How much would you pay for feeding your cat?

[StuntNun]

I’ve asked my son’s 15-year-old friend to feed my cat for a week while I’m on holiday. How much do you think I should pay him? It would cost £72 for a cattery so I was thinking £40? He would only have to come in once a day and the cat isn’t friendly so he wouldn’t have to entertain him or keep him company.

Your cattery seems very cheap.

personally I'd pay him £10 per visit. But I don't see the appeal of a teen going out of their way to do something for someone for less myself, so it might not save you any money, it just depends which you think the cat would prefer.

We ask people to come in once a day if they are feeding our cats. They get wet food (left by whoever comes in, in the morning) and dry food for the rest of the day.

@caringcarer we leave dry kibble out all the time so the cat only needs wet food to be put out once a day. He only comes home for food then goes straight out again so he doesn't need company or anything.

@LoveSpringDaffs I have two other cats that will be going into a cattery so it's £72 to add this one cat in with the other two. If it was just one cat on its own it would be more than this. But he doesn't spend any time at home, he only comes in for food so I think he'll be fine out of the cattery.

@StuntNun ah that makes sense why it's so 'cheap'for the cattery. 3 cats though, definitely not cheap for a week!!

How much does DS think is reasonable?

Like others have said, it depends how far out of his way it is & other things. If he's a kid that practically lives at yours & eats you out if house & home then £30 is probably plenty, if he's schlepping to the other side of town then £10 per visit...

It's only a five-minute walk away. Maybe £40 is too much.

It’s not too much at all. Just because he’s a teen and is only 5 minutes away, he’s still got to take time out of his day to do it. I think any less is taking the piss. Having someone you presumably trust, that allows the cat to not have the stress of a cattery is priceless. When you have pets, it’s just part of the cost of the holiday. £40 for the week is well worth it for you and a nice amount for a 15 year old. He’s more likely to say yes in future as well if you need someone.

I would pay £5 per day.
My teens would be happy with that.
Do you have an adult on standby for emergencies? (Having had this once when someone was feeding our cat)

£5 a day/time would be £35 so similar to the £40 I thought. Said cat doesn't live here anymore, he moved out to a neighbour down the road's house a while back and he only comes in for food. If we're around when he comes in then he gets a pouch of wet food and leaves again straight after eating. We free-feed dry kibble so he probably comes in at other times and eats that. One of my other neighbour's cats also sneaks in sometimes and eats our food, and I have two other cats living here as well so it's impossible to tell who's eating what!

I don't think the responsibility is that enormous, Nelliephant1 if there are any issues he can ask his mum or phone us, we're only going to be in Scotland and my brother-in-law lives close by and has a key for emergencies. I used to feed my neighbour's gerbils and water their plants when they were away and if there had been any problems I would have been able to ask my parents.