What would you do??? Cat / Babysitter problem...

[zakatak]

Hi there,

I would appreciate any feedback. Here is the situation:

Our 17 year old babysitter was paid $175 to watch our cats for 10 days while we were on vacation. She did a great job however, in her note she said she accidentally locked one of the cats in my DS's bedroom overnight.

Well, we found out that he urinated all over the mattress (who knew they have such LARGE bladders???? ). Anyways, without a mattress cover on, the mattress was ruined.

What would you do?

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

She did it on accident--I would let it go.

I would get some Nature's Miracle by the gallon from the pet store and proceed to saturate the entire mattress to see if you can salvage it. It might take a couple of bottles.

My cat when he had a severe UTI was using my recliner a lot until we got him medicine. I used NM and drenched it through--it took several tries (must let it dry COMPLETELY between each time)..but eventually it did all come out.

Or you can buy a new mattress. The teen isn't going to have the money to pay for one and since you employed him/her, I don't really think the parents should be responsible. (If I did something at my grocery store job when I was a teen--they woudln't be able to go after my parents..so I look at it from that perspective).

I would wonder though why she would be shutting a bedroom door though.

 

[zakatak]

That's what I am doing (letting it go). I didn't even tell her about it.

I think she shut the door because she was freaked out by the snake, lol.

Thanks for your opinion!

 

[Beth76]

I would wonder though why she would be shutting a bedroom door though.

That's what I was thinking to, but who knows. No, I would not ask her to pay for it. It was an accident. If your son had done this would you make him pay for it. What if you had done it? She was honest about it. She could have just as easily not said anything and you probably wouldn't have even known.

 

[Beth76]

I think she shut the door because she was freaked out by the snake, lol.

Oh good grief. Yeah that could be it. I take it she didn't have to feed the snake either? What did you do with the snake?

 

[themarquis]

I can understand how something like that could happen -- the door accidentally swung shut or she thought that room was supposed to be closed up or she bumped into the door ... she's not familiar with your house, so a lot of mistakes can be made. Clearly, it is not her fault, and there is nothing you can do to make her "pay" for what happened, nor would that be a very nice thing to do ... She even owned up to having accidentally locked the cat in there -- she could have just not mentioned it at all!

I'm in agreement with the idea about Nature's Miracle. I'd be surprised if the mattress could not be salvaged. The enzymes in it eat away urine and its associated smell.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Oh good grief. Yeah that could be it. I take it she didn't have to feed the snake either? What did you do with the snake?

I don't think I could ever take a snake sitting job.

 

[Chilehead Too]

I would not even mention it to the kid. Purely an accident and not her fault at all. I, however, would skip the treating of the mattress and just buy a new one. I have never had a cat, but I know the cat pee smell. ewwwww

 

[dmslush]

That's what I am doing (letting it go). I didn't even tell her about it.

I think she shut the door because she was freaked out by the snake, lol.

Thanks for your opinion!

Well, if I was locked in the room with a snake, you would get to see how big my bladder was too!!!!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I would not even mention it to the kid. Purely an accident and not her fault at all. I, however, would skip the treating of the mattress and just buy a new one. I have never had a cat, but I know the cat pee smell. ewwwww

The enzyme eats it all.

I would have tossed my Lazy boy to the curb if there was anything left. I even did an extra treatment JUST to be sure.

It isn't like using lysol.

 

[caitycaity]

She did it on accident--I would let it go.

i agree with this. i am impressed she mentioned it to you - she is certainly honest!

 

[Fan2CSkr]

Well, if I was locked in the room with a snake, you would get to see how big my bladder was too!!!!

Poor cat! I agree nothing to be done and I wouldnt mention it either.

 

[DisneyBlonde]

Saturate it in Nature's Miracle.

If the sitter did a good job otherwise, i wouldn't say anything to her about it. If the cats are happy and healthy, let it go. It's not always easy to find someone to pet sit.

 

[AnnR]

I used to work in a baby furniture store. We always told customers to use a waterproof mattress pad because once moisture gets in a mattress you can't always get it all out. It can get moldy inside. Throw it out to be certain. You can't be sure how deep the urine went since it was a while before it was found. Cleaning products don't always go that deep.

As for the sitter, as long as the cats were healthy and she figured out that the one got looked in and told you honestly ,I would keep her. I put door stoppers on the doors I want to make sure stay open when we are gone, the rest of the doors I close. Otherwise, it is very easy for a cat to get locked in a room.

BTW I once was cat sitting and one of the cats got stuck behind a wall!! She had gone in a bathroom that was being remodeled and got in the wall and then sealed in. The owners left not realizing it. I always took a head count and when I realized I couldn't find one kitty I looked all over the house. It took me quite a while to realize the meowing was behind the wall! I don't know how many times I looked in the closet. My Dad came over and had to go up into the attic area and reach down into the wall to get her. Luckily the cat climbed up where he could reach her -and this was a cat that did not like to be held. But she clung to me when my Dad handed her down! Poor kitty!

 

[Imzadi]

Well, if I was locked in the room with a snake, you would get to see how big my bladder was too!!!!

I agree. Forget about buying a new mattress. You need to pay for cat therapy now.

 

[Aidensmom]

I have accidently locked my own cat in my bedroom or DS's bedroom for the day (we close the bedroom doors so the dog doesn't find anything he decides should be chew toys), I wouldn't worry about that a babysitter did it. At least she told you about it.

As far as the mattress, I would just chalk it up to one of those things you deal with when having a pet. Not much different than if your child had accidentally wet the bed.