Cat sitter bringing her grandchild

[Mseddy]

We've paid someone to cat sit for us for the week. Not used her before, was recommended by another cat sitter/dog walker who my friend uses as she was full. Not cheap, but that's irrelevant really.

Came and met us and the cats before we went, chatted to her for a while, she mentioned she looked after her grandchild who lived local, nothing more mentioned about GC in regards to visiting. One of the cats is on medication which he takes happily off a spoon, she was fine with this.

Qué first day we are away and she says cant get cat to take medication because he won't come near. Long story short this goes on for 3 days and my neighbour has had to step in to do it. My neighbour knows the cats well and usually does feeds/meds for us if we are away, but she's had major surgery recently hence outsourcing so to speak! I spoke with my neighbour and she said she wasn't surprised cat wouldn't come as woman had a child with her playing in the garden.

We've looked on CCTV in our garden tonight and her 4 year old grandchild is chasing after the cat and even screamed at him when he meowed at her. My 2yo DD has a lovely little wendy house that is mine and her pride and joy, we love it and it's special. She's just turned 2 the day before we flew on holiday so it's got a fair few new not yet played with toys in there. The cat sitter and her grandchild have been playing in the Wendy house completely without our permission and I honestly feel a little bit violated! I paid this women to come to our house, feed the cats and spend half an hour sat with them twice a day. Not to use my house as a play cafe for her grandchild.

So aibu for wanting to message her and telling her to leave the key and the money that would cover the remaining days and piss off out of my house? My neighbour is having to come daily to give the cat his meds anyway so she could throw some food in their bowl and I'd rather spend the remaining money on her!

That's appalling, the cheeky mare!

Playing with DD’s things is totally CF, so YWNBU for that alone.
However, the chasing of, and screaming at the cat is awful. Is the cat sitter on a pet sitting site? I’d want to leave a review.

I would be ending the arrangement, providing your neighbour is happy to do feeding.
Maybe bringing the child would be OK but chasing the cat and the Wendy house are out of order.
I'm impressed you have a cat that will take medicine off a spoon. I need a bath towel, gauntlets and a first aid kit on hand.

Arrangement would be terminated immediately. Cf of the highest order OP. Make sure she physically gives the keys to your neighbour.

I wouldn't pay her for any of it tbh and I'd tell her to give the keys to your neighbour.

I wouldn't have a problem her bringing her Grandkid if the kid was just sat on the sofa waiting, but the kid is actively scaring your cat and causing a situation where the sitter can't do her job and your cat can't get the medication and then playing in your Wendy house that would be it with me.

I'm impressed you have a cat that will take medicine off a spoon. I need a bath towel, gauntlets and a first aid kit on hand.

Me too!
Discuss with your neighbour first - she may be OK with giving meds to your astonishingly docile and compliant cat, but not up to changing the litter tray.

Is she staying in your home, or just visiting to feed and not medicate the cat?
Assuming neighbour is OK with it, get rid - and post reviews wherever you can stating how unprofessional she is.
My cat doesn't really do children (or many other people TBH) - but if you have a 2yo, that's clearly not the issue.

Poor cat, hope you're home soon, and you're able to get rid of the cat vile chaser.

@TheNightTroll reported, I trust they have sufficient 'moderation powers' to delete your posts.

Sorry not answering directly to people as I can't be bothered to scroll back up past that massive troll post.

To answer some questions. She's already been paid as the arrangement was to leave cash on the side for her, so she would have to actively leave the money behind herself, which given the levels of CF she's shown already, I can't imagine she will.

Didn't get her off a site so can't leave a review. One of my best friends has a dog walker who also sits her cat. I reached out to her to do it but her books were full so she passed me this lady's number saying she is who she shares clients with when over booked and visa versa. I'll be telling my friend to watch that she doesn't get CF cat woman as a substitute for her cat!

My neighbour is happy to pop in and give the cat his meds, so I'm sure she will be happy to fill their bowls too. They have an outdoor litter area in the garden so she doesn't need to do any of that, we can sort it when home. I'm going to talk to her tomorrow before I speak to CF cat woman.

To the poster who said their cat doesn't like children but I have a 2yo so he must be ok....he's not. He tolerates her, knows she doesn't have access to "his part of the house" and would never be in the two child free rooms we have so he's safe if he wants to be away from her. He does socialise with her occasionally, but all on his terms. Didn't tell cat woman that she shouldn't let child in X and y room as she didn't tell me she was bringing her. If she's been in them rooms trying to give him his meds with the kid in tow he will be SO anxious. I'm furious on his behalf!

Luckily nice neighbour has sent me video of said cat purring away happy to see her, so I know he's not a complete mess!

Shame @mnhq don’t bring in that ignore button really, would piss on this one’s bonfire pretty quickly.

@TheNightTroll you realise that MNHQ are now going to be taking a long hard look at the night moderators to see what one of them is the troll right? You’re shooting yourself in the foot here. If you want paid for your work then get a paying job.

Definitely cancel the agreement immediately and get her and her kid out of your house, and yes, leave reviews wherever you can. How fucking dare she bring her grandkid to play in your house and torment the cat she's supposed to be looking after! Total breach of trust, she's completely unfit for the job.

This. It's an appalling breach of trust.

I'd be furious.
Definitely message and cancel immediately. What an absolute waste of money.

For those of you who can’t get your cat to take medicine off a spoon, and it’s either liquid or can be crushed or removed from a capsule, Lick-E-Lix are like kitty crack.

YANBU, OP. Poor cat, being chased.

She is an absolutely rude entitled cf. Give her a very bad review.

CF cat woman is completely unsuitable to be a cat sitter if she thinks it's OK to bring a small child to your home without permission, and let her chase and scream at your cat. Definitely leave reviews if possible to warn other people.

Allowing her grandchild to torment the cat she's being paid to look after is just cruel.

Tell her to leave the keys and money.

I'd also let her know you have CTV footage of her allowing her grandchild to upset your cat and play with your daughter's things and if the money isn't left you'll be posting it to the local Facebook groups.

And give feedback to whoever referred her to you so she doesn't send anymore business her way.

Honestly, it's not a difficult job to get right. No excuse at all.

Your poor cat!

I have a 2 year old and he and the cat adore each other. Said cat can’t stand any other children and hightails it away as soon as he hears them. She had a bad experience with a screamy toddler grabbing her tail I would be absolutely furious in your position.

Cat sitters near me rely on word of mouth, same as baby sitters, cleaners, tradesmen. If you have a local WhatsApp group, I’d put on a message letting others know of this experience. In lieu of a rating on a sitting site.

All of this.