11 year old cat sitting rates?

ElizabethD

Anyone know how much to pay an 11-12 year old to cat sit?  I'm thinking it's like $5-10 a time, especially the $10 being spending some quality time with the cat. 

I've got a reservation for the HS fancy boarding near the airport for $19/day, so not sure if it's better to be somewhere 100% trustworthy with daily attention and her own cat colony room plus some play time in a big room...or a short daily/every other day visit in our house with a young girl.

So much easier when we had two because they kept each other company!  

anitalynn

Does your cat travel well?

My cats do not travel well - so boarding them outside of our house while we are gone is something we try to avoid at all costs because it stresses our cats out so badly. So - I'd prefer to have someone stop over and feed our cats daily (unfortch, they need to be fed daily otherwise one of our cats will eat all of the food set out and be sick, then have nothing to eat until someone comes again). The cats could care less if someone plays with them. As long as the have food, water, and a window with the blinds up so they can look out, they are good. 

If your cat travels well and might like the social aspect of Now Boarding, and you are comfortable with the price, I'd say go for it. If the cat doesn't travel well and won't care if it's left alone, then $5-10 a day is fine. I'd factor in drive time for the parent more than anything - $10/day if they have to drive a decent distance (10 miles or more) to get to your house.

huwehotaling

Our cats don't travel well either, so we usually have a neighbor stop by once a day to feed them when we're out of town. I'd say $10 if the girl is planning to hang out with the cats or $5 if she's just going there to feed them and that's it.

hkiesling

I'd vote for having someone check on them.  My cats would be very stressed staying someplace new.  If you can afford it, I would go with $10, especially if she has to clean a litter box.  I really wish I could get paid for cleaning ours...

thedutchgirl

My friend in Cleveland (so slightly lower COL) pays an 11-year-old $10 a day for two dogs and a cat when she is out of town. It carries implicit parental backup. I think $10 per visit is very sufficient for a visit and playtime and litter scoop every other day.

Steph&J

Our neighbor and her kids watched and played with our cats for an 11 day vacation in england.  We brought them back some english candy bars and also some lemon curd and shortbread.  They did not expect anything but enjoyed the gifts.  They are very neighborly and we'd be happy to return the favor sometime.  I think it all depends on expectations.  The kids loved playing with our cats and didn't do it for anything in return.  Perhaps this 11 yr old considers it more of a chore and in that case, I'm sure she'd like some spending money but I don't think there is a standard rate.  

ChelseaNelson

Have a trusted kid come over - it helps the kid learn to be responsible and to work. If it is a kid who lives close by (ie - a 5 minute walk or bike) $5/day seems fine. If their parents have to drive them there you should give her more....or find someone closer so that you do not bother the parents.

I personaly would not take my cat to a boarding place.  My cat would freak-out if I brought him to one (the only other place he doesnt get majorly stressed at being is my mothers)....plus he came from a shelter, which got him from animal control so I feel like he would think he was abandoned again if he ended up in a boarding facility.

 

StrawberryBlondie

My cats would freak the eff out if I tried to take them... well, anywhere. I agree with the others that if it's at all possible, pay someone to check in on them daily. Our cats are really good about monitoring their food intake so we can leave food out for them when we're gone, so when we go on vacation, we usually have a friend or family member check in on them every few days.

ElizabethD

Thanks ladies!  We have no idea how well she travels since she's newish (had her about 8 months and within 2 weeks of getting her at the shelter took her to the vet, but at that rate everything was new/stressful for her.)

Lots to think about, eh!