x

hey, catdaquiri, sounds like somebody gave you away! quite a little 'tude you've got there! taught you real appreciation of life in your household, I take it! what a mess!

x

Thanks, kitty - I have some cats, and god forbid I'd have some kid like catdaquiri running loose! I liked what Jette had to say about caring for farm animals, including the cats. Very responsible and kind. I also saw the piece about Motorcat! What a great story!

Henry

FRT,
Maybe that's the going rate for the DC area but it seems pretty steep to me. You could probably find some neighbor kid to do it for 1/2 that.

FRT

I'm just not ready to hand over my house keys to a neighborhood kid! My SO would have a fit if I came up with that idea. I've used professional sitters for almost 20 years - and yes, there have been a few problems (one left my back door open twice) - she later "fired" me - said we were unreasonable to say anything about the door. My trips normally go for at least 3-4 days and many more in the states, up to 3 weeks abroad. And I have 20-25 trips annually. With the prof. sitter, I can emial, FAX and plan in advance - it's a business, something I handle just the way I handle other facets of travel. I like that professional aspect. And it's for a good cause, the best! My cats! I couldn't do any less and still look them in the eye. Yep, $18 a day, one feeding, and $25 on hoildays (including every day around some of them). It does get expensive. Can you believe it - when I go abroad this fall, it's a long trip - the sitter tells me she is moving into my guestroom. But it's still $18.

Elfie

FRT, I'd actually be thrilled if my catsitter wanted to move into my spare room while I was on a long trip -- I hate thinking about my cats alone at home, with no people to play with them! LOL Yeah I know, we cat people are slightly nuts but in a good way! I pay top $ (apparently) for my catlady, it's $20 per visit, and mine get fed twice a day. She also scoops, changes their litter and water, and gets my mail, so maybe it's not so terrible. This is her business and she's done it for years, and is even comfortable with giving pills to cats which you'll never get with a 12-year-old. I'm like you, I'd never consider turning my cats over to a child.

FRT

Elfie, I love you! Don't tell my SO, okay. Sure I'm happy she's moving in - like I had a choice. She's chinese, and she tells me the program, I just write the check. It works, I am happy, and so far, the cats haven't taken out a contract on me or sent the knee whackers in! But I roll back in, and there are some slant eyed focuses abounding, of that you may be sure. I'm kinda in the dog (excuse) house for a day or two. But happy times resume, until the nest trip. At $18, I'm happy. Jeeez, I wouldn't do all that for $118 a day!

Edmund

I think 5 bucks a day from a neighbor kid is probably appropriate. Most cat's are self-sufficient except for food and water. They don't need the affection and attention a canine needs.

another

I'm not sure I believe that bit about cats needing less attention than dogs. They obviously don't need to be walked 2 or 3 times a day, but our cat seems to get pretty lonely when we're away for long stretches. I can tell because of the way he cries at the door when we come home--something the pet sitter has also noticed when he comes for feedings. The cat never does this when we come home after a regular 8 hour day at the office. Cats may not like or need to be held and petted as much as dogs, but I honestly believe they like having someone around. Even though he rarely wants to be held, our cat always lays down within a few feet of where we sit to watch TV, etc. and when we go to bed he moves into the bedroom with us. I firmly believe that most domesticated cats like and need human companionship--they just want it on their own terms!

kittyoverdose

Maybe it's time to start a separate forum for fodorites with felines.

Susan

I think you are paying a premium for something that should take little time. You should be able to get by on about 10 bucks a day.

Doggylover

Cats drool
Dogs RULE!

Hints from Hello

Did you know your cat has a built-in self-replenishing water bowl when you leave town? Yes, it is the toilet! My cat loves to drink from the toilet anyway. But I let my cat roam the house while I am gone and have someone check every few days and clean the litter.

Remember the farm

Jette: Your thread reminded me of the cats on the farm when I was growing up. Vet? you've got to be kidding. Male cats were castrated with a rubber band. I remember one cat had an infected tail that a sharp axe cured. Population explosions were solved with a rifle. Most farmers were not wealthy enough to go to the doctor regularly, much less take their pets to the vet. I'm not saying any of this was good, just reality.

MINDS THEMSELVES

Thank you to both xxx's. To others: I have 2 masters degrees, I am not an idiot, as you implied. However, after reading all the negative and positive remarks here let me state this: Indoor cats, which is an unnatural state, definitely need a caretaker like a child because they have not been allowed to fend for themselves. My cats are allowed to come and go as they please, their self-waterer is attached to a faucet so it drips, therefore is fresh, as is the food. I live in an area where the cats must be immunized and have a city tag but we do not have a leash law for cats, only dogs. And, yes my yard is very large. As far as life span goes, my cats are 15 and 17 years old, they have lived full and rich lives. I am amazed how people read into comments and assume that because I rescued my animals, they are not cared for. I did not pay a high dollar price for them as I wanted normal animals that needed a home and would be allowed to live as they should, with freedom and respect for their species. I am also surprised that all of these indoor cat and "needs cared for like children" posters NEVER stated whether they had their animals declawed. Oh, yes since everyone here wants to bash about how I treat my cats, bash me also on how I let my kids play outside doing kid-like stuff, instead of forcing them to play sports etc. etc. unless they wanted to. Kids and cats need to experience the real world be free to be themselves and grow at their own pace. By the way without forcing them, my kids are honor students and speak a secondary language of their choice (Japanese and Russian). It is disturbing how people bash others who do not think like they do, I believe my treatment of my children and animals is fine, but, respect everyone else's right to believe the same!! Thank you all.

CeCee

Just as an aside........I was horrified to read in this column that people think Postal Workers rob houses because they know you are on vacation!! I have worked for the USPS for 26 years and have never even HEARD this!!! Postal workers always get a bad rap but we are used to it. Almost all that I have know are honest, decent hard-working regular citizens. Each one goes thru an EXTENSIVE background check and drug test before being hired. You probably have less desirable people living right on your own street! And for the record, we do NOT make minimum wage....in fact....we make almost $45,000 per year in most jobs.
I am so sick of people always ragging on the Post Office and its employes. Go to your post office distribution plant and ask for a tour. See what you are getting for your 37cents....you'd be amazed at how many hands take care of your letter before it is delivered.
Some of our letter carriers actually do PET SITTING for people on their routes - - that's how much they are trusted.