HO said I did not clean litter boxes provide fresh water and neglected their animals leaving negative review

Sitter Questions, Advice & Chat
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Dear community, This was my 11th sit for trusted housesitters. I have been petsitting for cats,dogs,etc for over 30 years. This turns out to be a long post.I am upset and appreciate your feedback.

I just completed petsitting 2 cats for 9 days.There were 2 litter boxes in a small room which I cleaned daily, fresh water each day,swept floors for litter and cat hair,topped off food and threw away garbage daily because the home smelled like urine. Listing details: “Cats are free feed so they just need their litter scooped daily and love + playtime.

In welcome guide “Cats can go anywhere, but just keep the bed up and don’t leave the bath mat or and clothes piled up.”

After arriving host said one cat pees on bed in room lift bed asked if the door can be closed and host said other cat can open door. I asked if the door can be locked and the host gave me a key. The day after the host left the apt. smelled I sent message asked about air freshener or a way to ventilate. Host said open sliding door make sure cats don’t get out. So I could only open a very less than an inch. One of the cat litter boxes was lifted so I closed the lid in order to control smell. Cats had door flap to enter. HO said she told me the cats were to big to enter flap. I do not recall that verbal communication.Cats threw up which I communicated to host and host said they do that when they eat too much. I did cleanings multiple times a day.Threw out garbage multiple times a day.

Received email after leaving from host stating very disappointed that litter box had not been cleaned caked on urine on bottom. The other litter box door should not have been closed they were too big. Host said that she told me that. Host said apartment smells like urine because of the door being down, Host said afraid that her cats have urinary infections. My response was boxes cleaned daily,swept floor,fresh water. Welcome guide did not give any of the details about door up. Before arriving I asked host to write down details of cat care,additional information the host said it was all in the guide. There were many questions after accepting sit and after arriving which host did not offer prior details or write in welcome guide.

Host response:

If you don’t know how to properly clean a litter box, why are you pet sitting?

Our apartment didn’t smell when you arrived and it has everything to do with the inches of caked on urine in the box. I can’t even fathom how you can talk to me this way? You were in our home! Taking care of our children. It was literally so bad that it borders on neglect. I could go on with how there was scuz and hair in their water bowl. Because trust is completely broken, so how do I even know their water was made fresh and not just topped off. The smell was so offal that Voodoos eyes were caked in tears. I can’t even understand how you can think we’ve done anything to deserve this? We’ve had many sitters and ALL know how to clean a litter box properly. And WHY would you close the other box this morning? When you knew it was supposed to be open? That’s ridiculous and makes it seem even more like you are lying. Not even any concern from you or an apology that you messed up. That would go a long way. Saying “I’m sorry, I didn’t clean them and that your cats were not ok” that would have meant something that you actually cared. But you just wanted a free place to stay for a week and to h…ll with our apartment or our family.

No empathy for us at all.

All I can do is provide an accurate review. But for the love of God please don’t sit for another family, this is not the job for you. “From host.

I am beside myself and not sure how to go forward.

Thanks for your time.

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2

Sorry to read this. They sound hysterical and what they say is so over the top that most people would not take it seriously (in my opinion). I would block future communication with them.

Chat GTP suggests that you send them a review like this:

Unfortunately, this sit did not meet expectations due to unclear communication and differing standards of care. I followed the welcome guide and daily routines provided, including cleaning litter boxes, maintaining fresh water, and keeping the space tidy. Several key instructions were given only verbally and contradicted the written materials, leading to misunderstandings. I made every effort to care for the cats and home responsibly and communicated regularly with the host. I hope future sits offer clearer guidelines and more constructive communication.

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If this was a small apt (? sounds that way?) I would assume two indoor cats with two litter boxes would smell somewhat, especially if there are accidents or similar.

The feedback you got sounds harsh given the circumstances. However, I wouldn’t alter the toilet facilities of the pets. It can be stressful to pets to have strangers in the home, and sometimes altering the litter facilities can lead to pets pee/ poo other places and/ or in a different routine. Being closing it, changing sand or other.

A bad sit can eventually happen to everyone, regardless of how great you are. I think the learning one can take from this for both parties is to communicate more to make sure it is a good match and that relevant info is exchanged. I’m sure you already have some extra questions for next time! It is great you have so many sits already, so I don’t think this will do much harm.

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Sorry this owner has been so harsh.

I think sometimes owners give unfavorable reviews when they expect that the sitter is going to give an unfavorable review, even when the sitter has put a lot of effort into a challenging situation.

Did this owner have previous positive reviews from other sitters?

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Thankyou for the response

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Thank you for feedback.

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This host sounds rather unhinged. One of those psycho OTT types. I’m sorry you have been berated by them in such a harsh manner, after all your effort and care. I can well understand that you feel hurt and disillusioned by their attitude. However I do think that if they write their review of you in the same way they have written this email then future readers- seeing all your other great reviews- will put this one review in context and see it as a complete mismatch of actions vs expectations. Make sure you respond unemotionally to their review and it will be clear to any reader where the issues lie..
Try not to worry- most sitters do eventaully have a bad sit- its pretty inevitable but as long as you bury it quickly in more good reviews it should not affect you at all in the future.
Onwards and upwards my friend! :smiley:

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Wow, that response is pretty unhinged and it sounds like an awful experience all around. I’m so sorry that happened.

My understanding is that HO’s are supposed be offering an Airbnb like experience with the added bonus of some pets to care for, in exchange for not having to hire a pet sitter or disrupt their pets life by having to board them elsewhere. It seems like this HO doesn’t have the same understanding.

Hopefully potential HO you apply to sit for will understand that the review they gave you says more about them than about you.

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No, they are offering up their home. The cleanest version of their home, with space for a sitter’s things - but expecting an AirBnb experience is only going to lead to disappointment.

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Thanks for your response.

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Thanks for the response

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Thanks for your response