How Much Should We Pay Cat/Guinea Pig Sitter?

[lovinwdw]

We're going to WDW on 9/30 to 10/7 (Saturday to Saturday). Our neighbor's 13 year old daugther is going to watch our 2 cats and our guinea pig. She will have to clean the guinea pigs cage (take out poop and pee) change her food and water bottle every morning and give her 4 carrots at night and she will have to clean the cats' 2 litter boxes every morning and evening and feed them clean water and food every morning. that's it. what do you suggest we pay her. we're also going to get her a little something from WDW for a souvenier. We used to leave our animals with family, but now only Jack (our dog) is going to be staying with my mom. We've moved into a neighborhood with awesome neighbors who we can actually trust with our home and animals...

 

[chyam]

Maybe this is cheap for your area but I would say maybe $100.00 for the week? It's alot cheaper than a regular pet sitter would be but I would think for a 13 year old it would be a good bit of money for about an hour of a day total work.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I would look at what it would cost for a professional sitter to come and do the work and go from there. I don't think you have to pay a teen neighbor as much since they don't have travel expenses and time, however. Maybe 1/2 as much?

When we've had our pet sitter (adult) come to the house once a day for our cats she has charged $15/visit. When we have left our dogs we've had her come 3 times a day and paid her $45/day, but then she really wanted our business (as opposed to us leaving the dogs in a kennel and having her just come for the cats) so she charged us $30/day for 3 visits.

I would say that you should pay at least $10/day for the teen to come twice a day and I would probably pay $15/day since she is going to need to be waking up early on school mornings (I'm assuming that's pretty early for a 13yo).

Any idea what a professional would charge?

 

[lovinwdw]

Any idea what a professional would charge?

I have absolutely no idea. i should probably look into that. we live in Central NJ

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I would guess that NJ would be pretty expensive like here. The adult that came here used to pet sit and still does on a limited basis, but does not do it through a per sitting company and is a little cheaper. She used to be a neighbor of mine before we both moved and it just happened that she was a pet sitter.

I want to say that here professional pet sitters charge at least $20/visit, but I'm not sure about that. You might be able to google and find some in your area that list rates to give you an idea.

 

[fabumouse]

I want to say that here professional pet sitters charge at least $20/visit, but I'm not sure about that. .

Our pet sitter charges exactly that - to feed and water 2 guinea pigs, and take care of 2 cats. The cage cleanings she charges me $5 each for, which I do twice a week.

 

[epcotfan]

I paid my professional petsitter $30.00 a day plus tip when I had my guinea pig and two cats. She came twice a day for two 30 minute visits. I also offered more if she had to stay for any emergencies or any big clean ups. Worth every cent since she is bonded and insured and had a background in dealing with medical needs.