How much should I pay the neighbor to feed my 4 cats?

[Kitty 34]

My brother was going to feed them but a last minute ball tournament came up. So I'm going to run across the street and ask my neighbor.

We will be at WDW for 9 days. She would have to come over once in the am and once in the pm to open a can of cat food each time. Also, she can keep their water dish full and the dry cat food full. She doesn't need to worry about the litter box.

I have NO idea what to offer her! Help, you cat lovers out there!!!

 

[stinkerbelle]

I wouldn't PAY her per-se. My mom used to have a neighbor watch her dogs while we were on vacation (feed them twice, take them out 2 or 3 times a day)...she would bring him a bottle of liquor and he'd be happy.

If she doesn't drink..maybe a souviner from WDW? Something from the Disney at Home store maybe? (mickey candle/mickey kitchen gadget/etc...) Shows you were thinking of her on your vacation...rather then just throwing her $50. you know?

 

[Pop Daddy]

50 dollars

 

[HollyJoy]

Well, you could get the cost down greatly by putting out dry cat food, and lots of it, so that she didn't have to come every day. When we went to Maine for a week, my friend watched my cat, but she only came over every other day. I left the toilet lids up, so if my cat ran out of water, he could get to some.. gross, I know, but it's a cat. I'd put out a bigger than normal bowl of food so it would last longer. I didn't pay her anything...brought her a gift.

 

[onecoolmama]

Originally posted by Pop Daddy
50 dollars

$40 - $50

 

[shortbun]

$50

 

[wdwmom2]

I too was thinking $50. I would also bring her something from WDW to let her know that you were thinking about her. Sort of a personal touch!!

Sharon

 

[stacilee]

I guess it depends on whether the two of you are close or not, if you have ever done this sort of thing for her, whether she could use money, whether she is comfortable around animals...

Is she also going to bring in your mail/ newspaper, water your plants, put out/bring back your trash can etc.?

We pay a professional pet sitter $15/day to come to the house once in the am and once in the pm to feed and water 2 pets. She also does all of the above mentioned things.

If you think that she may feel weird about taking money, how about bringing her back a nice gift. OR if she has kids you could bring them back something good.

I would hate to take $ from a neighbor on the one hand but 9 days it a long time to be responsible for someone else's pets and house and you just never know what might happen.

Years ago I was doing this for a neighbor and she warned me, (jokingly) that her siamese was a "climber". She didn't tell me the important part, as in "OF PEOPLE"!

The very first morning I went in to feed her cats her siamese(1 1/2 yr old male and big! about 14 lbs) was pawing at my leg. I thought "oh what a cute Kitty!!"

Once the electric can opener started to hum he leaped onto my back with all claws extended, not to be mean mind you, he was "just excited", his owner later said.

This cat was literally HANGING THERE, hooked into my skin. And he was stuck with his claws sunk in me. I felt like I was on fire!

My son who was letting their dog out, heard me screaming and ran into the kitchen. He was scared to death because I was crying and yelling and the cat was yeowling because I had reached up over my head and was trying to hold him up by his scruff to either get him off of me or at least support some of his weight. My poor son had to lift the cat UP to unhook the claws and then off of me. All of the claws had not only punctured me but tore downward as well.
I was bleeding like crazy! I took a shower as soon as I got home and my husband cleaned everything with peroxide, triple antibiotic ointment and bandaids. I was in so much pain.
I should have gone to the ER.

3 days later I started with a fever, swollen glands everywhere and got very sick with something like the flu. I had to see a doctor who said I had cat scratch fever (FOR REAL). I never knew that it was really an illness.

Taking care of someone else's pets is sometimes a bigger deal than you think. At least when you hire a pet sitter you can make sure that they are liscensed/bonded/insured. If a neighbor forgets to lock up and your house gets robbed, or burns down due to something they did you have no recourse.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

We paid our neighbor teenage 10.00 per day.

 

[ducklite]

With no litter pan to worry about, and the cats in good health, I agree, $50 plus a nice souvenier would be appropriate.

Anne

 

[addicted_to_WDW]

We pay $19 per day to have a petsitter come twice. We have 2 cats. I like that I can relax knowing that my kitties are well cared for while I'm gone.

 

[Serena]

Originally posted by Pop Daddy
50 dollars

 

[Kewz1]

I have 2 cats and I pay a neighbors child $5 a day. He doesn't have to come everyday if his schedule doesn't permit though. However, I do ask that he does a little litter box scooping. Nothing major though.

I also brought him and his mom and sis a treat from WDW since their dad/husband is currently in Iraq.

Kristen

 

[missypie]

When I was single and had cats, I would ask a neighbor's teenaged son to feed them. I realized later that he was also helping himself to my alcohol!

 

[RitaZ.]

Wow, I've never been paid by my neighbors. I wouldn't accept money, but a nice souvenier would be thoughtful and appreciated. I always get "interesting" gifts like a bottle of vanilla extract from Mexico (I don't bake), then there was the time that I got a WDW mug that said "Dad" on it (I'm a mom).

I watch my neighbor's dog (greyhound), their bird and fish tank whenever they go out of town. Last time they went out of town, their fish tank began to leak and caused some minor flooding overnight. I noticed it the following morning and DH had to do a temporary fix. I'll be watching their pets again next month for an entire week.

 

[MOMTOMOOTOO]

I also think $10.00 per day sounds about right.

 

[nancy679]

We paid our teenage neighbor $10 a day to take care of our dog, that included feeding him and taking him out atleast 3 times a day. We were gone for 9 days and paid him $100. I think $10/day for a cat is more than generous. I agree with the $40- 50 and a small souvenier.

 

[Talking Hands]

I pay a tech from my vet $15/day to come in and feed my cats. She lives near me so it is easy for her to do it on her way to work and again on her way home. Dogs go to the kennel at the vets.

 

[CourtasanSatine]

just a tip: when i pet sat last summer for family friends they left money in case I had to buy more food(this happened to be a larger and very friendly dog)).It may not be needed but it does help

 

[Bobbles]

I guess it depends who or what you are feeding the cats to?

(I am so sorry for that but I just couldn't help it!)