How much would you pay/charge? Feeding cats while away

[alicat8]

We need someone to come to our house once a day to feed our cats and water our garden while we're away. I've always had family or friends do it, and I have no clue how much to offer to pay. What would you say is fair per day?

 

[mjkacmom]

$10 a day if it's a local kid.

 

[bethbuchall]

A couple of years ago, a family friend paid my son $50 for two weeks of coming over to care for the cats and also mowing the (fairly small) lawn twice. We thought it was fair for this area, especially since they are friends.

 

[Squirlz]

We have a High School girl across the street come over twice a day to feed our two cats. We give her $15 a day.

 

[sonnyjane]

Professionals in our area charge $12-$15 per visit (not per day). With a cat, once a day is obviously fine.

A local student, I'd say $10.

 

[dashofsunshine]

Our next door neighbor feeds our cat twice a day while we're gone and waters our flowers (just two boxes out front) once a day. We tried to pay her the first time and she got really upset, we had to force her to take the money so now we just bring her something neat back from wherever we go. Last time it was Carolina Beach and we brought her a candle back that had glass all around it filled with sand and shells from the beach.

 

[xlxo]

What about getting one of those automated pet feeders? Then get something like dropcam to watch them. It even has a speaker for you tell them to behave.

 

[alicat8]

Thanks everyone. Added level of awkward-my grown up friend (not so close to her) who has 3 kids just offered to do it. I don't even know how to discuss payment with her!!

The automatic pet feeder would be great, but we really need the garden watered too or it will all die. We're not getting much rain around here.

 

[sonnyjane]

Thanks everyone. Added level of awkward-my grown up friend (not so close to her) who has 3 kids just offered to do it. I don't even know how to discuss payment with her!!

The automatic pet feeder would be great, but we really need the garden watered too or it will all die. We're not getting much rain around here.

If it were me, and ask in a half-joking tone "what's your rate?" If she says "nothing!" Then like a PP mentioned just bring back something nice from vacation.

I have a situation worked out with my friend that we will watch each other's animals for free, but she travels a lot more than I do so if it's getting out of balance she will take me out for a drink or ice cream or something.

 

[sam_gordon]

$10 a day if it's a local kid.

Seems a little high to me. I'd say $50/week for a kid (assuming they can walk/bike over easily).

 

[Squirlz]

What about getting one of those automated pet feeders? Then get something like dropcam to watch them. It even has a speaker for you tell them to behave.

I like our cats to have some human interaction while we're gone. Our girl and her Mom will play with them and spend a little time with them every time they come over.

 

[BlovesC]

We have a professional pet-sitter we've used for years, she charges $30 a day.

 

[tinkerbellandeeyor]

I am so surprised no one said litter box

 

[wishesuponastar]

I agree with pp to pay a child $10 day. That's what we give our 14yo neighbor to walk our dog.

 

[usnuzuloose]

I am so surprised no one said litter box

Good point, need someone to change the litter box. That would be yucky and smelly if no one came to change it.

I normally do things like this for free for people. I always like to make sure animals are taken care of. But a kid around the neighborhood, I would say 40 a week.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

We're going to be out of town for a week and my sister will stop by for the first few days to feed our bunnies. She is also leaving town on the Friday of that week and will set her bunnies up at our house. From Friday evening through Monday, we will be hiring an 18-year old friend to come in twice a day to feed four bunnies and bring in our mail. I'm planning to pay her $60, which adds up to $10 a visit. I think that's a fair price.

 

[NHdisneylover]

We pay 40€ a week to some of the teens who live in our townhomes to feed the cats and bring in mail.

Maybe the friend wants to give her kids a chance to learn about what it takes to be responsible for pets? I agree that asking her about what she is thinking for a rate and going from there is a good idea.

 

[kirstenb1]

I pay $15 a day to a high schooler. Her Mom drives her over, and they feed Cricket, water the plants, and bring in the mail/newspaper.

 

[bethbuchall]

I am so surprised no one said litter box

For us that went along with the care of the cats. Feeding, cleaning litter box, interaction. Sometimes he let them on to the screened in porch and then came back to put them back into the house later. The friend that my son did this for also takes care of our cats when we go away, so usually there is no money involved...we just switch back and forth as needed. But since they were going to be gone a little longer than usual and also needed the lawn mowed, she paid him instead of asking me to do it.

 

[anniemae]

I would say $10 a day.

When speaking to her, just say, "Hey, thank you so much for offering to stop by every day while we are away, it is such a big help. I'll pay you $50 (assuming you will be gone 5 days) because I know it will take time out of your schedule for you to come over here." If she refuses, I would give her a gift card to a restaurant with a "thank you" card when we returned from vacation.