A question for you humans who are owned by a cat

[chemenger]

You know who you are.

What is a reasonable fee for sitting a cat whose owner who will be away on business for a week?

[unblock]

1. i don't think i'd pay more than $25 or so

unless the kitty is really cute, in which case i might be willing to pay $35.

[1monster]

3. LOL

Great minds think alike. You got yours in a couple of seconds before I got mine in.

[1monster]

2. Depends on whether or not it bites you...

If it does, then a reasonable fee is the doctor and Rx costs, plus the cat food.

If it doesn't bite you, then you should pay the main cat care taker for the priviledge of giving you the opportunity to be a cat care taker for a week.

Honest!

edit: typo

[arcane1]

4. agreed!

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

7. I pay $10 per day

And I think it's quite reasonable. Our sitter will bring in the mail and paper, water the plants, monitor the air conditioning/heating and take out the trash, in addition to cleaning litter boxes, feeding, watering, giving medicine, giving treats and giving lots of love.

You can find a professional pet sitter at the link below.

http://www.petsit.com/

[daligirrl]

5. I have to do it all the time. . .

I teach at a college, so I always have my students do it. I pay $30 per day and give them access to my well-stocked 'fridge if they have to live here for a while. If it's only a weekend, I pay $20 a day for them to stop in a couple of times a day.

[Philostopher]

6. Well, our bonded, experienced 'pro' pet-sitter

Charges $13 a day to clean the boxes and check the food and water. We have four cats. She doesn't hang around to keep them company, since they're all kind of paranoid about strangers (and they consider anybody who hasn't been in the house for two or three days a stranger). I'm in Ohio. I don't know if it would be less if there were fewer cats -- we didn't start using a pet-sitter until we had four of them.

Just so's you know what it might cost for somebody from a 'cat sitting agency' to come in and do the job.

[SummerGrace]

8. My vet charges

$8.00 a day but I'd babysit for free (my kitty wouldn't appreciate it though - very jealous and detests dogs).

[LWolf]

9. I've never had anyone sit my cats.

I've never left them for more than a week. But for a week, I load up the self feeders and waterers, leave the kitty door available for trips outside, and go.

The only drawbacks are the parts of prey they scatter around to punish me for being gone. And the extra lap time they require for a week or so upon my return.

If I lived in a standard "neighborhood" I would probably get a sitter, though.

[Lou_C]

10. Are you friends with this person?

If you are you might want to do an even exchange and she can cat sit your cat when you want to go on vacation.

If not I would charge $125.00 plus food and litter.

[haele]

11. I'd pay around $20...

For about one hour daily drop by to include food and water refilling, feeding area clean-up (to keep bugs down), basic observation, and daily kitty litter changes - and that's if it's a friend, co-worker, or neighbor that's going to be dropping by the home to check on the critters. If it's a professional service, I'd be looking at paying $15 or so a day for drop-in caretaking.

Why so much for a non-service sitter? - It's rather like insurance - I'd pay more to insure it's worth their while to come by and check in on the critters on a daily basis. A service makes it's money coming by not only my place but other people's places during the day. Non-professional sitters will have to come by when it's convenient for them.

The other thing you might check into is a reciprocation deal with a neighbor or co-worker - you sit their critters for a week when they're gone, and they sit for you when you're out.

Haele

[iamjoy]

12. Depends On Lots of Things

Find out what kennels and professionals charge in your area, just to get an idea of the going rate.

1 - Does the cat person's company reimburse them for pet sitting expenses (since they are traveling on business). there are a few that do.

2 - Will you be staying at their house? If so, is it "nicer" than yours? If so, it may be a little like a vacation for you.

3 - How good a friend? This is the big deal. If it is a really good friend, cut them a break and have them "owe" you a favor. My husband and I have friends with cats and we don't charge each other anything, we do it for them when they travel, they do it for us when we travel.

4 - Who is better off financially? Some people may disagree with charging based on what some one can afford and I don't suggest taking advantage of a situation, it is more the reverese, if you know they don't have a lot of money and you are paying your bills okay, cut them a break and be the better person.