# weird but not a huge problem **URL:** \ **Category:** Host Questions, Advice & Chat\ **Created:** [4 September 2026 16:15 UTC](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/t/weird-but-not-a-huge-problem/79772 "2026-09-04T16:15:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lisfnord](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/user_avatar/forum.trustedhousesitters.com/lisfnord/32/37242_2.png) [@Lisfnord](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/u/Lisfnord)\ **Post date:** [4 September 2026 16:15 UTC](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/t/weird-but-not-a-huge-problem/79772/1 "2026-09-04T16:15:34Z")
We recently went out of town and had a sitter. They were pretty great, but there were some weird things missing or rearranged. For example, we gave them a key on a keychain, and when we got home, the key was on a different keychain, and the original one is missing. Our cats have a food bowl that has several pieces to force the cat to slow down, and one of the pieces was in the backyard. Things like that. Everything else was perfect, cleaner than we left it, nothing important or valuable is missing, but there were just these few strange things. What do you think? Just let it be one of those unsolved mysteries, since overall everything was fine? Reach out to them? thanks! ---
**Author:** ![PVGemini](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/user_avatar/forum.trustedhousesitters.com/pvgemini/32/1828_2.png) [@PVGemini](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/u/PVGemini)\ **Post date:** [4 September 2026 16:27 UTC](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/t/weird-but-not-a-huge-problem/79772/2 "2026-09-04T16:27:28Z")
There is probably a fun story to explain the different keychain. We all want to hear that one! Please ask the sitter, out of curiosity (after reviews published), and let us know! A piece of the cat bowl in the yard? Not sure I would even mention it. And perhaps other things rearranged…sometimes on a sit, we need to move some items on a counter or table in order to create space for our things. Maybe the sitter did this? We always take a photo ahead of time so that we can replace things exactly the way that we found them, at the conclusion of a sit. As long as nothing missing nor broken, not sure I would worry about that. Also, in the kitchen, sitters may not remember exactly where each item goes in drawers and cupboards, when they put clean dishes away. This is understandable. ---
**Author:** ![Chikitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/858c86/32.png) [@Chikitty](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/u/Chikitty)\ **Post date:** [4 September 2026 17:33 UTC](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/t/weird-but-not-a-huge-problem/79772/3 "2026-09-04T17:33:31Z")
This is exactly the kind of thing that I would do (by accident). We don’t realize when we live in our own home that we know where everything goes. When you live in someone else’s home, it’s impossible to remember where everything was when you arrived. It could be that we put the key on our keychain and are like, “which key ring was theirs again?” Or, the cat got a hairball in the food dish so we washed it and left it in the yard to dry and forgot. I dunno. But things are gonna get moved just as a result of good care and normal living. If the cats are happy, and the home is clean and you have a stress free trip, they did great. ---
**Author:** ![Cat-ophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@Cat-ophile](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/u/Cat-ophile)\ **Post date:** [4 September 2026 18:34 UTC](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/t/weird-but-not-a-huge-problem/79772/4 "2026-09-04T18:34:04Z")
With respect to the key chain, I’d asked what happened to the original one and say that it’s no big deal, but simply curious about it. ---
**Author:** ![WeRPAWsome](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/user_avatar/forum.trustedhousesitters.com/werpawsome/32/46456_2.png) [@WeRPAWsome](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/u/WeRPAWsome)\ **Post date:** [4 September 2026 21:30 UTC](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/t/weird-but-not-a-huge-problem/79772/5 "2026-09-04T21:30:36Z")
Hi @Lisfnord 🙂 I think I’d probably leave most of it in the “unsolved mysteries” category, particularly the bowl piece. Things do get moved around during a sit, often for perfectly innocent reasons, and if the cats were happy, the house was cleaner than you left it and nothing was damaged or missing, it sounds like the sitter did a great job. The keychain is the one thing I’d be curious about, though. I’d send a very casual message after the review, along the lines of “I noticed the key was on a different keychain when we got home, and I couldn’t find the original. Any idea what happened to it?” Not as an accusation, just genuine curiosity. There may well be a completely mundane explanation. And if there isn’t, at least you’ll have solved one of the mysteries! 🐾❤ ---
**Author:** ![Cat-ophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@Cat-ophile](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/u/Cat-ophile)\ **Post date:** [4 September 2026 21:42 UTC](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/t/weird-but-not-a-huge-problem/79772/6 "2026-09-04T21:42:13Z")
You’d think the sitters would just mention something about the key chain. Not that it’s a big deal, but simply to explain why it’s a different one. If they lost the first one and got a duplicate made of a spare key, they should definitely let the HO know that. ---
**Author:** ![carpediem16](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/user_avatar/forum.trustedhousesitters.com/carpediem16/32/27502_2.png) [@carpediem16](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/u/carpediem16)\ **Post date:** [4 September 2026 22:28 UTC](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/t/weird-but-not-a-huge-problem/79772/7 "2026-09-04T22:28:35Z")
We’ve moved keys before to connect them to our car keys so we don’t misplace them! We always put them back how they were but I could see that happening. ---
**Author:** ![MerryPuppins](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/user_avatar/forum.trustedhousesitters.com/merrypuppins/32/38890_2.png) [@MerryPuppins](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/u/MerryPuppins)\ **Post date:** [4 September 2026 23:27 UTC](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/t/weird-but-not-a-huge-problem/79772/8 "2026-09-04T23:27:08Z")
> [@carpediem16](#): > > We’ve moved keys before to connect them to our car keys so we don’t misplace them! Same — and in fact I have “spare” rings on my chain from AirTags, keys I no longer use, etc. Sometimes I place the owner’s keys on a clip-type connector to make it easier to take on/off my full ring during a dog walk. So it’s entirely possible if something distracted me along the way, that I might get to the end of a sit & have misremembered which ring they were on originally… 😅😂 ---
**Author:** ![Maggie8K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@Maggie8K](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/u/Maggie8K)\ **Post date:** [5 September 2026 01:00 UTC](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/t/weird-but-not-a-huge-problem/79772/9 "2026-09-05T01:00:14Z")
I use a carabiner keychain for sits, so sit-home keys, rental car keys and such go on the ring and I clip it to a leash or my bag. Before I leave, I replace the sit-home keys. I use a departure checklist to track everything. ---
**Author:** ![RedLassie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/aeb1de/32.png) [@RedLassie](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/u/RedLassie)\ **Post date:** [5 September 2026 06:54 UTC](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/t/weird-but-not-a-huge-problem/79772/10 "2026-09-05T06:54:12Z")
I am glad you provide a keychain. My pet hate (no pun intended) is when a host hands me a key not attached to anything. So, I now attach key to a Lanyard, that way I shouldn’t lose it. Even when round my neck on walks it is tucked inside my clothes, and yes even inside my bra! Furthermore, when I return to house, I hang it on door handle, so I don’t have to think which table did I lay it down on this time? Every house= same place. When in car, I place it in the wee gap front of the gearstick. I do this not just on pet sits, but when in a rented holiday home too. My passengers can then quickly locate it to open house door whilst I am securing my car. Routines, keep things simple. ---
**Author:** ![HappyDeb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5fc32e/32.png) [@HappyDeb](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/u/HappyDeb)\ **Post date:** [5 September 2026 07:24 UTC](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/t/weird-but-not-a-huge-problem/79772/11 "2026-09-05T07:24:45Z")
Keychain - That sounds normal, some keychains are an awkward shape to fit in a ladies jeans back pocket. I imagine it was detached and then they forgot which end part it had (they are non rememberable when not your own). They wouldn’t have mentioned it, because they probably thought they had the right keychain when they replaced it. It’s just not something I would have thought of mentioning to an owner, it would never enter my head to do so. With the bowl part - is it empty if upturned? If so, it could be that they were trying to coax your cat back in the house with food (so it was inside for when you turned), or even to coax it with food, just to do a head count to see it was still okay before they left. Just ask them, but do it after your review or they’ll think there’s a real problem, because like you say they were pretty great, and who knows, they sit for you again in the future. ---
**Author:** ![MTBer](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/user_avatar/forum.trustedhousesitters.com/mtber/32/47039_2.png) [@MTBer](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/u/MTBer)\ **Post date:** [5 September 2026 12:55 UTC](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/t/weird-but-not-a-huge-problem/79772/12 "2026-09-05T12:55:05Z")
> [@Lisfnord](#): > > and the original one is missing. I assume you mean the keychain is missing, not the key. If simply the key chain is missing I think both of these things mentioned are weird, but nothing to be concerned with since they did a good job in all other ways. If you’ve really gotta know the answers (which frankly I would want to know, because that’s how I am 😅) then consider sending a kind follow up, thanking them for their wonderful sitting, praise them on how clean the house was, and how happy your pets were, then ask the curious questions. 🕵🏽‍♀️ please Keep us updated if you solve the mysteries. ---
**Author:** ![carpediem16](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/user_avatar/forum.trustedhousesitters.com/carpediem16/32/27502_2.png) [@carpediem16](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/u/carpediem16)\ **Post date:** [5 September 2026 13:03 UTC](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/t/weird-but-not-a-huge-problem/79772/13 "2026-09-05T13:03:22Z")
I use one too but good idea to add rings to it for pet sit keys. Have to remember to do that! ---
**Author:** ![Maggie8K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@Maggie8K](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/u/Maggie8K)\ **Post date:** [5 September 2026 13:15 UTC](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/t/weird-but-not-a-huge-problem/79772/14 "2026-09-05T13:15:56Z")
I use ones like this, with key rings attached. I keep my personal keys on one and have a separate one for sitting, because I avoid carrying keys I don’t need when traveling or sightseeing, to minimize potential losses. These kind of carabiners have a closed end, so you’re less likely to accidentally drop any key rings. ![IMG_5620](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/uploads/trustedhousesitters/original/3X/a/b/ab5e430a91af1838883a2e19f6c06e20c29a8400.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![MerryPuppins](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/user_avatar/forum.trustedhousesitters.com/merrypuppins/32/38890_2.png) [@MerryPuppins](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/u/MerryPuppins)\ **Post date:** [5 September 2026 18:20 UTC](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/t/weird-but-not-a-huge-problem/79772/15 "2026-09-05T18:20:35Z")
> [@RedLassie](#): > > So, I now attach key to a Lanyard, that way I shouldn’t lose it. Great idea. I also use AirTags, esp on my sits. First thing I do is attach one to the keys/keychain, & each of the pets! ---
**Author:** ![Lisfnord](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/user_avatar/forum.trustedhousesitters.com/lisfnord/32/37242_2.png) [@Lisfnord](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/u/Lisfnord)\ **Post date:** [5 September 2026 19:03 UTC](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/t/weird-but-not-a-huge-problem/79772/16 "2026-09-05T19:03:13Z")
A lot of people commented on my previous post about the Great KeyChain Mystery of 2026. It turns out, the sitter found it too bulky (as someone else hypothesized) and traded it out for the laser pointer keychain we had left for him to play Red Dot with. He had left it on a little shelf in our foyer. No harm, no foul. As many of you said, I was just super curious about what happened to it! We like this one because it’s colorful and sparkly, and thus harder to lose. ![PXL_20260905_140619293](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/uploads/trustedhousesitters/original/3X/c/c/cc15b311f4f542cfed686b496b0f1dec16b6f711.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Cathie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Cathie](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/u/Cathie)\ **Post date:** [5 September 2026 20:23 UTC](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/t/weird-but-not-a-huge-problem/79772/17 "2026-09-05T20:23:48Z")
I can see why you like it. I have a pouch that I keep my tiny shopping bags in that’s made of gold sequins. Easy to find in a black bag and easy to feel for too 😀 ---
**Author:** ![RedLassie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/aeb1de/32.png) [@RedLassie](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/u/RedLassie)\ **Post date:** [5 September 2026 21:02 UTC](https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/t/weird-but-not-a-huge-problem/79772/18 "2026-09-05T21:02:38Z")
I liked this one I was given in a hotel last year, I liked it so much, size, shape, easy to find in jacket pocket, and the weight, light enough, but not so light you couldn’t feel it, so I went and bought a similar one for pet sits. ![keyfob](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/uploads/trustedhousesitters/original/3X/b/3/b3296d1cfbe9e46a7aff7a858384155ebb5ea9eb.jpeg)