Hi, I am about to embark on my first sit. I first interviewed with the pet parents at the end of October. A few days ago we had a follow up call and they told me a scheduling requirement they hadn’t told me before and which contradicts their original listing -that their cats, who have auto feeders need to get wet food at 5 pm each night. They said there could be some flexibility but they didn’t seem to really want that. After our second call I looked up my notes from the first call and the listing. The listing said auto feeders and wet food in the morning and my notes said nothing about the 5 pm time. I texted and mentioned that the original listing said morning wet food and that’s why I was surprised. Her response was that they had forgotten to change it in the listing. I want to take good care of these cats but this may mean rearranging a lot of plans. Wondering how you all would approach this?
You have a few options. You can screenshot the original listing and say this is what we agreed and this is what I can manage for you. You can cancel if it doesn’t work for you. It may be that if you suggest cancelling they will rethink. You could offer a compromise and say for the days I’m home at 5pm I am happy to give the cats wet food again. Are you planning on a lot of sightseeing or do you have work commitments at that time and were they aware of this? Push back a little on what you agreed. #yougotthis
So it depends on how much you want to go ahead with the sit and how much this previously undisclosed responsibility will impact on your plans ?
If you would not have applied for / confirmed the sit if you had been aware of this responsibility you are entitled to cancel the sit.
You can also speak to THS via live chat and get their advice on if you can cancel Based on the requirements not being previously discussed and not what you agreed to. Then ask for a transcript of the conversation ( that covers you if you decide to cancel )
Take a screenshot of the listing as it is now ( as hosts can amend it at anytime )
You can maybe work out a compromise with the hosts as this wasn’t discussed before the sit was confirmed I can’t do this everyday so can I use the auto feeders or do you want to find another sitter who is able to do this ?
We recently had a similar situation where administering medication three times a day was not in the listing or previously discussed with us . After a discussion with THS support we cancelled knowing that we had proof that we had good reason to cancel and THS backing .
Some auto feeders can be used for wet food. They typically have a spot for an ice block to keep the food fresh. Maybe see if that’s a possibility.
I’d write back saying that if the wet food at 5pm had been part of the listing then sadly you wouldn’t have applied as you know that this doesn’t work for you. Then I’d say what would you like to do as you’re happy to cancel or possibly they’re happy for the schedule to be wet food in the mornings. I’d be straightforward in giving these two options.
I doubt if 5pm is set in stone. Will you be back between 6 to 8 on most nights. Surely there is a compromise that could be made. The cat doesn’t care when you give him the wet food if he eventually gets it in the evening. Even if a couple of nights is 10pm. A really easy sit with a cat that has an automatic feeder for dry food. I would definitely try to accommodate in some way.
This reminds me of a problem that just surfaced for me.. I accepted a week’s sit of two small dogs and said they were one of my favourite breeds.. all good. Then the Home Owner said “ Please don’t leave the dogs for more than an hour at a time.”
I’m not Roger Bannister !
That seems very restrictive, she knows I’m retired .. but!
There is a photo of the dogs at the pub so I may take them everywhere in my ruck sack lol.
As I say it’s a shortish sit and I’m actually local so I don’t need to do tourist things during my time there, but now I’m thinking “ Who let the dog sitter out? Will I be reported if not back in 60 mins?
What advice have sitters for me? It’s a lovely location and home etc. I’m sure I’ll be ok but this bit me in the bum!
It sounds to me like the same situation I have and some of the above advice may work for you too.
If you wouldn’t have taken the sit had you known, I’d say that and withdraw. To me, it’s about the principle of transparency and not bait and switch. And pragmatically, since you’re local, it shouldn’t be an inconvenience or cost to you to cancel.
The problem with being a nice guy and letting the host bait and switch is, then they think they can do this to other sitters, too, not just you.
Yes once I’ve signed up I feel I can’t let the pups down.. bet she’s had complaints from
Neighbours about the dogs yapping when no one is home!
That happened to me on another sit I got an anonymous note in the mail box saying neighbours wondered if there was any way I could stop the dogs barking in the garden. ( I was weighing out their food in a balance before feeding them breakfast and didn’t want them under my feet! ) 2 mins delay.. sure the dogs were wanting to come in and start eating! They would have barked inside too lol!
I wouldn’t go back there either. No way for me to knock on a specific door as the writer hid behind “ the neighbours” ! Passive aggressive!
I think your answer is in the Review you write. This fact would be in the first sentence.
‘A lovely cat that isn’t used to be left for more than an hour, and might suit somebody who rarely leaves the home. Fortunately this was a local short sit so wasn’t on this occasion a major problem, despite my not being aware beforehand. My recommendation is that the HO includes this in the responsibility section so that it is clear to future sitters’. I’d then go on to describe the lovely sit….
I wonder though if again the HO believes they’ve included this information via their initial listing info on THS but it’s not carried forward into the responsibilities section nor the welcome Guide either?
Possible. @Highfive should be able to address what they discussed about leaving pets.
This is the responsibilities…
No time limits mentioned..
ok I can accept a couple of hours..but one hour? It’s giving me anxiety !
Yes this is what we use for our cats wet food dinner if we are not home. They are about $50 on Amazon from CatMate. We use the kind with 3 compartments and the ice block underneath. We leave the first compartment empty (or can keep some kibble in it) since it is open all the time. Then set it to rotate to the 2nd compartment with the wet food at 5 pm. Then it rotates again to the 3rd compartment (empty or some kibble) at 7 pm.
Easy peasey.
There is a checkbox that hosts can select pets cannot be left alone or only two hours etc - However (up until today ) this wasn’t visible to sitters - this causes many misunderstandings-
Just tell the host that if this requirement (that the dogs can’t be left alone for more than 1 hour ) had been part of the listing then you would NOT have applied . You wish to withdraw from the sit so that she can find a sitter who can make this work .
I suspect the host in this case maybe knows that it won’t work for most sitters so chose to omit the information from the listing .
Their problem not yours .
I also do paid sits and even for most paid sit, platforms - sitters are not expected to be with the pets 23x hours a day
I can’t remember the site, but there was one where you got paid for housesitting and the contract with the company for any gig was literally “must be at the property 23 hours a day”. Was not highly paid either.
I don’t tend to leave doggos alone for long on my sits and there are few things I’m unwilling to work out with POs, but: one-hour-max outings is unreasonable, period.
How does the HO manage grocery shopping? Do they have a partner so that someone is always at home? Are they a shut-in? All groceries delivered?
IMO, those are almost certainly cases of a PO requiring unpaid labor to do what they do not.
You’re probably right that it’s about them being afraid of complaints about barking, but that’s not on you. Those folks need to be paying someone for their sits. That is not even a semi-equal exchange, and not what THS is about.
Edited to add: And I really don’t think it’s a reasonable expectation for paid sitters, either, but at least the rate for that level of service could be negotiated.
Thank you very much for your very helpful comments. It does feel a prison sentence!
I have to remind myself I am not polyfilla, solving all the shortcomings of pets’ behaviour and owners’ special needs and requirements.
This request didn’t sit well with me. I feel sorry about the dog’s anxiety but I did not sign up for this restrictive regime. Emergencies happen and to promise not to leave for more than an hour, at any time, over a week, is excessive in any one’s book.
My own mental health is also a consideration.
Many thanks, this forum has given me so much helpful advice over my times in the saddle as it were. I feel confident that I can negotiate a more workable solution.
It seems it is already resolved, but my 5 cents is that if I’m supposed to stay at home all the time, I’m much more comfortable in my own home. For sure I’m not willing to spend a lot of money staying in someone elses home.
I hour would hardly allow me to go get groceries, so a hard no. Then one would have to cover my travel and pay me. 
Even then I would probably say no.