to contact friend to let her know and apologise, and let her know I’ve closed the door to those rooms to avoid it happening again. Maybe I’ll send her pics too so she can see what’s happened.

I feel really guilty, because her flat is so lovely and well cared for, and as far as I can see, no real sign of any existing damage from her pets.

I look after pets quite regularly (mostly paid, sometimes as a favour), and have never had pets scratch furniture/carpets that much before. Both the dog and cat are really friendly and sweet, but I’m just wondering if they’re stressed at having me there to look after them, and that’s causing them to scratch the sofa and carpets?

Animals damage things 🤷🏻‍♀️

Unless they'd eaten a sofa or destroyed a table, it wouldn't even occur to me to mention a scratched carpet or sofa - that's what animals (especially cats) do!

How long until she comes home?
I wouldn't bother her with this info in middle of her holiday. Theres nothing she can do about it. I would only want to know if one of my cats was ill or gone missing.

The day before she comes home you could let her know all is well but unfortunately they appear to have scratched some furniture but you then closed door on that room. Keep message short and factual.

They are HER pets in HER home so there is really nothing for you to feel guilty about unless they normally are not allowed in certain rooms and friend left those doors shut.

Thanks so much for your replies. I was thinking the same, 49 - don’t want to interrupt her holiday with info that might worry her/stress her out.

are they allowed the run of the house usually, or does she keep them out of certain rooms- or only allow in some rooms with supervision? If they have the run of the house it’s just one of those things, if they aren’t allowed in that room then you might be a little more at fault

Cats scratch carpet and furniture- it’s what they do

Thanks all! Yeah they’re allowed the run of the house and go wherever they like.

Who gets stressed out by a scratched sofa?

If your friend didn't specifically tell you to keep them out of that room it's her fault, but really it's just one of those things that can happen with your pets.
I wouldn't interrupt her holiday by telling her.

You probably didnt notice it, it wont have only just happened. Our whole house has cat scratches, (including my legs) where they jump off things, skid along the tops of things, use things for a scratching post etc etc.

Her home, her pets, I wouldn't mention it.
Honestly, the scratches could have happened before, during or after your stay.

Who actually knows? Except for the cat or the dog or both... but then, they would never own up to it and blame you!!

None of this is your fault and if the pets are allowed to go anywhere normally, then there’s no way you could have predicted they would do this.Part of being a pet owner is you accept you will never have a perfect home 😂 I would just mention it the night before she comes home.

My cat has peed on my 2.5k camera, that was a nice surprise. He shreds every sofa we buy, sees any open bag as a challenging litter tray and has removed or destroyed most of our wallpaper.His summer pastime is eating flies and he demolishes everything in his path to get to them.
It's all part and parcel of being a pet owner, why apologize or even give it a second thought.

So it’s really her problem then. If she specifically told you not to let them in that room and you did she would have a right to be annoyed at you.

This is just an unforeseen circumstance and you are probably right at them being stressed.
You closed the door, not much else to it.

She lets them have access to every room so I wouldn’t even mention it. If you see them scratching furniture then stop them, but other than that, I wouldn’t give it another thought.

Its good of you to look after her pets, I'm sure they all appreciate it.

And don't worry. Its either pets OR perfect furniture. I chose pets. Your friend did too. 😀

If you were watching my dog and he damaged something in my home I wouldn't expect you to pay for it. I have insurance. He is my dog. And you did nothing that wouldn't have happened had I been at home.