Paying young teen to feed cats - how much?

[niceberg]

We’re going to be away for a week in January, first time since we got our cats a couple of months ago.

We are going to ask our neighbours if their son would be ok to come in twice a day to feed them, and sort litter trays. Their son is only 12 but very mature.

I was going to offer £5 per day but OH says £20 for the week is plenty. Is there a going rate?! Just aware that catteries and cat sitters can cost loads.

I should have said, my children are younger so I don’t have experience of being on the receiving end of this kind of thing.

I'd have said £15 and a big bag of sweets.

Thanks Ohio, good idea to include a treat.

I pay my cat sitter £12 a day for 2 visits so £5 sounds quite reasonable. How many days will he do it? Maybe £25 for the week?

He is 12. If you give him £25 He will never earn that much money again, per minute.

Minimum wage is what £7.25 an hour?

I think you should ask him what he wants paid. If he's lovely and fair pay him what he asks for. Plus a bit more and a treat.

We do this amongst several friends with cats and 12 year olds, we all pay £5 per day.

I have a 12 year old and think £20 plus a bag of sweets is plenty & would be very well received. Don't expect them to clean up very well though

I pay a professional, insured, knowing what she's doing, cat-sitter £6/visit so I think £5 is fine.

Explain how to change cat litter though!

I have teenagers (and cats!) and think £20-£25 plus a bag of sweets sounds reasonable.

For two visits I pay 7:50 a day to similar aged children but there are other pets - rabbits, guineas - as well as cats

£5 per day sounds good. The 12 year olds I know would rather have the extra cash rather than a big bag sweets!

I'd go with £5 per day.

You're asking a child to deal with your pets' shit which is unpleasant enough when it's your own pet.

£20 for the week would be OK if there was no litter tray scooping involved.

Thanks all for your responses. Yes, I think the fact it involves litter trays not just feeding means he has to be well compensated. His family also have cats so hopefully he will cope ok.

I leave out a printed sheet with feeding instructions, a reminder to lock and unlock the catflap and the vet's phone number on, also it has photos of the cats as no one ever seems to be able to remember which is which.