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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

I really don't need this

26 replies

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 03/12/2018 16:10

Please can my lovely Litter Tray friends calm me down? DH and I are away at the moment and Harry is with his cat sitter. We thought all was well until we realised that he's only been getting really short visits, one was 2 minutes, another was 4 minutes. (We've got a Ring doorbell and we'd had a couple of alerts, we were not checking up)

I feel so guilty that he's not getting the care he deserves. I'm not doing anything to rock the boat while we're away as I need him to be fed but I'll have to do something when we're back. I hate confrontation and I really don't know the best way to handle this.

I just want to cuddle him and make sure he's ok

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PlateOfBiscuits · 03/12/2018 16:12

Oh that’s rubbish! So they’re literally just coming in and changing the food and leaving. What did you agree with them? Is it a company or a friend/family member?

Shinesweetfreedom · 03/12/2018 16:13

Have you any contact with the sitter.You could just pretend one of your neighbours has not seen him visit the property and was worried that the cat was left alone and had contacted you.

Original poster
PinkSparklyPussyCat · 03/12/2018 16:21

They've been looking after him for years with no problems so I don't know what's gone wrong. Thankfully were only away until Saturday and we might go back a couple of days earlier. My amazing Uncle is going to pop in and make sure everything is ok but he's elderly and I can't ask him to take over until we're back.

We're going away for 3 weeks next year and I'm worried I won't find anyone else and build up a relationship with them before then.

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Toddlerteaplease · 03/12/2018 17:21

That's all mine does. I didn't realise, until she mentioned that she doesn't drive so her husband brings her and waits for her. The girls don't seem to mind. She feeds them and brushes them and plays with them. I doubt she stays longer than 20 minutes though. If that. The girls are always fine and happy to see me when I get home so I'm not that bothered. Harry will be fine!

Toddlerteaplease · 03/12/2018 17:36

Mine go into a cattery for anything longer than one night. Mainly as the cattery staff adore Snorg! And she loves it there.

EachandEveryone · 03/12/2018 17:40

Mine does that as well did you ask her to change any trays? It really upsets me I’ve had no luck with cat sitters I just kept going back to her because she knew them. Luckily I buy my neighbour gin and she goes in once a day on top of the sitter. I do feel for you I would text her and give her some jobs to do.

Branleuse · 03/12/2018 17:45

how long are you away for. Im sure your cat will cope, and be extra glad to see you later. Its not something id be particularly concerned about, unless i was paying a lot

Original poster
PinkSparklyPussyCat · 03/12/2018 17:48

I won't put him in a cattery, especially for 3 weeks. I can't bear the thought of him in a pen when he's used to his own home. The website states 30 minute visits and he's definitely not getting that. I don't think 5 minutes or less is long enough to check he's ok, feed him, set up his timed feeder, change his water, empty his tray and wash up. I want him to have a bit of interaction while we're away and I know he used to get it. I feel more guilty than usual about leaving him!

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Sausagefingers9 · 03/12/2018 17:49

Oh that’s not nice, no wonder you are worried. He will be fine, as long as he is being fed and watered.
What sort of agreement did you have in place?

Original poster
PinkSparklyPussyCat · 03/12/2018 17:50

Toddler, 20 minutes would be fine as he probably doesn't need any longer. 2 definitely isn't enough though.

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Sausagefingers9 · 03/12/2018 17:51

There is a massive gap in the market for decent cat sitters. So much choice for dogs but less so cats.
I’ve just picked my boy up from a few days in a cattery but like you I wouldn’t want to do it for weeks. It was his first time and you could see the relief all over his face when he came home.

Original poster
PinkSparklyPussyCat · 03/12/2018 17:53

I've noticed that. I also don't want someone turning up in a van or car with a logo on it so people know I'm away! It would be so much easier to find a dog walker!

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Toddlerteaplease · 03/12/2018 20:20

I'm far more relaxed when my two are in the cattery as they have staff in their all day. And I know they are safe. I think they get better cared for there than at home. They have cat nip parties! Snorg enjoys the cat flap!

viccat · 03/12/2018 22:36

That's really rubbish. I do some catsits for friends and through a charity where I volunteer and we generally do 30 mins to an hour. Even if I'm in a hurry it takes at least 15-20 minutes to wash up bowls, feed, change water, scoop the trays and take to bin, and give the cat some fuss and attention.

Are you sure the doorbell is definitely accurate?

Original poster
PinkSparklyPussyCat · 04/12/2018 17:04

5 minutes this morning. Since we've been away he's had 8 visits (which is correct) totalling 53 minutes.

Looking at the other alerts the timing on the doorbell is right. All the times have varied and the ones from us before we went away are definitely correct.

We've got bookings for next year and I'm really worried she'll get funny with me when I cancel. I know I need to pull myself together and deal with it but I hate anything like this!

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Sausagefingers9 · 04/12/2018 17:12

Do you know her personally?

If you don’t want face to face confrontation then what about sending an email? You’re paying for a service that she isn’t providing, you’ve every right to say you are unhappy.

TheLongRider · 04/12/2018 17:12

Just think that you are doing this in Harry's best interest. It's not fair on him and you. You're not getting the service you're paying for and he's not getting the care he needs.

It takes me at least 20 minutes to feed, clean out the litter tray and chat to our four beasts. There's no way a paid sitter should be in and out in 3 minutes.

TheLongRider · 04/12/2018 17:13

Stay strong Pink. You've got the power of the Litter Tray behind you. 💪

smartcarnotsosmartdriver · 04/12/2018 17:26

I wouldn't like this either, we have a good cat sitter who looks after my girls. She spends time with them and plays with them. She also sends me pictures of them across the time we're away so I know they're ok.

Original poster
PinkSparklyPussyCat · 05/12/2018 15:34

He had 10 minutes last night and 4 minutes this morning so we're going home tomorrow. I really can't see that even the basics are being done in that time - I'm dreading what state the house will be in. The website actually says 20-25 minutes per visit and he's had a total of 67 minutes in 10 visits.

I've arranged a meeting with a potential new cat sitter on Sunday so hopefully that will go well, although I'm wary about trusting anyone now.

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MrsPawsitive · 05/12/2018 20:56

So DH just took a short vacation while I held down the (cat)fort. The wear and tear on our nerves if we use a sitter or cattery for our multi-cat family would render any normal shared vacation into Nervous Wreckland for DH and me both.

Next time it will be my turn to go somewhere. I don't see us always doing things this way but for now it works. Possibly we are a tad neurotic Smile.

Regardless, I hope things work out for you, OP, and I totally understand your concern. The few minutes of care is indeed worrying.

Fluffycloudland77 · 06/12/2018 20:23

I’d imagine they’ve been doing this for years.

GhostSauce · 06/12/2018 21:07

Any word Pink? It's just not on, especially as she knows you and Harry and would know what your expectations are. I can't imagine she's feeding him, changing litter, cleaning his bowls etc in 10 mins. That leaves no time for fusses and playing. I wouldn't be happy with that.

(It's me, DangerCat's mum by the way, on another name change Smile).

Can you slowly phase her out and find someone new? Is this still the ex-vet receptionist or nurse or something?

GhostSauce · 06/12/2018 21:08

(Tom sends Harry love and says hi!)

Original poster
PinkSparklyPussyCat · 07/12/2018 19:01

Sorry for the late update. We got home yesterday and Harry was fine, the house was clean and his tray was empty (he soon rectified that though!).

Now we know he's ok we're having a bit of a dilemma about what to do as she adores him. When my Mum died she said she'd have Harry if anything happened to DH and I (Mum was the lucky recipient before that) and you can tell by the way she thinks about him that she loves him and I think the world of her as she's supported me every time Harry has been poorly.

We haven't said anything yet. We're going to see the other lady on Sunday and take it from there. We're going to try and get to the bottom of what went on and make a decision from there. If we didn't have a 3 week road trip planned I wouldn't be so worried!

Harry waves a paw to Tom. Has he had his vet free year yet?

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