pet sitter didn't notice cat was missing - would this concern you?

[Anonymous]

It might concern me a little but if the sitter was otherwise good, I'd get over it.

I used to cat sit for my neighbors who had two cats with opposing personalities, and the shy one pretty much lived under their bed the entire time. Usually I'd go and find her and do a visual check, even though she was never going to come out and say hi. Occasionally she wouldn't be under the bed and I'd poke around a little but there's also the factor of not wanting to go hunting through someone else's home.

I could easily see going 2-3 days without seeing her if I didn't go to the trouble of going and finding her under the bed. And also I had known these cats for years and was good friends with the neighbors, so I sort of knew the drill. You said this sitter has only watched the cats a couple times before? I wouldn't worry about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It might concern me a little but if the sitter was otherwise good, I'd get over it.

I used to cat sit for my neighbors who had two cats with opposing personalities, and the shy one pretty much lived under their bed the entire time. Usually I'd go and find her and do a visual check, even though she was never going to come out and say hi. Occasionally she wouldn't be under the bed and I'd poke around a little but there's also the factor of not wanting to go hunting through someone else's home.

I could easily see going 2-3 days without seeing her if I didn't go to the trouble of going and finding her under the bed. And also I had known these cats for years and was good friends with the neighbors, so I sort of knew the drill. You said this sitter has only watched the cats a couple times before? I wouldn't worry about it.

Yeah, this particular cat is new. The other one, she's watched for five years (and that is the one to hide under the bed when a stranger arrives).

Thanks, all. Just needed a gut check.

[Anonymous]

Do the cats each have their own food and water bowl?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do the cats each have their own food and water bowl?

No, they share.

Like I said, I would understand if this was a hider, but he's gregarious. Answers the door. But also, he's knew.

I guess just a reminder next time we leave town. Though he's such a great traveling buddy, we may bring him again!

[Anonymous]

The cat-sitter may have just been on autopilot with the one cat, considering the second one is new.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It depends. Is this cat typically one that hides when the sitter comes over? If the food was getting eaten and the litter box was getting used I think it is fair for her to assume the cats were there. If it was a dog that she needed to walk or you specifically hired her to sit and pet the cats that would be different.

I agree with this. I also think that it’s very odd — at best — that at no point during your week away, did it occur to you to mention to the cat sitter that you had decided to take the new cat with you. If I were the cat sitter, THAT would concern me.

[Anonymous]

Were you paying the sitter to take care of 2 cats? If not, this would not concern me, because I have cats who hide when the sitter comes. However, I would have mentioned to my sitter if I had taken one of the cats for the week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Were you paying the sitter to take care of 2 cats? If not, this would not concern me, because I have cats who hide when the sitter comes. However, I would have mentioned to my sitter if I had taken one of the cats for the week.

It's not DCUM unless someone blames thr OP for something.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It depends. Is this cat typically one that hides when the sitter comes over? If the food was getting eaten and the litter box was getting used I think it is fair for her to assume the cats were there. If it was a dog that she needed to walk or you specifically hired her to sit and pet the cats that would be different.

I agree with this. I also think that it’s very odd — at best — that at no point during your week away, did it occur to you to mention to the cat sitter that you had decided to take the new cat with you. If I were the cat sitter, THAT would concern me.

Exactly. What’s your concern exactly, OP? Not sure how sitter was supposed to know a cat she’d seen twice (and wqs new to you!) was missing or had the habit of greeting guests.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It depends. Is this cat typically one that hides when the sitter comes over? If the food was getting eaten and the litter box was getting used I think it is fair for her to assume the cats were there. If it was a dog that she needed to walk or you specifically hired her to sit and pet the cats that would be different.

I agree with this. I also think that it’s very odd — at best — that at no point during your week away, did it occur to you to mention to the cat sitter that you had decided to take the new cat with you. If I were the cat sitter, THAT would concern me.

It's not DCUM unless someone blames the OP for something.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think it is a huge deal - I guess she just thought it was hiding.

I would assume it was hiding as well. Both my sister and I have had cat sitting experiences where we couldn’t find the cat for days because they were always hiding.

[Anonymous]

I’ve looked after neighbors cars before. I don’t even see the cats because they hide. I do the food and litter box and leave.
I think it’s ok

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We ended up taking one of our cats on Thanksgiving vacation with us, and I forgot to tell the pet sitter. It didn't occur to me until we got home that she'd never mentioned a cat was missing. Would this bother you?

Would 100% bother me and I'd ask about it.

This is also why I have such anxiety when we leave our pets. One dog around me bolted from the pet sitters open front door and was killed last year. When I say "KEEP THE DOORS CLOSED", and other instructions, it's because I mean it. And the number that casually disregard those is a problem.

Yes, I can board but that has it's own host of issues.

[Anonymous]

I cat sit, and we send a report and pictures every visit. I will mention if I don’t see a cat. Sometimes I don’t see a cat for two weeks!
Most cats are so friendly and need lots of love and playtime when we visit, but some just hide. It’s rare, but definitely happens.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It might concern me a little but if the sitter was otherwise good, I'd get over it.

I used to cat sit for my neighbors who had two cats with opposing personalities, and the shy one pretty much lived under their bed the entire time. Usually I'd go and find her and do a visual check, even though she was never going to come out and say hi. Occasionally she wouldn't be under the bed and I'd poke around a little but there's also the factor of not wanting to go hunting through someone else's home.

I could easily see going 2-3 days without seeing her if I didn't go to the trouble of going and finding her under the bed. And also I had known these cats for years and was good friends with the neighbors, so I sort of knew the drill. You said this sitter has only watched the cats a couple times before? I wouldn't worry about it.

Yeah, this particular cat is new. The other one, she's watched for five years (and that is the one to hide under the bed when a stranger arrives).

Thanks, all. Just needed a gut check.

Wait, the cat is new? I definitely wouldn’t have mentioned not seeing it because I probably would just expect the usual cat.