To think my cat sitter was in the wrong?

[Tabbyz]

I got back from holiday yesterday and I used a cat sitter for my 2 cats. The instructions were clear, one cat can come and go as she pleases and the other one can come in while cat sitter is there but must put her back out before leaving.

The first day they came, they did a visit in the morning and evening and in the evening report it said that there was a poo outside of the litter tray and they had cleaned it up. I messaged her to say that will be because you kept Olivia inside and if you keep her outside, she will toilet outside.

I got back yesterday to a poo in my living room and Olivia was inside!! I contacted her asking why my instructions were not adhered to and she said she didn’t think it was in Olivia’s best interest to be outside as she didn’t want to go and when she placed her outside she was crying to come back in. But it’s not up to her to make that decision. Those were my wishes and the cat would’ve been absolutely fine, it was only 4 days . What is the point in leaving them instructions? AIBU to leave a bad review and not use them again?

We have a very outdoor cat (plus two that don't go out). He comes back frequently for a few minutes to check in and then is scratching at the door again.
If I was a cat sitter I would struggle with instructions to leave a cat out that seemed to be asking to be in, knowing it would be out all day or all night once I left..
Next time you need to explain Olivia's temperament very thoroughly and ensure the sitter would be comfortable with what you are asking as it is unusual. Or get a catflap.

So many replies here commenting that the OP is making the wrong decision for her cat. That isn’t the question. The question is, is it okay for a cat sitter to ignore the instructions of an owner (who is paying her to do a job) should reasonably ignore those instructions because she doesn’t agree with them. The answer is obviously (to me) no, of course it isn’t. As for suggestions that the OP get a cat flap, she has stated that she also has an indoor cat, so how would that work.

As for heat, cats are completely different to dogs with heat. They don’t suffer in it, they enjoy lying out for hours in the hottest sun with no ill effects and have no difficulty finding shade when they want it. So long as they have access to water, they are fine.

My cats go outside, but my preference is that they don’t when I’m away. If I had a cat that went stir crazy, I may make a different decision. If the cat sitter wasn’t happy following the instructions given here, she should have declined the job.

The catsitter should have followed instructions.

I wouldn't leave a bad review but I would contact the sitter and suggest they don't take jobs if they don't agree with the terms.

I would have done what you asked (reluctantly) but then never catsat for you again.

You can set a catflap to recognise cat microchips, so if you only want one using it, you can set it that way.

Where does she say she has an indoor cat?

"I messaged her to say that will be because you kept Olivia inside and if you keep her outside, she will toilet outside."

I presume you live in a house with a massive garden and tall fences so Olivia doesn't "toilet outside" in your neighbours gardens?

This is such a weird thread.

Everyone on here assuming that indoors is wonderfully cool and outside it horrendously hot.
Most houses, especially if locked up because owners are away, are too hot in this weather.
Outside there is access to thick cool green shade etc and places to find with breeze.

I have 2 cats and a catflap. One is where ever I am, indoors or out, but he is old, when younger his preferred summer hangout was in the middle of big plants in the veg patch in the garden.
The other cat went out when the hot weather started and has hardly been in since, wanders in for food and straight back outside.

This is despite the fact that our house is actually quite cool (due to my dh working from home and being quite particular about opening and closing curtains and windows)

All this talk of abuse because she is outside says to me that you all live in houses with 2 square metres of concrete patio.

So much ill-informed anthropomorphizing on this thread.

Cats meowing is not "crying", it's just how they communicate with humans.

Are none of you "expert" cat owners familiar with cats sounding inconsolable with starvation when you know damn well they've been fed??

A cat "crying" to be let in does not mean it is in distress. It will very quickly think "oh ok then, I'll go and sleep in the shed/undergrowth/direct sun" and do that until it mysteriously decides to go and do something else.

It's not going to fucking suffer.

cats are completely different to dogs with heat. They don’t suffer in it, they enjoy lying out for hours in the hottest sun with no ill effects
As a vet nurse, this is absolute nonsense. Cats are rubbish at regulating their own temperature as they have very few sweat glands and can't take their layers off. Heatstroke is common and can be fatal. There is a reason that the British Veterinary Nursing Association, PDSA, and Cats' Protection all advise against letting your cat out in summer heat, let alone leaving them there.

This is before we even get to the fact that man-made environments are artificially hotter than nature due to reflective materials and lack of tree cover. Cat paws burn on hot asphalt just like dogs. Just because society has decided based on feelings and vibes that cats are magically independent and don't need any care, does not make it true.

The question is, is it okay for a cat sitter to ignore the instructions of an owner
When the instructions constitute neglect and/or abuse, obviously yes.

I haven’t got one because I haven’t needed one up until now. This is the first time I have used a cat sitter because usually my sister will come and stay at my house when I go away, but I went away with her this time. As I work from home, I am always available to let my cats in and out whenever they want, and when I do go out I just open the door to see if they want to go out before I leave and if they don’t, they stay in until I’m home. It’s never been an issue but if I need to use a cat sitter again I will look into it

Because I’m not asking if I’m right, I’m asking if I’d be unreasonable to leave a bad review on her social media and not use her again, or to give a second chance when I go away again

When have I ever called myself a cat lover? I love my cats but i don’t understand why you’ve said that when I’ve literally never uttered those words on this thread….

You are correct Tabbyz, you have not .

Get a cat flap. How can you expect a cat to stay outside in this heat??

You're free to leave a bad review, but I expect she will retaliate and give her side of the story, and as you can see from this thread, lots of people will side with her.

I didn’t mean to amend it and I’m not sure which comment you are talking about. I will have a look because that will have been a mistake. I paid for 2 45 minute visits

I haven’t ever done it before, I made a judgement for my trip and I thought my cat would be okay. I’m sure everyone is picturing me as a heartless villain who chucks my cats out every day but it was a one off situation. I let my cats do what they want and go where they want usually. And when I go away I get someone to stay at my house to look after them and they stay in their usual routine. I went away for 4 days with the person who usually looks after them and didn’t like the idea of stressing them out at a cattery so laid for a sitter. I made thought about what to do about the pooing situation, and also what my cat would be happy with and I decided that as my cat spends 80% of her day outside anyway, that she would be perfectly fine for just 4 days. It was a one off situation that I may have misjudged (based off the comments here) and I am going to have a look at getting a cat flap for next time

No you haven’t read it correctly , she doesn’t have an indoor cat , both go in and out but Olivia won’t use the litter tray so she is left out . The other cat does use the tray so is left in.
a cat flap would solve this issue but the OP hasn’t commented on that.

Leave her a bad review and don’t use her again ! I had this a few years ago and the idiot almost killed my cat for not listening to. I had a cat for years that came inside as she pleased as long as she had access outside . As soon as she felt enclosed she would go crazy jumping around trying anything to leave . Leaving a cat flap open was not an option too as she was an avid hunter and would bring life stuff in . Just like your cat sitter she was too lazy to put her out and not only destroyed the house but she damaged her claws trying to get out and I ended up with a huge vet bill and worse a suffering cat that took ages to trust anyone again . She tried to defend herself saying the forecast said rain but my cat had shelter and access to outbuildings too .

My cats would much prefer a shady bush than a stuffy house in the heat - different if your home and can open the door but houses get hot quickly when all the doors and windows are shut

Yes I have commented on that

Which is why OP needs a cat flap so her cats have a choice when she’s not around. Locking a cat outside for 22/23 hours a day with no access to the indoors when that’s not the usual set up is unkind, and could even be pretty dangerous.

"so she can toilet outside'! You mean crap in other people's gardens fify.

Loads of animals live outside - horses, cows, sheep, dogs who live in kennels, rabbits, Guinea pigs…I don’t understand why cats are so special they aren’t expected to compromise and put up with circumstances we think are fine for other animals. And why it’s the human that has to compromise. As long as suitable alternative provisions were made (proper shelter, water, food etc) in line with whatever the rspca considers actionable standards then I’m not sure the accusations of cruelty are fair. The sitter should have just refused the booking if they didn’t agree with the ask. Not their place to decide if OP should put up with cat poo on the floor of her home.

OP didn’t provide any shelter, though.

And yes, lots of animals live outside but if that’s not their “norm” and they suddenly find themselves locked out of their home for 23 hours a day with only a stranger popping in to feed them, then that is neglectful.

I also wouldn’t rely on anything the RSPCA say - they’re about as useful as a chocolate teapot.

I have no idea where she chooses to do it