Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
The litter tray

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

Original poster

Cat sitter

44 replies

purpleme12 · 21/01/2023 12:35

Do your cat sitters stay for half an hour? Because I know they're advertised to stay for half an hour for a certain amount of money.

I've used the same one sporadically for over 6 years and she hasn't changed her prices for me. I know if I was a new customer I'd be charged more, as per her info.

Over a year ago I got a ring doorbell though. So I know she's not staying for anywhere near half an hour now. (For all I know she could have been doing this for a long time).
Yesterday she stayed for 3 minutes.
This morning for 1 minute!
That's not enough time to check the litter trays is it.

Does everyone's else's stay for half an hour.

I can't help thinking even at the cheaper price it's a bit of a cop out.

OP posts:
amylou8 · 21/01/2023 19:50

I'll easily spend half an hour when I look after my mum's cats, but that includes lots of fuss and treats. I could probably do everything I needed to in 10-15 minutes. One minute she must have literally walked in, chucked some food down and left. I wouldn't be happy at all.

Hereigoagainffs · 21/01/2023 19:55

I used to cat sit. I’d stay minimum 20 minutes as agreed but usually half an hour if they like a bit of a fuss and play. More if the house was the last on the list and the cat had curled up on me as per the rule of not disturbing the cat…

user1471548941 · 21/01/2023 20:00

Yes £10 a day for boarding, they will provide whatever food we request for him at no extra cost also! I think for multiple cats it can go up to £12/15 depending on the number of cats (they have larger “chalets” for multiples)

helpfulperson · 21/01/2023 20:07

Mine generally stays for half an hour as far as I can tell. Sends lots of photos of play and everything is always left neat and tidy. Plants are watered if necessary as well. I have said to her to use the TV if she wants but I'm not sure if she has. Mine are the age where they enjoy company as much as active play so I wouldn't mind if she just watched TV/played on her phone.

meetmeatmidnights · 21/01/2023 20:22

@purpleme12 well £3 is definitely not enough difference imo for that difference in care!! I was thinking if it was £10-15 I could kind of understand but £3 isn't enough to justify that to me. I'd definitely mention it - if you've got a ring doorbell surely she knows you can see her. If you're not in too much of a different time zone and you can speak through the doorbell say hello and goodbye next time she comes 😂

Original poster
purpleme12 · 21/01/2023 21:21

Yes this is what also confuses me. Surely she must have seen the ring doorbell.

OP posts:
Original poster
purpleme12 · 21/01/2023 22:30

I haven't got my cats vaccinated (they're indoor) which is why I went for cat sitter.
Plus I have more than one and don't drive (to get them to cat boarding)
It's so hard

OP posts:
whataboutsecondbreakfast · 21/01/2023 23:48

I'm a cat sitter and a dog walker.

I have a minimum price of £8 which is "anything upto thirty minutes", but most cat visits are more like 15 minutes. Once I've done the litter trays and fed them, they're not really interested in me and generally just bugger off 🤣

Original poster
purpleme12 · 22/01/2023 20:12

No litter trays were done ☹️
I presume this was because I was 'only' away for 2 nights. I mean that must be what she thought about it

OP posts:
whataboutsecondbreakfast · 22/01/2023 21:45

purpleme12 · 22/01/2023 20:12

No litter trays were done ☹️
I presume this was because I was 'only' away for 2 nights. I mean that must be what she thought about it

That's really bad.

I do litter trays every visit. Occasionally I won't need to as the cats won't have been, but I would never, ever leave a dirty tray behind. If the cat goes while I'm there I'll wait until they're done and clean it up, even if it goes beyond my allotted time.

Original poster
purpleme12 · 22/01/2023 23:05

I think I've come to the conclusion she doesn't really care about the job. It's made me worried other sitters would be like this too though ☹️

OP posts:
MyGirlDaisy · 22/01/2023 23:22

I am a cat sitter too (as well as a dog walker). I charge £9 for a 30 minute visit and I stay for 30 minutes. I do all the cat related chores then spend time playing and fussing them. If they don’t want a fuss then I just chat to them - if my clients have cameras I don’t know about they probably think I am completely mad!! We don’t all dash in and out I promise.

Original poster
purpleme12 · 22/01/2023 23:39

Feel really let down
I guess I'll have to try look for someone else.
☹️

OP posts:
Original poster
purpleme12 · 22/01/2023 23:41

To me, it's the kind of work you go into cos you like it.
Not only that but it's hardly a hard job is it, coming in, doing the litter and staying for more than 3 minutes.
It's just another thing to deal with

OP posts:
someadvice20 · 22/01/2023 23:49

How much do you pay her to come and check supposedly for half an hour? X

Original poster
purpleme12 · 23/01/2023 00:13

I think it's past the price thing now.
Like I say, even if I'm paying less than the current rate, a visit that lasted one minute and 2 minutes and 3 minutes max and no change to litter trays at all (even taking poo out) is what makes this not right. If she was staying 15 minutes and doing the litter for example,I don't think I'd be so bothered. You do into a job pet sitting knowing that the pets are loved and important

OP posts:
Original poster
purpleme12 · 23/01/2023 00:24

Hope I can find another one for holiday in summer

OP posts:
Original poster
purpleme12 · 23/01/2023 00:37

I guess I put my trust in her

OP posts:
Lucyanne11 · 13/02/2023 10:02

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page