We pay our pet sitter, who comes and stays if we're gone more than a couple of days, $35/day for 2 cats or $50/day if the dog stays too (we usually take the doggie or she goes to the home of our dog walker). If she just stops over to feed/check litter, it's $10/visit. A neighbor once came on the spur of the moment and we gave him a 6-pack of his favorite beer - never saw such a big smile out of him before!