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Post by heretoday on Jun 23, 2010 2:43:29 GMT -5
I contacted someone from Craigslist to help me around here because I have to get a catsitter when I am away during the summer. I like to go around to some of the weekend music festivals. Last summer my daughter did it but she doesn't come over that much anymore and is going to uni and working. I am freaking out about the whole situation. I lost my last catsitter when I let a friend of mine feed the cats when I went to Uruguay to meet my older girl who had a 5 month old baby. My friend took pics of the place and showed them around to people we know and emailed my younger girl and said stuff like "oh I sure know why you moved out blah blah". Needless to say we are not friends anymore. Anyway I am just stressed out about the whole thing - what do you guys do when you go away? I don't want to be a prisoner to my junk here and clutter and squalor. I guess when I had a catsitter before my daughter was living here and helped me clean it up. When I had to two kids I got a guy thru the yellow pages to feed the cats and then the next year when I phoned him he wouldn't do it. I used to take the kids camping over on the gulf islands every summer. Anyway does anyone have experiences, words of encouragement etc? thanks if you do
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Post by dtesposito on Jun 23, 2010 8:52:54 GMT -5
Well, I wish I lived near you because I'm a petsitter and I would love the work!
The best way to find a sitter is through a referral, do you know any other pet people who might know someone? If you don't know anyone personally who uses a sitter call any animal shelters or animal hospitals in your area--they will know of people who do this and might have employees who do it as a sideline. It really helps to get someone experienced with animals so they can recognize signs of illness.
What a horrible thing to have someone take pictures of your place and show them to people--I can imagine what that felt like! And good for you to use a housecleaner--take advantage of all the help you can get.
Diane
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Post by moggyfan on Jun 23, 2010 9:09:21 GMT -5
In your situation, it may be better to have a stranger, since there's no chance of a repeat of the picture incident. Since you won't really know this person, however, I would be careful to squirrel away anything really valuable (money, jewelry, small electronics, etc.) before you go away.
I'd clear a good path to where the kitties' food and litter are, and be sure to leave the litter clean. Also, as best you can, get rid of outright garbage & anything that smells bad. (Do you know the reason the Yellow Pages guy wouldn't come back?)
Truth is, in this economy I think people really need work and are not going to be too picky.
Diane's suggestion of where to find a good petsitter is a good one--I know my vet has a list.
Good luck with your craigslist person & the cleaning. I've had very good experiences doing this!
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Post by amberwind on Jun 23, 2010 9:28:06 GMT -5
If all you're doing is going away for a weekend (4 days or less) you can do what I do - put out 2 bowls of food and 3 bowls of water and let the kitties fend for themselves. Cats are remarkably self-sufficient, and unless yours are elderly or have health problems that require medication, it's fine to leave them alone for a few days.
That said, I would still get someone if you're gone for more than 4 days, or if the cats need any special daily care.
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Post by heretoday on Jun 27, 2010 7:13:07 GMT -5
well my friend's daughter contacted me Thurs. nite and came and did some stuff Fri. so still have to cleaning lady coming tomorrow which should get the place much better. Still having trouble getting a catsitter tho, had to ask my daughter to do it for next weekend, got a cheap hotel in Portland within walking distance of the Waterfront Blues Fest. even tho 100,000 people are supposed to be going. Tix are only $40 too! Sure would be nice to get the house done up so it looked like a normal person's house for once if you know what I mean. Mainly worried about the cats, one is on meds and needs it mixed with wet food so need feeding every day. Well hopefully everything will work out, don't like to stay home all yr. esp. in the summer. Thanks for the advice/encouragement.
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Post by heretoday on Jun 27, 2010 16:41:57 GMT -5
the cleaning lady came today and just stayed for 2 1/2 hrs. and did some stuff in the kitchen. She said stuff would have to be put away and organized before she could do any more cleaning. Good thing I have my friend's daughter who came on Friday - she said she would come back some other time too. Would be totally screwed without her, she used to clean for us when I had two jobs and the two kids who wouldn't do any cleaning at all, all they did was make a huge mess. The younger girl would help her but the older girl wouldn't. What a nightmare that was, working 7 days a week, one graveyard shift job and one afternoon shift job - had a big house with a big mortgage.
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Post by heretoday on Jun 27, 2010 18:21:22 GMT -5
geez, just feel like crying, things are pretty bad when a cleaning lady doesn't even want to help you out. Doing a bunch of challenges in the chat room, want to be able to go on hols first 2 weeks of July and 2 weeks in Aug., will have a catsitter coming in and want the place half decent. Luckily my daughter agreed to do it for the long weekend July 1/4th - will get a catsitter after that.
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Post by mouseanne on Jun 27, 2010 18:24:38 GMT -5
  that is just so wrong.
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Post by eagle on Jun 27, 2010 18:27:17 GMT -5
Heretoday, is boarding your cat out of the question?
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Post by heretoday on Jun 27, 2010 18:30:58 GMT -5
well I have 3 cats and one is on meds for kidney failure, long story, when I boarded her when I went to Thailand her and another cat got that FIP from some other cats the lady had. The other cat overcame it but my siamese one didn't, no kennel would take a sick cat. My vet might board her and since I am only going I could leave the others I guess, just don't like the thought of her in a little cage. Plus my vet is about half an hrs. drive, will be back for a day or two and then go again. Don't want to have to stay home on my hols but I could phone my vet and ask them about it I guess if nothing else will work. My daughter will feed them this long weekend July 1/4th. She is going to school and working tho, she is really busy.
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Post by success19 on Jun 30, 2010 14:49:49 GMT -5
Try to find someone on craigs that wants to organize as well as clean - there are people who will do this - however it probably may involve you also being willing to throw stuff away as she or he works with you.
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Post by phoenixcat on Jun 30, 2010 16:12:38 GMT -5
Our cat sitter is one of the technicians at our vet's office. We hired her precisely because she could take care of cats on medications. She isn't real cheap but we worry a lot less with a real animal lover coming twice a day. When she first came - I was embarrassed about the order so I sprayed a bunch of deodorizer around. She told me she actually prefers the animal smell.  My house sometimes looks like a wreck but if she can get around and find the cats, find the food and litter boxes - she's pretty good. When I wrote up my job requirements - I listed any house challenges. There were multiple vet techs looking for work and I wanted one that could deal with insane cat parents  . Possibly another option as long as she knows upfront what she is getting into. Also, vet techs pet sitting on the side are about as cheap as a regular professional pet sitter (in my experience). Good luck! PC |
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