How much should I pay someone to watch my cat?

[TsPoet]

The professional pet sitters around her charge a minimum of $20/visit, or $35 for 2 visits/day.
I pay the neighbor kid about $20/5 days. I also try to remember to buy them something like a T shirt.
If a neighbor adult does it, I usually get a gift certificate to a local restaurant for about $20. I feel odd giving a neighbor money. The only reason an adult ever stops in to feed my dogs is one of my dogs bites and the mother doesn't like her 13 year old going in my house, whereas the 13 yr old doesn't mind, he knows how to avoid the dog.
All anyone ever does is stop in and feed them. Having someone come in and spend time with them costs more, but back to that biting thing, I don't ask for that.
When I drop my guys off at friends houses for extended trips, I buy dinner at a nice restaurant, my last 8 day trip cost me $140 dinner for the 3 different pet sitters. I have too many pets.

[Kathi]

The place where I board my cat charges $12 a day. That includes food.

I've kept an eye on my neighbors cat and I expected nothing but she gave me a bottle of wine for Christmas.

[bmccasland]

Three weeks is a long time to be expected to pooper scoop for a neighbor - a gift certificate to a restaurant and a bottle of good bubbly or wine would be appropriate. Just make certain the neighbor drinks first - don't give alcohol to someone who doesn't imbibe.

Also make certain the neighbor knows who your vet is, leave the kitty carrier where it can easily be found, and your contact phone numbers.

Can you take your cat with you?

[Kathi]

Or board it.

I take comfort in knowing that knowledgeable people know my cat and are watching out for her. They can spot illness that an untrained eye might miss. It does happen, my cat developed an abscess tooth and one of the employees took her to the vet and got her on antibiotics. We were only gone for a couple of days but the early intervention kept the issue from being an emergency and gave us time to get her to a vet dental specialist.

I also find that my cat seems better adjusted when we return home, no panic because she was left behind.

[WindingRoad]

Kitty is now 15 years old. She does NOT like new places so I think boarding her would be more stressful than having someone come check in on her. And because of her age the vet said do not fly with her.

I was thinking of something around $25/week in some form of payment? Does that sound fair?

[badger]

is there an opportunity to pay back the favour? as in does your neighbour have a cat you can look after when she's away?

I'm going away next week for 5 nights and a co-worker is coming to stay at my place (I don't like to leave them alone longer than a weekend). He doesn't ask for money, but he wants a nicely stocked cupboard and fridge, so I guess in a way I'm paying him about $25-30 for food.

I've also advertised my place on craigslist to house/animal sit in exchange for rent. I fortunately live in a trendy neighbourhood so I always have people interested. But when I get back I usually give them a $20 gift card to Starbucks as a thanks for keeping my animals alive and not destroying my place.

I have cat sat for people (both times 2 weeks) and neither of them "gave" me anything other than a verbal thanks. While I don't do it to get stuff, it's still nice to get a gesture of thanks if nothing else than for me to want to do it again if they ask!

[OakLeaf]

hijack/

lph - is the book in English, and if so, what's the title/author? I read Sway a couple of years ago and found it really fascinating.


/hijack