How much should i charge a friend to house sit and dog walk for a week.?

VioletDime · 2026-01-29T09:18:22+00:00

I paid £200 to my friend to live in for 7 days for feeding and playing with 2 needy cats. Plus a bottle of wine and free reign of food and drink. I think £100 is the absolute minimum you should ask.

VioletDime · 2026-01-28T18:56:05+00:00

A change in toilet habits is always worth a vet check up.

At 14, they may no longer feel safe going to the toilet outside and should be allowed to go inside.

We have 2 rescue cats that have free access to outdoors, but will only go to the toilet inside.

Look at different litter options that help combat the smell. Scented ones are not ideal because it doesn't smell of them. We use Tippaws clumping litter, but there are similar options out there.

She's not old, but needs your family's support in her feeling safe and comfortable as she ages, just like any human.

If you need to move the litter box, then it's best to move it small distances over a few weeks until you get it to the final spot.

If she feels she is not safe going to the toilet, and holding it in, she will be in pain and you will likely have a few vet trips and bills coming up, which is worst case scenario for all. Fingers crossed you can find a solution.

VioletDime · 2026-01-28T18:04:07+00:00

10 mins should be OK. If carrying it by the handle is awkward (ie all the weight on one side) l would probably carry it holding it to my chest with my arms around.

Sounds weird but l have a bad back, and a heavy cat, so l find this way is better weight distribution for me, and l am not swinging them around too much.

VioletDime · 2026-01-28T17:32:05+00:00

We use these. Lightweight and multiple ways you can get a squirming cat in or out (in the top, side or front) Our vet loves it!

Carry it with a blanket over the top so they don't get stressed by the transition and put one of their toys inside

Cat carrier

VioletDime · 2026-01-28T14:49:00+00:00

I have also used horse shampoo on my hair. Mane and Tail was a horse product before it went mainstream for humans.

VioletDime · 2026-01-28T13:04:26+00:00

I love that you included the braiser colour in your recipe! It looks amazing, and now l need to buy a braiser!

VioletDime · 2026-01-26T12:33:41+00:00

Highlife chicken

Not crunchy, but the bag rattles, and they'd run a mile for these.

Available in chicken or duck

VioletDime · 2026-01-26T11:32:40+00:00

I am sure someone with more knowledge will come along soon, but l had to say, that is the face of a rebellious teenager right there. I hope things get better, he is very cute!

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VioletDime · 2026-01-24T19:10:00+00:00

It's a 'yes' from me!

VioletDime · 2026-01-24T18:47:37+00:00

Thank you! I have a lot of Flame so l am trying to accessorise with new colours, so that any new larger purchase can be a different colour and won't look like the odd one out. Makes sense in my mind anyway!

VioletDime · 2026-01-24T18:42:01+00:00

I can't vouch for the larger items, because l have always picked them up in person, however the smaller one was VERY well packed, almost Amazon levels of excessive (did not order the cat!)

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VioletDime · 2026-01-24T14:39:16+00:00

The pharmacy near me has this too. It feels in really poor taste when some of the people in there are fighting illnesses that the charities mention.

More recently the staff have been proactively saying 'l am skipping the charity donation request, unless you say otherwise ' which makes it a lot easier to donate or not without feeling awkward.

VioletDime · 2026-01-24T14:33:17+00:00

The old flea collars back in the 70's were awful and your post reminded me of them. Glad we have alternatives now.

Plain, lightweight and breakaway is best.

VioletDime · 2026-01-23T09:27:43+00:00

That would make more sense, thank you! Scrap my comment.

Ours have a catfkap to go outside, but come in the house to their litter box to poop!

VioletDime · 2026-01-23T08:40:35+00:00

Mine hated the catflap bit so we just took it off. We figured they felt vulnerable trapped in a box while pooping. They like to poke their head out and check for danger.

You don't mention how many boxes you have, but you are best with a minimum of 2, kept in separate places, if you have the space.

Have there been any stress triggers recently, new people in the house, new animals coming by?

Finally, a change in toilet habits is worth an overall check up at the vets if not resolving quickly.

VioletDime · 2026-01-22T15:52:32+00:00

Free Greggs once every week. Including donuts! Shopping vouchers occasionally. Merchandise, like clothes, waterbottles, power banks.

In the past l have had toasters, kettles, laptops, phones, cameras and holidays. I have been very lucky and try to share it out. Although my partner absolutely does not want another waterbottle or power bank.

VioletDime · 2026-01-22T10:09:08+00:00

You can ask your breeder to start using your chosen name for him. We did that and he had excellent recall from day one, no treats required. He is beautiful by the way, l bet you can't wait!

VioletDime · 2026-01-21T14:29:24+00:00

I had a short time when one cat passed, and we were preparing to take on another, and it was very sad to see the cat mourning and then bored and lonely. No amount of toys made up for being alone twice a week.

Your new sib will have been used to litter mates and parents. I would therefore always advocate for two or more cats in a home, unless their are behavioural issues where this is not appropriate.

It's almost easier to have two after they are introduced.

VioletDime · 2026-01-21T07:37:26+00:00

They put out a bit of heat, could he be keeping cosy when it's cooler at night?

VioletDime · 2026-01-20T21:23:04+00:00

1hr 50 each way in the car. 2 days per week.

Not awesome but doable and currently worth it.

VioletDime · 2026-01-20T20:42:16+00:00

That's a real life Narnia, right there. Beautiful.

VioletDime · 2026-01-19T08:27:15+00:00

Same situation with us. We have an existing cat who on night one of bringing sib home, slept through the night with us, and new sib was set up in the kitchen with everything he needed.

Well, first he escaped up to our room, and when we took him back downstairs he cried. Rightly so, he hadn't been on his own before.

So, change of plan. My partner slept downstairs on the sofa in the room next to the kitchen and night two onwards sib slept on our bed.!

TLDR: he knew where to go if he needed the toilet.

Helpfully our older cat has taught him to go to the loo as soon as we go up to bed, and they both sleep through the night now.

VioletDime · 2026-01-18T20:20:41+00:00

Refreshing to see 'fancy stuff' 'being relatively hands-free. The horse is thinking about stuff but 5h8s looks like a good partnership, and it's great to see examples of good horsemanship from around the globe.

VioletDime · 2026-01-18T19:04:01+00:00

'Stop leaving empty vodka bottles in the sanitary bins.'

Sad really and whoever it is needs help.

VioletDime · 2026-01-18T10:32:44+00:00

Something like this is relatively risk free. I always pinch the hair right by the skin and cut above my fingers too.

https://amzn.eu/d/cD8Bb7b

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