To feel a bit aggrieved about this

[MissMarplesNiece]

Every year I look after pet cat for a week or so while relative 1 goes on holiday. Relative 1 never asks me themself (we don't have each others contact details), it's all done via relative 2 and I collect cat from relative 2. Relative 1 never provides food or cat litter so I buy this myself.

At the end of relative 1's holiday, I return cat to them via relative 2. I've never had thanks passed on to me or had a thank you card - even a scribbled note on a postcard. When people looked after my pets in the past I always bought them a small gift as a token of appreciation, but have never received anything from relative 1 - not even a thank you text.

AIBU to feel a bit resentful that relative 1 is saving over £100 on cattery fees but can't even send a few sachets of cat food/some cat litter or even be bothered to say thank you?

This is very strange. If you can't bear to tell them straight because you don't want to be 'rude' (even though you've been treated rudely), then you just need to say either "sorry I'll be unavailable to look after the cats" or "sorry I won't be able to do it as it costs too much to provide the food and litter".

Yet another thread where a poster continues to do the same thing repeatedly, without saying a word, and somehow expects the other party to suddenly change their behaviour.

Yes, R1 is a CF and will continue to be one until you speak up.

Owner of cat is probably leaving food & litter (or money) with Relative 1, who is pocketing it.

Grow a pair, OP. Insist on having owner's contact details and say that in future you will only deal directly with them.

Next year OP you'll be on holiday so sadly won't be able to cat sit. Catteries are a thing.

@mn29 says it perfectly! ‘I can’t, I’m already down three occasions of litter and food so I can’t swallow another year I’m afraid. I’m sure there’s many cattery’s available’

This is weird Op. you're being taken for a fool. You're looking after someone's pet for free! Stop doing it!

This time, when you hand the cat back, say this is the last time you'll do it without provision of food and litter (or again, if that's your preference), so please don't embarrass anyone by ever asking again.

Next time, say you are unable to help. If pressed, say you’ve done it multiple times and it’s been entirely unappreciated - in fact, it actually costs you money to volunteer to do it. CF.

Is relative 2 taking credit and relative 1 does not know you have the cat?

I used to look after my friends dog

4 times
Moved into the house
Took her beautiful dog everywhere
Dream dog to look after

Not once did I get as much as a thank you
In fact she once rang me to complain that I left dog hairs on the back seat of her car

Silly mare

She never even walked her beautiful dog
We had the best time together o even took her to work with me to keep her safe and content

Any way I should have said no after the first insult

Some people are cheeky bastards

Once I fed a friends cat for 3 days
Was a total pleasure

He dropped off so many gifts the day he got home I was astonished

Exactly. They’re a CF, but - gently - you are being a mug. Stop doing it - end of problem.

You're a doormat. Quit moaning and stop this immediately

Just say "No."