Prepping for My First PS Review -- What to Include?

Owner Questions, Advice & Chat
26

Hi @theperfectstorm. Thanks for posting. Congrats on your first hosting/review!

I see you found a solution, so just adding some misc info:

  • I was hoping the official TH site Help section would have more info, but I at least found this:
  • As noted earlier, there is a new “blind review” system set to appear any day/month now (Introducing our new review system). That system will have a deadline once it starts (looks like 14 days), but for now, I don’t think there’s a time limit to wait on writing your review.
  • If you want to respond privately to your sitter, you can just message them as usual in the TH website/app. Or via text/WhatsApp/whatever else you’ve shared.
    • In my case (as a sitter), I will send a draft of my public “feedback” to them before I submit it. I think this is a rarity. I haven’t had any issues, but then again all my feedback for HOs has been an overall 5 stars.
  • I noticed you’re in Brooklyn. As you’re an HO in NYC with just cats, I think you have a distinct advantage. No matter what review you write (or don’t), or what feedback you get, you should be able to explain it satisfactorily to potential sitters and have plenty of applicants.
  • If I were the HO, I’d be dissatisfied with a sitter who left takeaway boxes, didn’t report a broken washing machine door. Wet spots and sticky stuff could be easily missed by the sitter. I won’t get into the depleted cat food supply.
    • Before writing my review, I’d ask the sitter about my concerns. I’d be sure to ask in an open way (not binary). Like, “I noticed some takeaway boxes on my bookshelf, a broken washing machine door, some wet spots on the bean bag, and some sticky stuff on the floor (pics attached). What light, if any, can you shed on those?”
  • Cat pee. I guess the question is whether the sitter smelled the pee as well and ignored it, vs not noticing it. So you could inquire about that openly as well. Like, “When I returned home, I noticed the house smelled like cat pee. I haven’t located the sources yet. What do you know about any pee accidents in the house?”
  • I recall other topics in the forums on writing reviews … one mentioned the difference between one-off mistakes vs mistakes that might be repeated. Similarly, I consider how much of the mistake is due to the other party, vs “two to tango.” Especially as this sounds like your first time hosting … and we’re always learning!
    • As a sitter’s example, my last sit was for a friend and I felt they really didn’t pull their weight. But I pulled back my perspective and decided that it was partly my fault for sitting for a friend when they hadn’t provided a written Welcome Guide; I let the friendship cloud my judgment. So rather than call out the five ways I felt let down by the host, I’d just say in feedback that I should’ve insisted they have a written Welcome Guide before I committed to the sit. And that’s part of my must-have list now.

Glad your cats were well-taken care of!

27

Geoff, thank you for the detailed response. I did reach out to the PS similarly as you described in the text and a private message on the platform. The cat pee was of the most concern, as it could indicate an underlying medical issue–the reply was a bit vague, so I’ll have to monitor it on my end.

I work in communications, so this first PS, I was trying to be mindful of not overcommunicating to the point of ad nauseam, but I now know better. It’s better to be crystal clear with one’s expectations, so there is less chance of miscommunication throughout the TH experience.

2 Likes
28

I’ve thought about what happened with your sit, and realize that even though I too fear being overdetailed, I really need to explicitly state that if anyone does anything outside the box (even nearby) to please let me know same day. I have 3 cats. Accidents are very rare, but when they happen there is almost always a reason – medical or stress/behavoral – so I want to know, problem solve, and try to prevent those particular circumstances. It’s not an emergency, but it’s definitely worthy of a photo and “this happened” as a text. I think sitters are worried that they might get blamed, or someone might react with, “My pet must be sick! Take him to the vet.” etc. So I plan on putting this in my “cat behviors” section. I feel this is something “cat people” should be aware of. Often once a cat starts this as a behavior, if you don’t deal with that’s happening, it could become a regular behavior which is disasterous.

2 Likes
29

Just read through your postings and surprised nobody mentioned about whether your cat has been spraying due to the change in circumstances for her at home. So actually nothing to do with litter tray not being cleaned. She maybe marking her territory because of the new person that appeared. If this was your first sit has she not been left with a stranger before?

When cats spray urine, they’re generally acting out due to fear, stress, or disruptions in their lives. Seemingly subtle changes in your pet’s daily routine or surroundings can cause a big reaction.

30

Thank you for your response. It was not the first time the boys has been left with a stranger. The PS mistakenly locked the younger cat in a bedroom overnight without access to his box, alas the reason for his being locked up was vague at best.

31

Thanks for your reply, that’s a shame but that explains it :pouting_cat: