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Original poster

How much to pay a 14 year old for feeding my cat

78 replies

catluver · 07/12/2024 10:21

I'm going on holiday for 9 nights from Xmas Day and my friend's son is going to visit our house twice/day to feed the cat, let it out during the day and back in at night. He'll leave dry food down and put fresh water down. The cat is likely to go to the toilet outside but he might need to clean the litter tray once, and also check for accidents on the kitchen floor and clean that (but hopefully that won't happen).

How much should I pay him? He'll walk to our house (10 minutes) and spend no more than 5-10 minutes feeding/cleaning - twice each day.

Thank you for your suggestions :)

OP posts:
Kitkat1523 · 07/12/2024 10:23

20 quid a day?…it’s that responsibility of locking up house as well

helpfulperson · 07/12/2024 10:27

I agree, £20 a day seems reasonable. It is actually a lot of responsibility. Not just locking up etc but potentially dealing with spotting signs of illness/injury to the cat, arriving to problems with the house and possible other issues. The money needs to be enough to convey the seriousness of what he has taken on.

Original poster
catluver · 07/12/2024 10:28

Yes, responsible for locking up the house too. Will do the first couple of times with his Mum, then do it on his own. £20/day is probably going rate for a professional with insurance, etc., not sure about a 14 year old. But thank you for your suggestion and taking time to respond :-)

OP posts:
Sirzy · 07/12/2024 10:28

I was going to suggest £10 a visit so agree with above on the £20 a day.

Hoppinggreen · 07/12/2024 10:29

£20 a day is less than a professional with insurance would charge.
DD used to do this and was paid around that.

GeorgeMichaelsCat · 07/12/2024 10:29

I agree with the £20.

marmaladeandpeanutbutter · 07/12/2024 10:30

It’s his Christmas and box day, his New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. It's not too much to pay £20.

Hobbesmanc · 07/12/2024 10:30

I pay 12.50 a visit to my cat sitter. Twice a day. She has insurance etc so I guess that's part of what I'm paying for.

I'd think maybe 20 quid would be top end. But if he's setting alarms. Securing property etc it's a big responsibility

Kitkat1523 · 07/12/2024 10:38

It would cost you 40 quid for a professional here in NW england…..and it includes 3 bank holidays…..you taking the piss paying him less

Kitkat1523 · 07/12/2024 10:39

Hoppinggreen · 07/12/2024 10:29

£20 a day is less than a professional with insurance would charge.
DD used to do this and was paid around that.

Where do you live? I’m northwest England and it 20 quid per call here …,so OP would be charged 40 quid

Sunshineandrainbow · 07/12/2024 10:42

marmaladeandpeanutbutter · 07/12/2024 10:30

It’s his Christmas and box day, his New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. It's not too much to pay £20.

This

We pay 15.00 a day for 2 visits but as it's Christmas and he is helping you out while you are away for Christmas I think I would up it to 20. He will really appreciate the money I am sure as at that age money is not easy to earn.

OnTheBoardwalk · 07/12/2024 10:42

What happens if the cat doesn’t come in for him? Does he have to wait around or would he leave the cat out all night?

MissMoneyFairy · 07/12/2024 10:42

It will take him more than 10mins each time to clean the bowls, put food down, clean any floor, change the litter,maybe spend time playing with the cat, waiting for the cat to come back in, what if the weather is bad and the cat wants to stay in. £20 really isn't that much. He shouldn't get less because of his age.

CheshireCats · 07/12/2024 10:44

£29 a day is not the going rate for an insured professional. This would be a minimum of £30 and probably more.
You are paying the teen to come 2x per day meaning no lie ins, no sleep overs with friends, have to get home for a certain time if out. To clean litter tray, potential vomit etc. £20 per day is extremely reasonable for all of this.

StormingNorman · 07/12/2024 10:44

Cat sitters my way are £15 per visit. Pay the going rate - child exploitation isn’t a good look.

JingleB · 07/12/2024 10:45

Teens here charge £10 a day. DS and DD supplemented pocket money doing it and now their friends’ younger siblings do the same for us.

I double it for Christmas Eve through Boxing Day.

OrlandointheWilderness · 07/12/2024 10:46

Pay him what you would pay anyone else - he's doing the same job and it's over his Christmas!

Hurdlin · 07/12/2024 10:47

£10 a day

Hoppinggreen · 07/12/2024 10:48

Kitkat1523 · 07/12/2024 10:39

Where do you live? I’m northwest England and it 20 quid per call here …,so OP would be charged 40 quid

Show quote history

Yorkshire.
Some professionals charge up to £20 per visit!

HellofromJohnCraven · 07/12/2024 10:53

I'd give £100.

HavfrueDenizKisi · 07/12/2024 10:56

My teen does this for our neighbours and she gets £5/day. It's next door and takes about 15mins a visit. She goes once a day usually. £20/day is pretty high imo.

Funkyslippers · 07/12/2024 11:00

I recently did this for a friend of OH & he paid me £10 per visit. I didn't have insurance but if you go through catinaflat for instance you'd be looking at at least £15 per visit

craigth162 · 07/12/2024 11:01

My 15 year old would be happy with £50 all in! I'd probably give £10 a day. Round here a cattery is only £16 a night and that includes food etc.

craigth162 · 07/12/2024 11:02

Minimum wage for under 18 (obviously doesn't apply to 14) is only about £6 so £20 for approx 1 maybe 1.5 hrs a day seems high.

CoastalCalm · 07/12/2024 11:03

I’d give him £100

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