Attorney: Don't know what kind of crappy homeowner's insurance YOU have, but most insurance companies won't deny a claim because the door wasn't locked!

Nrrd to add my two cents.
I have a young neighbor. A boy about 11 years old. Last year when I left for vacation, he took care of my cats, watered my plants and brought in my mail. I walked him through everything a couple of times for a few weeks leading up to my departure. His mom knew where everything was, telephone numbers, technicolor vomit removal stuff, key to mailbox, (extra key just in case). I was not worried about a locked door or window. Kids know about that stuff.
I came home to very happy cats. He had taken excellent care of them.
Healthy plants. My mail was neatly piled on the dining room table (in categories of course, magazines, catalogs, envelopes)
His mother told me that he did it all on his own. I happily bought a computer game and gave him $50. He was thrilled. Now I have a young man who is eager to help me and I would trust again with no problem.

My cat suffers from multiple personality disorder. I don't trust anyone who is not a certified pet psychologist to tend to her while I'm away.

If I'm on vacation, and she becomes Tom, the outdoor alley cat, she might jump out of the house and scour the other side of the tracks, possibly picking up all kinds of nasty diseases and habits. Would my insurance cover that type of train wreck? I think not.

I only tust a professional, $150 an hour.

Anyone who is so anal that the cat can only be fed or watered or handled "just so" needs to either board the cat or spend the big bucks to have someone licensed and bonded to come over and actually sit with the cat for the several hours it takes the cat to eat "properly."

Otherwise, a 9 yo should be able to handle the task. Make a checklist of responsibilities. Have the child come over several days in advance for a run through. Discuss the checklist with the parents. All good suggestions.

Now, now x. X's kitty is her baby, her life. The cat is very special. Sort of a "special needs" cat. He, he, I'm sorry, I can't go on, it's just to funny.

I don't even have my babysitter's moniter my kids to make sure they are fed properly, hey, throw some food their way, whatever sticks will have to do.

Wow, this thread has really taken off. Thank you all for the comments. I have some of my own:
my pets are not finicky eaters and I don't have to ration their food. They do not have eating disorders as some of the pets of the previous posters, and they do not need a pet shrink. I think that the 9 year old is capable of letting the dog out into the yard and refilling pet bowls. I think buying her a toy and giving some money should be a great trade off.

Not to worry Patsy, we weren't implying that YOU had a highly sensitive, special needs cat.

I think for most reasonable people a 9 year old neighbor will do just fine.

I have to say that I would agree with Attorney. Anything could happen while you are gone. A friend of mine had her neighbors who were very good friends of theirs for over 20 years keep an eye on their house while they went to Florida for a couple of months over the winter. This past winter they got a call from the police because her house was broken into. Well, they found out it was the teenage son of her very good friend. He had stole the key from his parents and was having parties at their house every weekend. These parties got out of hand and jewelry among other things were stolen from the home. The apparent break-in (patio door was shattered) was a cover-up for what they had already done. I know this wouldn't happen with a 9 year old but this woman never thought this would happen to her either.

Yes, but the neighbors would have to live close enough for the 9 year old to walk over. The very good friends' child was old enough to drive. The parents of the 9 year old are close enough (I assume) to observe that the house is not being used as party central.