I searched and I couldn’t find anything similar. I applied to this listing (am on sit now) when they lived in Detroit. I had dental appointments, so I took the listing, but they moved to a suburb – one I am very familiar with, so I didn’t have a problem. But when I arrived, the other addition – one year old. They had recently moved, so no clutter. They really haven’t fully moved in. But family room is all toddler stuff - climbing toy that takes up the whole space. And, this is 2 dogs - very sweet and one cat. Mentioned that the cat swatted the previous sitter – but never happened before. But now new house and new baby, the cat not only swatted me, attacked me. Cornered me. I fed it this morning – litter box and food is downstairs, where the dogs don’t go. You go out the door to go upstairs. It just sat in the doorway, hissing at me. There is a gym down there and I took something I could dangle like a cat toy, though it did not think it was a toy but a weapon, but it moved. We talk about aggressive dogs. What about super aggressive cats to the sitter?
Just ignore it, and it should ignore you back. Don’t try to make friends and don’t play with toys to win it over, you’ll just irritate it further. Hope things get better for you.
I would love to ignore it. It likes to sleep under the master. Since they recently moved in, no guest bed so I am in the master. I was in the master bath unpacking toiletries, and it came to the doorway and wouldn’t let me pass. Kept trying to lunge at me. Swatted my hand on my first try to connect and it scratched my hand with its claws. After, I just try and pass it. It would not let me pass. I had to wait until it moved. And that is when I got into the bedroom and got the luggage strap and tried dangling it like a toy., And it hissed and ran away. But the fact that she mentioned it to me about the previous sitter, means it is not a new thing. I am great at ignoring cats. But this one is interested in challenging me.
I was in a similar situation, it was the first time ever that I had been frightened of a cat. She also sat in doorways, and on the stairs and hissed and snarled at me if I tried to pass.
I made sure that I had socks and trousers on all the time to protect my feet and legs. I thought things had improved at one point, about a week into the situation but she did have a go at me a couple of times, thankfully my socks/trousers protected me. I also made sure the bedroom door was shut at night, or I wouldn’t have slept.
I just left her alone as much as possible, so long as she was fed and kept safe that’s as much as I could do for her and I was glad to get out unscathed. For the review you probably need to deduct a star on the animal behaviour and accuracy of listing categories. The neighbours where I was knew of this behaviour but it was not mentioned in the listing.
Since they just moved here, and the houses are pretty far apart, I doubt the neighbors know anything. But her mentioning it, towards the end of our “tour” of house and instructions and that it had never happened before, I think was telling. It could be the new house, the baby and maybe the cat wasn’t like this but it is super aggressive now. Lunging at me in full attack mode while I just stand there waiting to pass.
I did a THS sit for a first time PP using this platform. One cat who sounds exactly like the one you are describing. It was a rescue they had less than a year. They said the cat doesn’t like men and so the cat would have no problem with a female sitter. Wrong! They didn’t travel a lot and were in Europe for a big anniversary. A lovely couple and very clean house with nice views. I am a cat lover but that cat scared me. It did engage in play because it got its aggression out so I played with him a lot. When not playing it hissed at me, cornered me , showed all teeth and I knew if I didn’t quickly move it would have attacked me. I saw it in its eyes and posturing. It even sat outside my bedroom door and when I opened it he would not let me out. When the PP texted me to see how things were going I mentioned how aggressive the cat was. I said I would stay since they are in Europe and will keep out of the cat’s way when we are not playing. Two hours later they said they see I am uncomfortable and they have a relative that will take over the sit. I left the next day. They thanked me as I did send videos of us playing together and they weren’t aware of what was going on otherwise. I was relieved. I made it 5 days with 5 more left. Their quick response of finding someone else told me that they knew this cat could become dangerous. To this day they have had no other sitter or no one else besides me left a review. If leaving is not an option for you just ignore the cat and stay out of its way. Your safety comes first. Don’t hesitate to give notice to leave if you feel the cat will attack. Just call THS first and discuss the situation. They will probably advise to give 24 hour notice.
That really does sound bad. If you have to leave do you have somewhere else to go? Can you go home? Do you have the premium membership, I don’t know if it pays out in this situation but it might be worth contyTHS and ask for advice.
I am not going to leave. The dogs are great. And the house is big enough to try and stay out of the cat’s way. I just need to have something in hand, like my luggage strap to get it to back up. And they went to Iceland. I have dental appointments next week, so I need to be in the area. The first time, when I reached my hand out to let it sniff me and it swatted it and scratched me was enough warning not to try that again. Now it is really aggressive trying to attack me. But it is not following me. And I noticed it coming out of the baby’s room last evening. Maybe it is the new house, the baby and its people are gone. I noticed it even hissing when the dogs approached it.
Sorry you’re having to deal with an angry cat. I hope it doesn’t take its anger out on the baby. Change of house, new member in the family, new sitter, all issues that can cause a cat to be on the defense.
They are really new to the house. They have patches of color on all the walls to decide paint colors. The good thing is lack of clutter as they are not really unpacking until they paint. And it appears they are painting the whole house. So that is good. The family room has all the baby stuff, but the living room is clear. The kitchen and dining area all clear except for a high chair. I do have to go to the cat’s domain to do laundry and feed it. It seems to be under the master or downstairs. Once and a while it walks through the main level. But I leave it alone, it walks and then goes.
Definitely report to THS. Can you get a video to submit?
Does the cat attack the dogs? Can you bring one or both of the dogs with you to meet the cat? Then leave with the ‘pack’?
I am not submitting a video unless I really get injured. Right now I am ignoring the cat as much as possible. I do have to go down and feed it twice a day and clean the litter every 2 days and sometimes it walks through the main level, and try and not engage the cat.
Since she said it just happened with the last sitter and the baby is just a year, I am thinking it started with the baby.
Makes sense. I would still at least mention in the review that the cat is beyond grumpy about the new baby!
Definitely mention it in your review as a pet that attacks sitters ( or anyone) shouldn’t be on THS - you can tell the host yourself or report it to THS and let them remind the host of the terms of service that they agreed to
“ Pet Parents will
5.2.11. not have……. any animal with a history of attacks on pets or people;
5.2.4. ensure that no pets to be left under the care of a Sitter have ever caused a person or animal any physical harm (no matter how minor the injury);”
New house, new baby, stranger in the house = very unhappy and scared cat. Feliway has been effective and I’d suggest that the HOs try using it when next they travel. It doesn’t help you but …
In your place, I’d try keeping some small cat toys on me and, if the cat tries blocking me, toss them to see if the cat moves off. If so, problem solved.
I’d also probably contact THS to get their advice. I’m sure they’ve encountered this kind of problem before. If you do contact them, can you get back and let us know how useful they were?
As a last resort, I’d use a spray bottle or squirt gun to get the cat to move off. I realize that spraying water will make the cat dislike you more but it shouldn’t affect its relationship with anyone but you. As a temporary person in its life, it disliking you is worth motivating it to avoid you as much as you’re avoiding it.
I would take some videos just in case you need documentation down the line if is practical for you.
@OnTheRoadAgain mentions Feliway. I’ve used the similar product for dogs and found it a great investment. If you have access to one of the products (diffuser, spray etc) it could be helpful.
I think I would also consider whether some enricment could be possible to focus on something else, ofc without you being involved in an activity. For instance hiding kibble in toys, loo-rolls or something. But not sure how that would work with dogs nearby.
All of the above, plus give the poor thing treats (yourself too, poor thing!)
Do they have treats? Put some out for it. If they have something like Churu, squeeze a whole package of it into a dish and leave it down.
And if the cat is looking at you, open and close your eyes very slowly a number of times. If you wear glasses, take them off to do this. This is a signal to the cat that you are non-threatening.
No treats. I will try the eye thing next time. I just fed it and used a jump rope to get it to move. I used it like a toy, but it did not accept it as a toy.
Wow, sounds scary. Recently sat a cat that would give me an occasional smack. Claws sheathed. Gave me a fright the first time. Was very affectionate though and would snuggle a lot so that made the vigilance worth it. We sat brother kittens awhile back and watching them wrestle together showed me the advantage of two, they get that behaviour out with each other. Cat clearly disturbed by the change. Take care.
Find a large piece of cardboard , a large towel or something similar and place it in front of your legs as you walk by kitty. And, like others have said, don’t engage with kitty.
While I’m sorry that you’re having to deal with this, I feel really bad for the poor cat who is clearly distressed about so much - new home, baby, and now a stranger…..Poor kitty.