House siting a cat

[thatsright]

Yes this is really, really OT. I'm sure the trolls will come out and have fun with this one

I'll be on Vaca for 4 weeks and no one I know lives close by to watch my cat while I'm away. Well don't need to watch it, just feed it and change the catbox while it remains alone in my house. I asked a neighbor who lives upstairs to do it and he was kind of hesitant. Deer in the headlights sort of look. Which indicates he was saying "oh man WTF is this!" So I feel like I put him on the spot in a bad way. But he did this thing for just a week about a year ago and I gave him a free pair of shoes as a thank you. I told him I would "give you a few hundred bucks" to which he said thats good. I trust him in my house.

My only other options are to board it somewhere which would easily go for like $650-750. I was thinking of giving the guy $250 or so. Would you be insulted if you had to check in once a day to feed it and change the catbox every few days for 4 weeks for that amount?

 

[TechBoyJK]

Cats are like ninjas. Siting them is one thing.. House siting them is another. They can be really hard to see.

 

[TechBoyJK]

Yes this is really, really OT. I'm sure the trolls will come out and have fun with this one

I'll be on Vaca for 4 weeks and no one I know lives close by to watch my cat while I'm away. Well don't need to watch it, just feed it and change the catbox while it remains alone in my house. I asked a neighbor who lives upstairs to do it and he was kind of hesitant. Deer in the headlights sort of look. Which indicates he was saying "oh man WTF is this!" So I feel like I put him on the spot in a bad way. But he did this thing for just a week about a year ago and I gave him a free pair of shoes as a thank you. I told him I would "give you a few hundred bucks" to which he said thats good. I trust him in my house.

My only other options are to board it somewhere which would easily go for like $650-750. I was thinking of giving the guy $250 or so. Would you be insulted if you had to check in once a day to feed it and change the catbox every few days for 4 weeks for that amount?

1)Setup a cam with pan/tilt in your house that you can access while you are away.

2) Pay someone to take care of the cat at your house. Putting it somewhere else could bring unneccesary trauma.

 

[Stopsignhank]

There are people that do this for a living, you could check and see what they charge. They will also play with your cat for a bit while you are gone.

I would be concerned with your cat getting bored during those 4 weeks and going stir crazy. You might come back to a chewed up house, or an ever crazier cat than you have now.

 

[Krazy4Real]

Take your cat with you on vacation. Do you really want someone siting your cat for 4 weeks?

 

[dave_the_nerd]

If I wasn't super-friendly with somebody I trusted, I'd pay a pet-sitting service. Yes to baby monitors (cameras.)

Cats are very territorial - it's definitely better if they can stay in their "zone" rather than being boarded somewhere else.

 

[thatsright]

There are people that do this for a living, you could check and see what they charge. They will also play with your cat for a bit while you are gone.

I would be concerned with your cat getting bored during those 4 weeks and going stir crazy. You might come back to a chewed up house, or an ever crazier cat than you have now.

Already checked on other people who do it as a separate job. They would have to drive over and that would be just as expensive as boarding and probably more like $650+.

I'm away most of the day anyway at work and no one else is there. She might go a bit stir crazy, but she is use to it already.

No to the web cam thing. If she's alive when I get back great!

 

[tynopik]

My only other options are to board it somewhere which would easily go for like $650-750.

Step 1: take your cat to the pound
Step 2: get a new kitten from the pound on your return
Step 3: enjoy your new kitteh and extra $500

 

[edro]

I would definitely do that for $250.
Hell, most friendly neighbors do that for free... but being it is a whole month, $250 is a great payment IMO.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

I would definitely do that for $250.
Hell, most friendly neighbors do that for free... but being it is a whole month, $250 is a great payment IMO.

Pretty much.

This is what neighborhood teenagers used to be for. And mowing lawns and stuff.

Bribe your neighbor's kids?

 

[K1052]

Bribe neighbor with money and something he likes (booze, etc).

Otherwise have a service take care of it at your place. The cost is comparable to boarding and a lot better for the animal. Plus they give the cat attention and keep an eye on your place/pickup mail/etc.

 

[thatsright]

I would definitely do that for $250.
Hell, most friendly neighbors do that for free... but being it is a whole month, $250 is a great payment IMO.

Yeah hopefully he agrees. If not, I won't be offended or annoyed at all. And good thing I didn't tell him how much specifically. I'll offer $200. But if he can't do it, well then yeah I was thinking of surrendering it at a no kill shelter then getting a new one when I get home.

 

[Stopsignhank]

But if he can't do it, well then yeah I was thinking of surrendering it at a no kill shelter then getting a new one when I get home.

 

[thatsright]

I am kitty kitty.

 

[TechBoyJK]

Even if paying someone to make house calls is the same as boarding the cat somewhere else, it cannot be stressed enough how 'expensive' boarding your cat might be in the long run. Even if it were a little more costly for house calls versus boarding, I would take the house calls any day of the week.

 

[Jaskalas]

Would I care for a cat? Sure.
That's because I love cats.

If the neighbor freaked out about it, they do not like cats.

 

[[DHT]Osiris]

Like 90% of the time I've ever sitted for cats I didn't 'know' (as in, they didn't know me), they bail the second they hear the door open with a strange voice. You go in, dump the old food/wash the plate, put new food on it, scoop the crap from the box into a grocery bag, and throw it away. Take the trash out before the owners get home. Not really a problem.

 

[Schmide]

Step one - shave cat.
Step two - ???
Step three - profit

 

[thatsright]

Like 90% of the time I've ever sitted for cats I didn't 'know' (as in, they didn't know me), they bail the second they hear the door open with a strange voice. You go in, dump the old food/wash the plate, put new food on it, scoop the crap from the box into a grocery bag, and throw it away. Take the trash out before the owners get home. Not really a problem.

Would you mind flying to Boston? I"ll give you $50.

 

[[DHT]Osiris]

Can I cat sit remotely? I'll do it for $50 remotely.

Seriously though, there has to be a child within a sq mile that can handle a key and reach the sink.

 

[Perknose]

Yeah hopefully he agrees. If not, I won't be offended or annoyed at all. And good thing I didn't tell him how much specifically. I'll offer $200. But if he can't do it, well then yeah I was thinking of surrendering it at a no kill shelter then getting a new one when I get home.

In the course of a friendly convo, tell him you're willing to pay for his valuable and friendly assistance, and then ask him how much money he thinks would be a proper amount.

He might hesitate (deer in the headlights n' all) so then tell him to think it over and emphasize that you won't be offended by whatever amount he comes up with.

My bet? $50 is what he'll say. Then tell him $100 and you won't consider giving him a penny less. When you return, add in an unannounced gift of booze or, ummm, a small amount of medical marijuana as well. No more shoes. Don't treat him as if he's one of the poors!

 

[Perknose]

Lol, I actually didn't see the two posts above me, both repping the magic $50 amount!

OP, it's a sign!

 

[Perknose]

But if he can't do it, well then yeah I was thinking of surrendering it at a no kill shelter then getting a new one when I get home.

FFS, please tell me you're kidding.

 

[ElFenix]

how do you use a house to site a cat?

 

[Denly]

It is very hard to trust someone(random cat sitter) enough to give them your key and not everyone want to take on the responsible if there is anything go south.

Write down the following things and thank me later
-give the person your itinerary and a way to get in touch with you if possible
-Med record, vet info and after hrs vet clinic info
-Things you want he/she do and amount off food per day
-In case they can't get a hold on you a second contact that can pay for the emergency clinic
-In case there is a live and dead situation when you want them to put a stop.

And hire someone that know cats.