? about asking neighbors to watch your home & take care of pets.

[Handbag Lady]

All I can say is good luck to you. I house-sat a lot early on in life. I was one of the ones everyone wanted as I had no friends and didn't party.

Be sure to leave a list out of things. Like, the cat likes the belly rub but will attack if petted on the head. Things like that are helpful to a sitter. Show them how much fish food you put in the tank, etc.

 

[jayally]

Thank you. Whoever I have come over will need a throrough tutorial on the cats likes and dislikes, they both are very different from each other and have their little quirks and need to meet people to feel comfortable although anyone who feeds them and cleans out the litter box is ok with them!

 

[swilshire]

I didn't read all the responses, so this may be a repeat. If you're concerned about a robbery, you may want to hire a housesitter. My daughter, who is a college student, does this quite often. She sleeps at the house so it doesn't look deserted. Brings in the paper and waters the plants. She gives the animals lots of love and affection. She couldn't have pets in her old apartment, so she enjoyed hanging out with the doggies.

Sheila

 

[Julia M]

One other idea is to ask at a local college/university if you have one near you. We live near a university and that is how we find help almost anytime we need it -- gardening, party help, dog walker, etc. That way you get the maturity of a college-age student (better than a 10yo) and someone who generally has a pretty flexible schedule and is glad for the money.

Also, I'd add another vote for asking your friend. I think on of the great gifts of life is that we are able to help one another out when we need it. If you're worried about asking her for too much, I'd prioritize the pet-sitting over the ride to the airport -- maybe you could just get an airport shuttle.

That's what we did this summer. We used a neighbor (and friend from church). He couldn't get a summer job, because he had a family vacation in late June and was leaving for college in mid August.

We asked him to come "hang at the house" and he kept our dogs company. He also changed the cat box (made sure of food and water), brought in the mail and newspaper, walked the dogs, crated them at night and let them out in the morning and so on. He also watered my plants.

What was lucky for us what that his home does not have cable, and it was in the middle of baseball season. he'd come over and watch ESPN, all in the guise of a job!! I encouraged him to bring a friend, and sometimes, it was his brother, dad and grandfather, all having a good old time!!! (they LOVED that ESPN!!!)

We also have a gamecube, and his family only has an old nintendo.

I paid $25 per day, for a total of $450. He was thrilled with the large amount of cash (he felt he was overpaid!), I was thrilled my house was "lived in" and my pets didn't miss me. The cost was also less than what I'd pay to board one dog, not to mention the second dog, and pay someone for the plants, mail, and to come everyday and take car of the cat.

Julia

 

[PlutoGirl1117]

Well, I shouldn't comment as I AM biased as I am a petsitter, but I would keep trying to find a professional! Petsit.com is also a good place to try to locate. I would ask around too, you never know who knows someone who does it. I personally don't advertise as there is only so much I can do and I've been very lucky to have a nice steady stream of clients. I AM listed at petsit.com though. A GOOD petsitter WILL be bonded and insured! I only mean good as in peace of mind, as I'm sure many people out there take care of pets for people and are QUITE reliable.

Of course you have to do your research as like anything else even with a professional you can get a lemon!

However, we come in for a certain time frame per day, and make your house look lived in by rotating lights/picking up mail/papers/packages, etc.

I don't recommend leaving pets alone ever, as you NEVER know what they can (and DO!) get into!

Hopefully I've made sense! I'm sorry I'm in a rush, I have to go walk a dog!

 

[PlutoGirl1117]

and some petsitters stay over and house sit too! I personally don't, but some do!

 

[Married2theYeti]

Hire a professional pet sitter......

Many will visit cats every other day and so you could get away with as few as 6 visits if you are looking to save money. The fee is typically $15 or so for a 30 minute visit.

Just be sure that the person you hire has solid references and is insured and bonded.

I would never ask neighbors or friends to care for my animals when I'm away.....you just never know what will happen.

My daughter pet sits for many people in our neighborhood. She will be 16 next month and has been doing this for about 4 years. Up until this year, she wanted to be a vet. She absolutely loves animals and they love her. We even had one owner say to us, while standing in her driveway, that her cat will not go to anyone but her and her son. Well, she no sooner got done finishing her sentence than the cat was letting my daughter pet it. When she was little, we went for walks thru the neighborhood and all the cats would come out of their hiding places to see her. Needless to say we never got our heart rates up!

We have one neighbor who has moved (about 5 minutes away) and they still call my daughter to dog sit. We know the garage codes for many people in our neighborhood, but people trust us with their homes and with their pets. (My husband or I always go with her. I would never send her into an empty house.) We always make sure we have emergency info. Once we went into a house where there was a gas leak! Scary! My daughter lets the customer decide what to pay her. So far only one was a cheapskate (expected her to dogsit for free since it was only one night), and she doesn't dogsit for them anymore. Her customers want to keep her happy, so they make sure they pay her well. Some will even bring her a gift back from a vacation in addition to paying her. She not only feeds the animals, she spends considerable time playing with them.

My point with all this is that neighbors -- including young teens -- can be good petsitters. My daughter's "business" is by word of mouth from those she has "worked" for. Obviously she is very mature and an animal lover. My advice is to ask around and you may find someone you can depend on. Even if they come every other day for the cats, if they spend some time with them, the cats should be fine.

Good luck.

 

[PlutoGirl1117]

My daughter pet sits for many people in our neighborhood. She will be 16 next month and has been doing this for about 4 years. Up until this year, she wanted to be a vet. She absolutely loves animals and they love her. We even had one owner say to us, while standing in her driveway, that her cat will not go to anyone but her and her son. Well, she no sooner got done finishing her sentence than the cat was letting my daughter pet it. When she was little, we went for walks thru the neighborhood and all the cats would come out of their hiding places to see her. Needless to say we never got our heart rates up!

We have one neighbor who has moved (about 5 minutes away) and they still call my daughter to dog sit. We know the garage codes for many people in our neighborhood, but people trust us with their homes and with their pets. (My husband or I always go with her. I would never send her into an empty house.) We always make sure we have emergency info. Once we went into a house where there was a gas leak! Scary! My daughter lets the customer decide what to pay her. So far only one was a cheapskate (expected her to dogsit for free since it was only one night), and she doesn't dogsit for them anymore. Her customers want to keep her happy, so they make sure they pay her well. Some will even bring her a gift back from a vacation in addition to paying her. She not only feeds the animals, she spends considerable time playing with them.

My point with all this is that neighbors -- including young teens -- can be good petsitters. My daughter's "business" is by word of mouth from those she has "worked" for. Obviously she is very mature and an animal lover. My advice is to ask around and you may find someone you can depend on. Even if they come every other day for the cats, if they spend some time with them, the cats should be fine.

Good luck.

Pam cudos to you for raising such a responsible daughter! And I honestly mean that!

Not everyone has a responsible teen/neighbor though. I still vote for the professional petsitter. I also vote for NOT being every other day as you just DON'T know what can happen i.e. the gas leak you mentioned! An animal can also get sick VERY quickly! I've had to make a few trips to the vet with my client's animals!

 

[disykat]

Is there a way for your ex to not know you're going to be out of town?Reading your story, my first thought was that it was your ex that cleaned you out.

I hope you solve your petsitting problem. It's so hard to leave pets!

 

[jayally]

Is there a way for your ex to not know you're going to be out of town?Reading your story, my first thought was that it was your ex that cleaned you out.

I hope you solve your petsitting problem. It's so hard to leave pets!

yes, I thought about that the 2nd time but I don't see what he would have gained. We have a fairly amicable relationship for the sake of the kids and I gave him a chance to take what he wanted. The first time he was in Las Vegas. The 2nd time I was only gone for an hour or two and he works/lives 2 hours away and could not have known I would be gone when I was.

My cats are just like my children and when my kids are with their Dad I talk to them just like I would my kids, they have kept me sane and entertained. They have different personalities that match my kids personalities. I have never been gone for as long as I will be without someone they know in the house. I hope I will be able to work out a housesitter. That seems to be my best option and will solve several issues for me.