***This is for cats only… I’ve recently realised that there is now new section on the “responsibilities” where HO can request amount of the time that the cat should not be left alone more than six hours…
Then, I’ve checked random 20 sits - 19 of them requested the same. The one who hasn’t, says “the cat can be left alone more than six hours - confirm timing with the owner” - I wondered whether this means giving an account of sitters daily schedule? Surely, not - I chuckled But hey, everything possible…
As 5+ years of experienced sitter, I observed the changes that this establishment went through… The world is changing and that’s ok. It’s individual’s choice to make their own decisions. My personal approach was that how this serves a traveler, even beyond that, the freedom that gave me over the years…
Experienced mature sitters will understand that it’s not about leaving the pet alone - it’s personal freedom and boundaries without compromising of the core of being…
I personally completed a recent sit that I booked last summer and won’t be renewing my membership. The platform served me well until it’s not and moving on…
Dear fellow travellers & sitters & explorers or whatever identifying your self with… I sometimes visit this forum and can see that the burn out sitters are going through, due to extreme policy updates ( this will become a rapid pattern, in-fact, already is) and so on - especially for the new comers…
Respect and honour your self, your core being first.
There was speculation in a recent post about dogs that the default check was for 2 hours and so all of a sudden many listings stated 2 hours because the hosts hadn’t noticed the change or didn’t read carefully or…. Perhaps this has happened now with cats as well.
Very much could be…. you see, so many guesses and interpretations “Gray areas” left for both sides to dive into rabbit hole That reminds me the genius of “policiy makers” who has no idea what the actual process is. But hey, life goes on - I will put the kettle on… Best
Indeed, I thought that too but again so many guesses - Policy makers missed the point of informing both sides with clarity. This could’ve been wises approach than leaving the actual members to work out the system has been created with non sense approach… Best
It seems there is no default choice but limited options regardless the pet. It doesn’t matter if it’s a dog, a cat or just fish. And it doesn’t matter if it’s just one pet or 20.
I think options are limited to:
Can’t be left alone
Up to 2 hours
Up to 4 hours
Up to 6 hours
More than six hours - confirm timing with the owner.
This is not helping because in every case it’s important to check with the owners, not only to specify how long more than 6 hours
Is 5 hours not a reasonable option according to THS?
So in the latest version: Pets can be left alone for up to six hours or six hours plus. I could see how some newbies and even other hosts might think more than six could be 24 or anything and go with 6. To me it’s not that hosts have suddenly changed, it’s that the formatting has gotten dumber, so I’d recommend sitters just have a chat where everything is discussed and laid out maybe followed by a brief note sent to homeowners via the THS messaging system confirming what was agreed to.
That’s what it is.
Also, it’s human nature to try to “fit in”. So, when required to add new fields with limited options, there’s going to be a bias favored by the way options are presented.
Hosts are not any better or worse than they used to be. But the new “improvements” may help attract the wrong kind of people to the platform.
I agree with you dear @Marion. This isn’t something related to PO. At least, I never had an issue in this sense with my previous sit applications and I had great experiences with pets and their owners. As mature adult to mature adult.
However, if I was to carry on my membership - I would rather not to apply for such sit even though there are “what ifs” in the first place… I would filter out…
If I was PO and set the criteria, I would expect applications to be made accordingly, rather than discussing it on the next stage. And I would consider to have a right to do so as the system gave me this opportunity.
But this is me… added a little bit empathy
I hope upcoming “features updates” made by product department who has develop a little more empathy into the actual process before making design decisions… Best
And I get why you wouldn’t be bothered writing. However, for me, if the location was right, and there were no other red flags, I would just state something in my application asking whether there was “flexbibility” on that timing One thing I have noticed sitting cats, is that many cat people, esepecially if is wet food, might want three feedings a day for instance so it might be breakfast, lunch about six hours later, and dinner around six hours after that. Usually, those timinings can be worked around and are in fact flexible, so to me it’s worth asking about.
Cat owner’s perspective - I never liked this category to begin with. As a cat owner, I would like sitters to not leave in the morning and come back at night every day of the sit, but to spend SOME time at home. However, realistically, most cat owners of healthy cats leave their cats for more than 6 hours comfortably. Where I live there are some great day trips and I’d love my sitters to enjoy them.
So as you can see, there’s no correct answer to choose. “Reasonable amount of time” isn’t marked as a category . I end up trying to explaining my expectations verbally during the call.
The best option is to choose more than 6 hours. This option shows a warning for the sitters to discuss timing with HOs and it won’t put off sitters from applying.
If I see that arrival/departure times or time that pets can be left alone are too restrictive with no further explanation, I don’t apply. I usually spend lots of time with pets, as that’s my main motivation for sitting but I also like to team up with reasonable, friendly people.
But I don’t think there’s anything wrong with doing that. Cats are individuals. Hosts are individuals. This isn’t one size fits all. Sitters aren’t mind readers. As a sitter I try to ask questions to make sure I’m clear on expectations. As a host, I try to clarify as much as I can so sitters don’t think a time is arbituary, and I look for sitters who will be sleeping in around enough.
But hey, everything possible…
