(UPDATED: This was my initial post in response to the initial opening post. The poster later clarified, and I regret posting so hastily, but for “clarity” I’m leaving this as I wrote it.)
Assuming this is a THS sit, to answr your question: I would NOT be concerned if someone was “barely” home. Barely is a vague word. One person’s “barely” could be another person’s “sufficiently.” My requirements for sitters are that the sleep in the home, feed and give medicine to cats when the sitter wakes up, then again 8-12 hours later, and at night before bed. . Of course there other responsibilites like litter pan, mail, keeping the house clean, etc. That’s enough IMO for the cats and enough to ask a “free” sitter. I used to have a paid sitter who did overnights but went out to petsit during the day, and I didn’t feel the need to keep tabs on her whereabouts. I’ve also used dropin sitters who only come twice a day. This isn’t ideal but my cats survived. I’ve only had good experiences with THS sitters.
It sounds like this sitter is also doing paid sits. If that’s the case, great! It means she probably has experience. Most THS sitters don’t do paid sits as a side gig, but may have other work responsibilities.
I also sit with THS, most cat owners are fine with sitters doing their thing during the day.
In both roles – sitter and homeowner – I discuss stuff before the sit like how much time the sitter is expected to stay in the house.
Outside cameras are permitted with THS. But I’d be cautioius about actually monitoring the sitter’s coming and goings as most sitters would feel they were being micro-managed and wouldn’t be comfortable. And before you have a conversation with the sitter, you might consider the possibility that she’s not lying, and this might be a difference in expectations. That is your “barely” enought time might be her frequent dropins to feed and check in on the cats, and a “long stretch” overnight to play with and hang out with them.
It does sound in this case (and I am assumming the sitter is there overnight and for feedings) your expectations are not being met and you want someone who would be there more time. Next time you should make those expectations clearer in your listing and before you choose the sitter and use exact times. For example: “I don’t want the cats left for more six hours at a time.” However, I will tell you that people are willing to do cat sits for no pay in exchange for lodging because generally you can leave a cat for more than six hours. And the cat will be just fine. So if your preferences are more than what sitters can do – especially sitters who need to work outside the home – you might not find a sitter.
It’s Christmas, and I really hope you don’t confront the sitter about this today. If you are getting daily updates with photos, that should put your mind at ease. If you aren’t, definitely contact the sitter and ask for more communication. Please be tactful and non-accusatory if you want to check in with the sitter about how much time or even if you think she’s not doing overnights. She may not be lying to you. It’s possible your expectations weren’t clear to her, and what she thinks is a long enough stretch of time, you think of as not enough.
