Pet Sitter

[knowledge_of_self]

Hey all

My bf and I are going to be traveling to Europe at the end of August-End of October and we're looking to hire a cat sitter for the first time.

I was wondering if anyone on the forum has had experience with pet sitters. What is the average pet sitter price for 30 min/once a day visit, etc..

I'm going to be asking for references and a background check for the people I consider, but I was just wondering what other forum members experiences have been with pet sitters.

Thanks

 

[anart]

Hey all

My bf and I are going to be traveling to Europe at the end of August-End of October and we're looking to hire a cat sitter for the first time.

I was wondering if anyone on the forum has had experience with pet sitters. What is the average pet sitter price for 30 min/once a day visit, etc..

I'm going to be asking for references and a background check for the people I consider, but I was just wondering what other forum members experiences have been with pet sitters.

Thanks

Are you going to be gone from the end of August to the end of October? A 30 minute a day visit is nowhere near enough interaction for a cat for that length of time. In fact, it would be kind of cruel. Hopefully I'm misunderstanding you.

 

[knowledge_of_self]

Are you going to be gone from the end of August to the end of October? A 30 minute a day visit is nowhere near enough interaction for a cat for that length of time. In fact, it would be kind of cruel. Hopefully I'm misunderstanding you.

No, you didn't misunderstand, that's the time I'm going. Though, I got the idea for half hour because that's the average rate offered by pet sitters on most sites. I believe the rate is $20 for 30 min to come feed/water the cat and clean cat litter.

The other option is to have an actual house sitter come and stay in your house while you're gone.

For example this site: http://www.mindmyhouse.com/

that helps connect people interested in the house sitting option.

I'm not really sure if I want to go with that option quite yet, but I'll have to weigh all the options before I decide. Luna (my cat) is stranger unfriendly, and doesn't take to strangers well at all, that's why i thought the 30 min a day wouldn't be too bad, since she doesn't like strangers. How long would you suggest is a better length of time per visit?

Thanks

 

[anart]

30 minutes a day if you were gone for a week or two would be okay, though not great. Your cat should have someone there at least twice a day for an hour or so - in the morning and the evening. If she doesn't want to interact, that's fine, the point is that someone is there to make sure nothing bad has happened and in case she does want to interact. I'd bet money that after the first week, she's going to be all over them.

The length of time you are going to be gone is a looonngggg time to a pet.

I always have to get pet sitters when I travel and if it's a two week trip, it can run around $700 just for the pet sitter, though I have a dog, which requires an over-night stay. Cats can get away without an over night stay, but - again - the length of time you are gone changes that a lot. Can you drop the cat off with someone you know who will take good care of it while you're away? A house-sitter would be the best option for the cat, but another house would be okay as well. It's just too long to leave an animal by themselves for most of the day.

It's important to realize that while cats are independent, they are still social animals and you can't just leave them like a house plant - though if it were a short trip, she'd probably be okay with a few short visits per day.

 

[knowledge_of_self]

30 minutes a day if you were gone for a week or two would be okay, though not great. Your cat should have someone there at least twice a day for an hour or so - in the morning and the evening. If she doesn't want to interact, that's fine, the point is that someone is there to make sure nothing bad has happened and in case she does want to interact. I'd bet money that after the first week, she's going to be all over them.

The length of time you are going to be gone is a looonngggg time to a pet.

I always have to get pet sitters when I travel and if it's a two week trip, it can run around $700 just for the pet sitter, though I have a dog, which requires an over-night stay. Cats can get away without an over night stay, but - again - the length of time you are gone changes that a lot. Can you drop the cat off with someone you know who will take good care of it while you're away? A house-sitter would be the best option for the cat, but another house would be okay as well. It's just too long to leave an animal by themselves for most of the day.

It's important to realize that while cats are independent, they are still social animals and you can't just leave them like a house plant - though if it were a short trip, she'd probably be okay with a few short visits per day.

Unfortunately right now I don't have anyone reliable to leave her with - that's why I'm looking into sitters. But the things you mentioned make a lot of sense and it's very good advice.

I'm going to look more into getting a house sitter and see if I can find someone suitable to come stay here for the duration of my trip. If I don't, I'll just have to do the more expensive thing- hire the cat sitter for at least twice a day (morning & evening) visit for 30 min-1hr for each visit. I'll keep ya'll posted.

Thanks again!

 

[Keit]

30 minutes a day if you were gone for a week or two would be okay, though not great. Your cat should have someone there at least twice a day for an hour or so - in the morning and the evening. If she doesn't want to interact, that's fine, the point is that someone is there to make sure nothing bad has happened and in case she does want to interact. I'd bet money that after the first week, she's going to be all over them.

I am sorry if it's off-topic and not related to cat-sitters, just wanted to share that I am very worried about my mother's cat. I was supposed to go and look after her cat (At least twice, and maybe more, and stay there each time for a day or two because it takes more then two hours in each direction), but on the last day before her leave she decided she didn't want me in her apartment when she is not there (and I don't have a key). She will be gone for two weeks.

I urged her to at least ask the neighbor to come and make sure she was ok. Because it's really hot outside, and who know what could happen and if there would be enough water (and the cat is elderly), but she just said that she doesn't need my advice, and that the cat would be afraid of the neighbor anyway. It's an excuse, of course and I urged her to do it anyway, but don't know if she followed it. So I really hope everything will turn out ok. :(

 

[Gertrudes]

Hi Deedlet,

Another possibility is to leave her at a house specialized in taking care of pets when their owners are away. Although good, reliable ones can be very expensive, at least in Europe.

I'm just mentioning this because I also think that it is a very long time for Luna to be on her own, and my concern is that the prolonged absence and lack of human contact may greatly affect her own mental and emotional health.

In any case, hope you find that house sitter!

 

[Gertrudes]

I'm sorry to hear that Keit!

How is the cat being fed though?

 

[Keit]

I'm sorry to hear that Keit!

How is the cat being fed though?

She said that she will leave cat's usual big container full of cat food. She (the cat) is not a big eater, so food probably isn't a problem. Its other, unpredictable things that can happen with elderly and very shy cat. She also likes attention, even if always runs to the closet when strangers beside me come to the house. The thing is that my mother already did something like this in the past, but at least there were two cats then.

I hope that she did ask the neighbor and just told me that she wouldn't.

 

[anart]

I'm sorry to hear that Keit!

How is the cat being fed though?

She said that she will leave cat's usual big container full of cat food. She (the cat) is not a big eater, so food probably isn't a problem. Its other, unpredictable things that can happen with elderly and very shy cat. She also likes attention, even if always runs to the closet when strangers beside me come to the house. The thing is that my mother already did something like this in the past, but at least there were two cats then.

I hope that she did ask the neighbor and just told me that she wouldn't.

Is there an animal cruelty department where you are? I would call them and let them know the animal has been abandoned. It's beyond cruel if she just left it there by itself.

 

[anart]

I'm just mentioning this because I also think that it is a very long time for Luna to be on her own, and my concern is that the prolonged absence and lack of human contact may greatly affect her own mental and emotional health.

That's exactly the case. Deedlet is likely to come home to a very emotionally/mentally disturbed cat if she's basically left alone for that long with only a visit during the day. I strongly suggest a house sitter or to find another home for the cat in general.

 

[D Rusak]

Deedlet,

I HIGHLY encourage you to do almost whatever it takes to find either a house-sitter or someone to take your cat in. If you can afford it and these don't work try a place that takes in cats if you can't do the above. Even though cats are independent, they are sociable animals and they need some human contact and play/interaction.

I speak from experience, unfortunately (though my baby is still here and hopefully not very psych damaged- he was back to his old quirky self in a couple days). Even with having someone come 2x a day my cat almost ran away. I looked hard enough the next time I was gone for a decent chunk of time and ended up persuading someone to watch my cat. My cat was much more happy, and my colleague ended up having a sort of therapy by having someone to care for- he even ended up with a kitten of his own shortly after. I wouldn't leave my cat alone for more than a day at this point, and only would leave him at home with 2x visits for maybe a weekend.

 

[Keit]

Is there an animal cruelty department where you are? I would call them and let them know the animal has been abandoned. It's beyond cruel if she just left it there by itself.

Called main animal care services and they told me to talk to municipal veterinary service or the police. But the woman said that they take care of much more serious cases than emotional abuse (if water and food are present). Called municipal veterinary service and the guy told me that unless I am absolutely sure that the animal was abandoned and is in danger, they are not able to do anything. They need a statement and evidence to initiate the process and get the order from a judge to break the door.

I found a phone number on the web of her friend she stays with in Belarus and plan to call my mother and ask her if she left a key with her neighbor. If she did, I'll go there tomorrow (was asked to help with something tomorrow morning, so won't be able to leave today), ask for a key and stay there. But if she didn't, then the question is, should I go on and notify the authorities? It's been a week already, and not sharing about it earlier here is without a doubt my responsibility and on my conscience.

edit: Called her friend, and she gave me the number of another friend, and said she will be available in the evening, so will call then.

 

[Laura]

Why not put an ad in the paper? "Do you need a temporary home away from home? Do you have good references? Do you love cats? Would you like to house/cat sit for me while I'm away on business? Please call:_________"

 

[NewOrleans]

I've had several experiences with cat sitters before, and even the good ones are less-than-ideal. I had to throw out ruined king size mattress because of the cat's reaction: peeing as distress/revenge. Cats, you probably know, are creatures of familiarity, so no substitute can do anything but change litter and feed them. Even with a kindhearted sitter who visits twice a day for a week, the duration seems like forever to them. When you're talking about months, to a cat it must feel like complete abandonment. Being alone in a empty house, and then an intruder coming and going: it's a solution - but cats aren't houseplants and their emotional lives are rooted in dependency to their humans.

I'd suggest researching any "cat boarding houses" rather than a visiting cat sitter. Some cities have these services ( with good references through a source like Angie's List) associated with vet offices. Not caged but a free roaming "hotel/lodge". Your pet at least would have mental stimulation with other cats in the place and 7/24 caretakers, not loneliness and abject depression. Where I live, a good pet sitter costs that's about $20 per visit or $50 a day rate and boarding usually $75 or more per day. Not exactly cheap by any standards.

The alternative would be a friend with cats who could take in a guest cat for that duration.

Good luck.