Is this a fair price? (pet sitting) update post 30

[Katie's Butterflies]

1st Issue:

My parents and I decided to ask a friend of mine, who could really use the money, to cat sit over Thanksgiving. We decided on $200 for 12 days (100 in advance, 100 after). This would consist of her coming to the house 2x a day, opening a can of food (pop top can), dumping the contents on a plate, and leaving. This should take her no more than a few minutes. She will have no contact with the cat. She will not have to scoop litter.
When I told her the amount, I asked if she thought that was fair. She skirted around it, but insinuated I wasn’t paying her enough, but that she would accept it.

Breaking it down:
$16.67/day


Second issue:

We just found out that the place we normally board our dog has more than doubled the price. We no longer believe the price is worth it, so we are thinking about having my friend watch both animals and offering her $400 (total). For the dog, she would have to walk her, feed her, clean up any messes, and make sure she has plenty of water. This would add about an hour or more per day. We would also have to add on 1 more day making it $400 for 13 days.

Breaking it down:
30.77/day

After my parents get back, they are going to also give her a food basket or a gift card to a grocery store as an added thank you. (she doesn’t know about this yet)

Friend would not be traveling out of her way to get to the house.

Do these amounts seem fair?

 

[Kirby]

I think that you are probably in the right hunt for the cat. But a little on the generous side when adding care for the dog. Here is a link to a local pet sitting service here. They charge $16 per day for one pet and and additional $2 per extra pet.

http://www.petbankservices.com

You might check to see what pet sitting services are getting in your area.

 

[bballmom56]

I would be very happy to do the first arrangement for the price you offered. That is more than generous. I also think your second arrangement is very generous. I guess your friend does not need money as badly as you may think!

 

[DMRick]

I assume she'll also be scooping and cleaning the litter?

Here is a local place costs in my area. Other services offer different things, but the prices are about the same:

This first part is free.

• meet you and your pets
• get detailed information about caring for your pets and your home
• get veterinary release signature
• pick up a door key
• complete a service agreement

During this visit, you decide how often you want your sitter to visit each day and what services you want performed.
Each visit to your home includes:

Pet Care:

• LOTS OF TENDER LOVING CARE
• fresh food and water
• brushing, combing, exercising and playing with them
• giving medications, vitamins, or other special care
• arranging for medical treatment in case of illness
• meticulous litter box maintenance
• indoor clean up of pet messes.

Home Care:

• bringing in the mail and newspapers
• adjusting drapes and lights
• watering your indoor plants
• simple pool care such as adding chlorine
• bring trash to curb on trash day
• handling other minor household tasks as needed

Mid Day/Daily Dog Care:

• Regular daily scheduled mid day dog visits will be sometime between 11AM and 2PM
• Each mid day visit will be 20 minutes
• Your dog will be able to go for a walk or play in a fenced yard at your request

Mid day/Daily visits are only available Monday through Friday and are not available on major holidays
Overnight Pet Sitting

Overnight visits are $60 per nite and are from 8PM to 8AM and include a nite walk and a morning walk. Additional visits during the day will be charged at the normal per visit rates.
Base Fees

Base rate is $15 per visit for up to 4 cats or up to 3 dogs.
Hourly rate is $23 per hour and may be applied for multi pet households depending on each situation and will be determined at the initial consultation.
Final quote of fees will be determined at the consultation visit depending on each situation.

 

[disykat]

For an hour and 15 minutes a day in a one time shot, it's good. I'm confused about two things though. 1) Who is cleaning up after the cat? Isn't there a little box, etc.? 2) Is she only feeding and walking the dog once a day? If so, wouldn't there be considerable messes to clean up?

I'm guessing she'd have to go over 3 times a day, which makes it quite an inconvenience. Honestly, if she's driving it might not be worth the gas money, etc.

My son pet sits for the neighbors and he's willing to do it for $15 a day because he has no other income and it's close by. He goes over three times a day. I wouldn't do it as an adult. (I do pet sit for a friend whose dogs come to my house - for free - but I'm allergic to the neighbor's cats and their dog is afraid of my dog so I couldn't have them in my home.)

Raise the amount you're offering and skip the gift basket. Don't be offended if she doesn't want to do it. When I was single, I used to get asked to pet sit, house sit, etc. It always really messed with my routine and frankly ended up costing me money at time.

 

[Katie's Butterflies]

I forgot to mention that she would have to come over 2x per day.

Thanks, I thought we were being generous as well, since she wouldn't have to do too much. However, to have a "professional" come over, we'd have to pay about $30 for one pet, for one 30 min. visit a day. It would be close to $50 for 2 visits and 2 animals.

 

[KristaTX]

I've paid a good SAHM friend $25 a day to come feed our 2 cats and scoop out their litter box. She did my mom's cats at the same time since we were on vacation together. My mom also paid her $25 a day for her 3 cats. But in our case, the friend had to drive about 25 miles round-trip to my house, and probably 15 miles round-trip to my mom's house (which is in the opposite direction from the friend's house). So she was getting $50 a day but driving quite a bit and spending quite a bit of time.

To us it was worth it to have someone who loves and cares about us take care of our cats while we were gone for a week. And it was cheaper than boarding them at the vet, where the cats would totally stress out anyway. And it was helpful to our friend who could use the money anyway since it was Christmas-time.

If we had a dog that she had to walk, play with, etc., I'd have paid her more. Dogs are a lot more work than cats.

If she's a good friend and you can afford it, I say pay her a little more than what you just think is "fair". If not, then just do what she's willing to take.

 

[Katie's Butterflies]

For an hour and 15 minutes a day in a one time shot, it's fine. I'm confused about two things though. 1) Who is cleaning up after the cat? Isn't there a little box, etc.? 2) Is she only feeding and walking the dog once a day? If so, wouldn't there be considerable messes to clean up?

I'm guessing she'd have to go over 3 times a day, which makes it quite an inconvenience. Honestly, if she's driving it might not be worth the gas money, etc.

1) She would not have to worry about cleaning up after the cat. My dad uses a sandbox sized litter box (it is HUGE) that he cleans every 2 weeks. He will also get a second regular sized one as well. My dad doesn't think my friend will be able to physically clean the box as it (and the giant bag of litter) are heavy.

2) she would be coming by 2x a day. It is on her way.

3) gas money- I calculated the gas money into the cat cost. She would spend $6/day on gas if she were to come to the house then go home both times. So she would be getting about 10.50 for less than 30 minutes of work per day.

Raise the amount you're offering and skip the gift basket. Don't be offended if she doesn't want to do it. When I was single, I used to get asked to pet sit, house sit, etc. It always really messed with my routine and frankly ended up costing me money at time.

Actually, she did want to do it. She was very thankful and told me she would have done it for free. It's just she acted like I wasn't paying enough. In this scenario, she would make money, especially if she took care of the dog too.

 

[Katie's Butterflies]

I assume she'll also be scooping and cleaning the litter?

Nope

Base rate is $15 per visit for up to 4 cats or up to 3 dogs.
Hourly rate is $23 per hour and may be applied for multi pet households depending on each situation and will be determined at the initial consultation.
Final quote of fees will be determined at the consultation visit depending on each situation.

I wish there were places this cheap around my parents house!

To us it was worth it to have someone who loves and cares about us take care of our cats while we were gone for a week. And it was cheaper than boarding them at the vet, where the cats would totally stress out anyway. And it was helpful to our friend who could use the money anyway since it was Christmas-time.

This is exactly why we are asking my friend.

If we had a dog that she had to walk, play with, etc., I'd have paid her more. Dogs are a lot more work than cats.

Well technically, she wouldn't play with the dog. She's not a player, more of a sleeper. lol.

If she's a good friend and you can afford it, I say pay her a little more than what you just think is "fair". If not, then just do what she's willing to take.

Thanks for your opinion. I actually think the $200 for the cat is more than fair. I was just doubting myself because of her reaction. I also think the $400 is a good price.

 

[LuLuO]

Our pet sitter charges $15 per visit for 1-2 petsl. So it would be $30 a day for two visits per day for two pets. That also includes getting the paper and mail, watering plants, rotating which lights are on, giving meds, cleaning up messes, cleaning out the litter box, maintaining training commands, feeding, etc. So I think $400 is just fine.

Also, is two visits per day enough for the dog with regards to going potty?

 

[chloelovesdisney]

Well it's $15 - $25 for a half hour dog walk here, so that plus feeding, plus the cat would be $40 - $60 a day easily. For me to board one dog is $45 - $65 per day depending on their size. Your offer does sound a little low to me, but it really depends on the going rates in your neighborhood.

 

[disfan07]

I agree with a PP who siad that it depends on teh going rate in your area.

I dont know what pet sitting rates are around here (Everyone I know who has dogs boards them) but we pay $75/night for boarding our two dogs. One is 14lbs and 1 is 17lbs.

Is pet sitting usually cheaper than kennels?

 

[LuLuO]

I agree with a PP who siad that it depends on teh going rate in your area.

I dont know what pet sitting rates are around here (Everyone I know who has dogs boards them) but we pay $75/night for boarding our two dogs. One is 14lbs and 1 is 17lbs.

Is pet sitting usually cheaper than kennels?

It all depends on what you need. We board our dog at a wonderful, small, family owned kennel for $23 a day and that included extra play time and medication being given. We had to board our dog because she is a senior and has to be let out every couple of hours. Recently, we had a pet sitter come to the house twice a day for our cat because she would not do well in a kennel and that cost us $30 a day. When she was younger I could have gotten away with one visit every couple of days, but she needs canned food twice a day now so the two visits daily were necessary.

 

[tvguy]

I paid $20 a day this summer to have someone come over once a day to feed and scoop the box for our cat, and pickup the mail.
The pet resort around the corner charges $30 a day, and additional $10 a day if you want a staff member to "play" with your cat.
I think you are in the ball park.
Of course, these days most SERVICE companies charge $65 to $100 just to come to your house so they can charge you by the quarter hour to do anything, so who's to say what is fair?

 

[msmayor]

My neighbor/friend often has me 'watch' her dogs when she and her husband are gone for an overnight or two. She pays me the same amount she pays her kennel: $40/day.

The two dogs are walked twice a day (morning, evening) and I visit two additional times (midday and late evening) to put them outside and do their 'business'. She doesn't ask me to play with them, but I do...I love the dogs and they love me.

She pays the same $$ as the kennel because in her mind, I've made it MUCH easier for her: no need to pack up any food/treats/toys for the dogs, no transporting them during kennel hours, no need to rush home and pick them up before the kennel closes for the day. The dogs are happier because they remain in their environment and their daily schedule remains the same.

 

[Hannathy]

Does your dog regularly go 12 hours or more without going out?

Letting the dog out only twice a day for 12 hours doesn't seem like very much to me. I know I would want mine left out at least 3 x a day especially for almost 2 weeks. Sure maybe 1 or 2 days but long term? That doesn't seem very nice to me.

I think you are very fair for the cat sitting but a little low when you add on the dog. I also worry about the dog going that long between potty breaks for that long. I wouldn't leave my dog for 2 weeks unless she could go out 3x a day.

I also wonder if she is insinuating it isn't enough money will she do a good job? with no one in the house for 2 weeks those animals are going to need some companionship while she is there, is she going to give it to them?
The rates you are mentioning are in the ballpark for a professional sitter around me so I might check out what that would cost and know they are going to get good care.

 

[geffric]

It is cash , worth more than a check..

I pet sit for several people, .. i feel what you are offering is fair..

 

[Disney-Kim]

We pay $30 and $40 per day for 1 dog, stay at our house and dog/house sit for 7 nights.
this means our dog has the same attention time as when we are home...and sometimes as much loving too

the different prices are for 2 different people....that includes daily email updates to us as well

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Our pet sitter charges $25 per day to look after our cats. She visits once per day and takes care of food & water, litter, plants, mail. We also have a goldfish that she feeds, and if his water gets murky she will change it.

I have another friend who also does pet sitting, and I think she charges $20 per day but she has not been in business as long as our regular sitter.

Dogs are a bit different. All of the pet sitting services require a minimum number of visits each day for the dog's well being, so dogs are at least double the price.

The last time I looked into boarding it was $12 per day per cat, so with 3 cats it is less expensive for us to use a pet sitter.

 

[Katie's Butterflies]

Thank you for the replies You all gave me some stuff to think about!

We are looking into other options for Snowball (the dog). We really do not want her home alone with only a couple of visit’s a day. However, if the other places my father is going to call tomorrow don’t pan out, we wanted a back-up, back-up plan which is why I was asking if the $400 seemed fair.

I looked up some more pricing and the average pet sitting costs ranged from $15 per visit per day to $20 per visit per day (for 2+ dogs). Since we only have the one dog and a cat (who doesn’t need much done or want any attention), I believe the prices are fair.