AIBU to think my neighbour’s cat care problem is not mine?

[Thepartwhereidrun]

My neighbour stopped my son on his way out last night to ask if he would look after her cat when she is away from tomorrow for 2 weeks, going in twice a day. He said sorry but he couldn’t.

I didn’t know she had spoken to him until she knocked our door and told us. Her cat sitter has let her down last minute and now she won’t be able to go on holiday unless she can find someone else. Nightmare for her, but her cat sitter is ill so it can’t be helped. I said I can’t help her but I text our dog sitter, who also does cat sitting to ask if she had availability and said I’d get back to her if she could do it.

She asked if I would also ask my son again, which I did when he got home, but he doesn’t want to do it. He has just finished his A levels and wants to be free to come and go as he pleases which is understandable. I said that if he has said no then that means he can’t.

Our dog sitter text me back to say she didn’t have any availability for the first week but could do the second week. I text my neighbour to let her know and to give her sitters contact details. She has just text back ‘no good, what am I meant to do for the first week?’

I haven’t replied as although I get she is probably feeling desperate, how the fuck is her cat my problem?

If you book a holiday you book pet care at same time. I have dog and it's the same with kennels. I book kennels first then firm up hols arrangements.

You would agree to help out even if it meant cancelling your own plans and work commitments?

He’s not free. RTFT.

What is wrong with people! Your son said no, you said no. That's it, end of the conversation with your neighbour. You went above and beyond to source help too. Maybe the people who have a problem with it, should go mind you neighbours cat themselves!!!

He isn’t free. Neither is OP. You look silly.

It's a few minutes twice a day. Surely you could be a nice neighbour and do the first week. You never know when you might need help one day.

Blimey keep your hair on. Please see my previous post about negotiating a better rate.

Why would it be your son's responsibility?

That said, it all seems a bit of a mountain when a molehill will do. Cats largely look after themselves, so it can't be that difficult for someone to put food out each day and check it has water to drink for the first week?

Wow. Why would you not help her for the first week?She had plans but was let down, surely you can help this one time. Glad you aren't my neighbour. Let's hope you don't ever need a favour.

As a former cattery owner, we had so many desperate calls last minute from people who had been let down by cat sitters. It's not just feeding/cleaning litter trays etc., What if the cat gets ill? As you've said, your son and you are both away. £30 is an insult! YANBU

Or in the case of our local facebook page the cat gets out and cannot be found.

Why would you not read the thread? Surely you can read the thread?

I have no idea what you wanted to gain from this thread

It’s more in reference to the general feeling before that was clarified by Op.

The number of posters who agreed that it wasn’t her problem.

It’s a sad reflection of our attitudes.

Maybe to vent. I’ve done that before. 80% of people agree with OP and sometimes you need to see that when a situation seems like madness.

She is just cheeky. She rings up the local catteries if she has nobody to help. I've done it for people but usually only just people living nearby who I was friends with. Not a random neighbour and for two weeks.

Well to be fair we can only go on the information you provide.
Your original post didn’t mention he has two jobs and said he wanted to be free to come and go as he pleases. That doesn’t suggest he already has commitments.

At this stage I'd be termpted to phone around some catteries myself just so I could present her with evidence of availability to at least one place for those dates. And then say 'Phew! Crisis averted! Hurry up and book it before it goes! So happy to have been able to help after all. '

And then watch her scrabble around for a reason why that won't work, because she simply doesn't want to have to pay for it, which was her reason for asking you all along.

In this economic clmate I refuse to believe every cattery is booked full. It's not even the school holidays yet.

Cat lady CF.

Hope you and your DD enjoy your summers, Op.

Why aren't posters berating the cat sitter who let the NDN down at the 11th hour rather than the teen who has just finished his A-Levels and has plans for the summer that he doesn't want to change, on top of doing two jobs, for a miserly £30?

Surely between you and your son you could manage to pop to your neighbours house twice a day to put some food down and check the litter tray (if there is one). I just cant understand some people?

Hmm. I've said to OP it would've been wise to be more specific in her first post, because I know what MN is like, but she did say the neighbour had been told they both couldn't do it. Neither the neighbour nor anyone who's posted on this thread has had reason to believe either of them was available.

Do the people who keep mentioning catteries actually have cats? I looked around one and it involved cats being in small cages which seems really cruel if the cat normally lives outdoors and strolls around freely. I can't imagine how stressful that would be for a cat if they were there for three weeks.

I'd reply because with her CF behaviour, it wouldn't surprise me at this point for her to just leave the cat and text you about it.

Then surely someone with a cat who doesn't want to use a cattery probably shouldn't go on holiday as long as 2 weeks.