Cat sitting , donr even like cats

[Wowarentyoutall]

Neighbour asked me to cat sit a few months ago for a weekend, just go over in the morning feed him, let him out , then let him back in later.
Not a cat lover but said I'd do it, it went OK.
When they returned I said it had gone OK & they said ' oh good cos we're going away again in Oct '
The hubby gave me the key the night before and told me they were going for 14 nights which was a bit of a shock.
So I've been going backwards n forwards 2 or 3 times a day, everything was OK till the 4th day when it decided to bite me while I was doing his food, proper bite & drew blood 😡
Messaged them to tell them & the response was ' just shout at him he'll stop'
It's tried to bite me every day since ( not sure if it can smell my dog )
AIBU to tell them I'm not willing to do it again & how can I put it politely

You say "no I'm not willing to be bitten by your cat again".

Are they paying you? Either way I would do it for the rest of this holiday as it will be hard to find someone else at this point but never do it again. I would only go once a day and put all the food out in one go. Put the bowl up on a surface or shut the cat in another room while you serve the food so it can't bite you.

Hi no not paying me

If they aren't paying you then I would ask them to find someone else and only go back if they really couldn't find anyone.

Definitely don't do it again. Two weeks is really bloody cheeky and they are saving a fortune not putting their cat in a cattery.
For now can you shut the door of the room where you are serving the food so the cat can't bite you.

Is it at least cute though?

That sounds awful! I can’t believe it’s biting you!

That is vey strange behaviour from the cat. I have know a lot of cats, but never one that tried to bite the person feeding him every day.

I cat sit , biting aside they are taking the piss expecting that amount of visits without paying you.

Keep an eye on the bite if it drew blood as cat bites can be nasty.

I do like cats - we have one who I love very much. Our neighbour asked me to cat sit for his two over Christmas last year, which I was happy to agree to, just going in twice a day to feed/play with them and do litter. It turned out that one of the two cats didn’t reliably use the litter tray and would poo all over the place whhch was seriously unpleasant. I told him I didn’t sign up for that and wouldn’t be prepared to do it in future (but obviously continued for the agreed time). He was fine with that and has never asked me again!

I didn’t get paid and wouldn’t have expected to, but what I did get (very oddly) was a gift of a box of fancy cat food for our cat - which he wouldn’t eat because he’s fussy and only likes “his” brand. I donated it to Cats Protection. I hoped for a bottle of wine when neighbour returned, or a box of chocolates, but nope!

For now, I’d spray it with a water spray bottle - it will learn to keep away from you and hopefully save you getting bitten again. Or scrunch up a bit of paper it can chase, to distract it while you’re preparing the food. I wouldn’t be available for cat sitting again when they announce their next trip.

I would tell them I’m no longer feeding the cat and whoever they arrange to do it can get the key off you later.

I would have spoken up though when the key was dropped off and said 2 weeks is too long of a commitment.

I don’t really like animals but feed cats for neighbours and occasionally walk dogs. Because I like their owners.

Just say did you have a nice time? We didn’t get on well, she’s a bitey wench isn’t she? Maybe a cattery next time but make sure they know she bites!

The cat clearly isn’t happy with the arrangement. Unsurprising because 2 weeks is too long just to have a neighbour dump food down, 2 nights is the max I’d consider that sort of arrangement ok for. When they get back from holiday just say you can’t do it again because of the biting and it doesn’t seem fair on the cat because they’re obviously not happy either. Oh and if the cat has broken the skin you should see if you can get antibiotic cream from the pharmacy- cat bites are really high risk for infection.

Oh and until they get back- if you have a cordless vacuum take that round with you and have it on until you’ve done the food and have left again. Every cat I’ve ever had has run a million miles from the hoover.

I'm a cat lover, but I'd be telling them to jog on.

a) even a teenager would expect a few quid a day - my dc used to charge a fiver years ago to feed, fuss & sort out the litter tray, & they were booked up locally
b) the wee bugger bit you, & cat bites can get infected.

So no, next time I'd tell them that Church from Pet Sematary needs someone else to feed him.

I would have said no the first time and definitely the second time! They are taking the piss - I wouldn't worry about being polite, just tell them you're not doing it again!

They are abusing your kind nature, refuse their request next time and let the CFs cough up for a cattery.
Also, if your bite shows any sign of swelling, go to GP. You can get ill from cat bites, and should really get a tetanus shot.

They're back , I got a supermarket bunch of flowers as a 'Thank you'
Told him the cat had tried to bite me several times & that he obviously wasn't happy being left alone for that length of time.
He won't be asking me again 👍