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!

I personally would ask for all your money back, even though the expectation she repays is low. I think asking shows how dissatisfied you are and forces her to actual refuse to refund you/ steal your money, which makes her look even worse.

Also, I've had two regular cat sitters through my cats lives, and I have never paid upfront.

So she's shaping up as a thief as well as everything else ... the review will be interesting.

Just incase anyone is interested. We got home early hours this morning, definitely no money left/returned from CF cat woman. So I've sent her this message

Hi XXX. I was just wondering if you will be returning any of the money covering the 4 days that you didn't feed the cats. I appreciate that I asked you to stop doing it at short notice, however given that it was bringing your grandchild without letting us know that spooked Gary into not being happy in the first place, I think it would be sensible if we came to some arrangement for the £120 covering Thursday - Sunday. Thanks mseddy

No reply as yet!

Good for you.

What a cheeky cow.

She said given "she was an easygoing person" she didn't think it was a problem

Yes, that's the kind of nonsense CFers often come out with, thoiugh really there wasn't much more she could say

I'm only glad someone this untrustworthy doesn't appear to have taken anything from your house; personally I'd have wanted the lovely neighbour there for her last visit, but I quite understand your not wanting to put her through that

Onwards and upwards eh?

Thankfully she didn't enter the house on her last visit, just put the key through the letterbox. I made sure I was keeping an eye on the ring doorbell just incase!

Thankfully she didn't enter the house on her last visit, just put the key through the letterbox. I made sure I was keeping an eye on the ring doorbell just incase!

Thank goodness for that; I thought you meant you'd allowed her in there one last time, but possible problems averted!!

You were paying her £30 a day to pop in and feed the cat??? It’s about £15 a day max around our way (SE).

We have two. So it's £7.50 per visit per cat. She was coming twice a day. Although one of them has spend a grand total of about an hour in the house each day whilst we've been away! He comes home at 2am ish for an hour nap and some food then he's off again. He's always like that when the weather is warm, so honestly we could have lied about his existence!

So she has replied saying yes she's happy to discuss returning some money, but would like me to bare in mind that she lost out on bookings on the days she was supposed to cover but I cancelled her. What do we think is reasonable here?

Do I go for the easy option of saying give me 50% of the remaining days back? In the hope that she at least returns something.

Go hard and say tbh I think given your lack of professionalism etc I'd rather you returned the entire amount? (Pretty sure she would just ghost me then)

Ask her what she's willing to return?

I've spoken to my friend who's dog walker/cat sitter was the one who recommended her and she is appalled. I'm going to message her later today once the money issue is resolved and let her know that she could potentially be tarnishing her business by passing work to this CF

Ah that makes sense then re the cost. Still seems cheeky to charge per cat though as it won’t take double the time to fill 2 bowls!

You cancelled her because she was unable to provide the services that you'd booked her for though. So it's all her own doing and you'd be within your rights to ask for the whole lot back, IMHO. BUT it could turn into a massive nightmare trying to get it back.
I think I'd be inclined to just ask for 50% so you can just put the whole thing behind you. Also by letting your friend know, the CF is less likely to get future bookings...not that it helps you at all but it means there's more of a financial impact for her.

Tell her you're sorry she wasn't able to make bookings for the Thurs - Sunday, but seeing as she made extra use of your facilities (the Wendy house) at the start of the week, that should make up for it! Cheeky mare.

I personally wouldn't mind her bringing her grandchild if the child behaved well. No way would I pay someone to bring a child that chased and screamed at my cat!! My cat would be extremely distressed by this.

Our cat sitter charges for one visit regardless of the number of cats! So if you want two visits, you pay for two calls - about £15, not four!

You should pay your neighbour the going rate to look after your cat btw. Don't assume some flowers or chocolates will cut it - just pay her what you'd pay a cat sitter

@FroggyWentACourtin I agree, re the lovely neighbour.
Maybe not the going rate, but definitely something, and not just flowers and chocolate.
Giving meds, tidying the playhouse, aswell as feeding twice a day, that's quite a commitment to be doing for free, OP, if you don't feel comfortable offering money to your lovely neighbour, could you not give her a voucher for a really nice restaurant?

I would tell her that because she was unable to provide suitable care you had to make other arrangements, so you feel repayment of the fee for the days she didn't come is appropriate and fair.

I'd also point out that you're not asking to be refunded the entire fee even though her grandchild frightened the cat to the degree that she wasn't able to give him the medication, which was the main reason for asking a professional cat sitter to look after him.

And anything she does give back I'd give to your lovely neighbour!

I'd be inclined to say she can return £100 for the cats and a £20 fee for the rent on the Wendy house

Absolute cheek of her. Has she even apologised for bringing her granddaughter?

Meet her halfway

Wow! What a CF! You did the right thing OP. I hope she gives some money back.

I don’t think you’re being remotely precious about the Wendy House. And to leave it in a mess!

The top requirements for a pet sitter is to be trustworthy and dependable and she was neither.

This

I'd be heavily implying that professional cat sitters don't bring a grandchild and definitely don't ruin their customer's belongings. She could be doing herself a lot of damage if you left a review and word got out.

She's being let into people homes on trust. And she's broken that trust.

Demand all the money for the days she didn't come. She shouldn't have taken that.

Does she know you know she used your belongings and the Wendy house? I would ask for money for sorting that out too...

The absolute NECK of her!

The fucking cheek!

You cancelled mid service because she was not providing the service requested - bringing a child not previously agreed to, and frightening the animals she was supposed to care for.

Her own fault she then lost the job - so her cost. I'd be wanting all the money back as even the days she did turn up she didn't do the job she was being paid to do.

I suspect you'll have to settle for 50% back.

I would be furious!

Sorry if I've missed a post but if you've not paid her al up front I wouldn't pay her another penny and tell her exactly what I thought about her bringing a badly behaved cat terrorising grandchild and for using the Wendy house and playing with your child's toys!