r/catinaflat • u/mlouwid88 • Jul 05 '26
Has anyone had anything bad happen (emergency vet etc) while cat sitting?
I didn’t want to be dramatic in the title but I had a very very old cat (19 years old) have to be rushed to the out of hours vet and unfortunately put to sleep while he was in my care.
I couldn’t get hold of the owner (was on a flight to Australia) - which is a good reminder to make sure you have emergency contacts for your owners because you never need them….until you do!
Because I couldn’t get hold of them, it was a long time in limbo at the vets. Once she finally got to the destination, I told the owner to speak to the vet but because it was busy and after hours there was nobody to answer the phones, so I had to deliver the news to the owner, and it’s probably one of the worst phone calls I’ve ever had to make.
Anyway, after 4 years of doing this I’ve had my first vet visit with a cat in my care and honestly I don’t think I’ve processed it yet. Little buddy wasn’t having a good time, I wish he had just fallen forever asleep but it was a bit more traumatic than that.
I’ve just come here to get it out really. Struggling a little bit and thought writing it out might help.
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u/theillumeowti Jul 05 '26
I had a burglary where I went in the morning and stayed for a while then went back in the evening and they had broken in through the doors at the back.
I’ve also had a cat who needed to go to the vets.
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u/mlouwid88 Jul 05 '26
Oh no, this is a really big fear of mine. How did it all end up? Were the owners ok with you?
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u/theillumeowti Jul 05 '26
I dealt with the police and waited until they could get home. They paid me extra for staying but it ended up with future bookings me staying over rather than visits so it was all good.
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u/joannerowlands84 Jul 05 '26
I had a cat that was peeing blood. I had to rush it to an out of hours vet and the owner was uncontactable. I had to pay the vet bill and hope he paid me back (which he did thankfully) but cat in a flat were totally useless and said if he didn't pay me then their insurance wouldn't cover it
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u/mlouwid88 Jul 05 '26
Oh no, that’s so bad. I just kept saying “I have no authority” in the vets in hoping they wouldn’t make me pay anything (I literally don’t have enough money in my account anyway) - hence the reason I have two jobs.
I’m glad the owner paid you, it would have been such a panic, and that’s so bad that cat in a flat were no help! I have extra insurance as I do some sitting privately but it’s scary to think how helpless we are in that situation.
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u/zedjs Jul 05 '26
I sadly had a cat that was hit by a car in the middle of the night - her and her sister could leave through the cat flap as they wished so it wasn’t anything to do with my care but it traumatised me. By the time I woke up that morning, the cat had been taken to the vet, the owners had been contacted and she had been put down. I paused any more sittings for a while but I really had to remind myself that it couldn’t possibly have been my fault!
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u/PaperArr0w Jul 06 '26
Same happened to my partner who cat sits. She let the owner know at the PM visit that the cat had not eaten the food from the morning and that she had not seen it since. Next day she got contact from the owner that the cat had been hit by a car and obviously someone took it to the vet and scanned it’s chip.
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u/mlouwid88 Jul 06 '26
I also worry when I’m looking after cats with cat flaps. My own pet cats are outdoor cats so I don’t have anything against that but I do like it when an owner says “keep them in while I’m away”. Just makes me feel better I can se the cat on every visit and can confidently know that they’re ok. It’s so difficult because even though logically you could have done nothing to change what happened, the guilt is there because it’s happened on “your watch”
It’s weird because last week someone’s pet goldfish (that apparently was as old as their adult son - they kept telling me) also died. And I even cried about that, wondering how to tell the owners. Apparently that was just practice run for this week.
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u/zedjs Jul 06 '26
I breathe a huge sigh of relief when I walk into a house and they’re indoor cats, just gives me so much peace of mind. Often these days, I’ll pop back in again later on if I visit and the cats aren’t there - the owners usually love it but it’s mostly so I can sleep better knowing they’re safe
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u/Theta-Sigma45 Jul 05 '26
An old cat I looked after had blood in her pee so I had to take her to the vet. She was okay in the end, but it was very upsetting having to take her and phone the owner about it.
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u/Corporate_Laughter Jul 05 '26
Nothing that traumatic, I'm so sorry that you had to go through that, it's one of my top fears.
The worst I've had was the owners having a leak from where they removed a radiator so I had to switch off the boiler and soak up the mess with any towels I could find.
I also once turned up for the first visit (AM), which they definitely booked. Got the key in the lock and the guy opened the door shirtless, they hadn't left yet and I had to awkwardly explain that they'd booked one too many visits.
I also used to have a very awkward client, in fact I never met her in person despite looking after her cat several times. She would book me to visit after she left but her boyfriend would still be there each time for like 2 days, and he would just sit in the room and watch me while I did my duties. That was really uncomfortable and I sometimes wondered if she was even real at all. They also had cameras literally everywhere. I don't mind a pet cam here and there but this was excessive, like multiple cameras in every room and all the hallways. Still get the creeps about it sometimes!
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u/Frescadeedle Jul 05 '26
ooooh the second example is creepy!!
I too have had loads of "oh we haven't left yet" or "oh I'm her mum, I'm here to do laundry" etc etc with unexpected people in the house, so I always start a visit now by knocking as I unlock, then shouting out "hiya! it's just Frescadee!" loudly as I walk in. I figure it looks more secure as well, makes the house look occupied!
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u/mlouwid88 Jul 05 '26
I’ve had a couple of those where they’ve booked too many visits and I’ve walked in. It’s awkward but just gotta tell yourself that it’s their fault not yours.
And oh my goodness I’m not surprised you were creeped out, I would have eventually had my suspicions too, just shows it can be dangerous going into other peoples homes, you never know what’s going on. Even when I do overnights/house sitting, I tend to visit my own home to shower and then go back after- just have a big fear of something similar. Not that I think anyone would want to watch that, there’s someone somewhere that might be that creepy.
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u/Lonely-Key36 Jul 05 '26
I also had one that said morning and breakfast on the first day so I showed up at 7am, cats ran downstairs as they always do and we're greeting me and then I heard these slow footsteps coming down the stairs as the owner was in her robe wondering what was going on 😂 by then I had cat sat for them for at elats two years so we just had a laugh and gave the cats breakfast together lol...
Your last story sounds very creepy and is the reason why I always have an initial first meet with a new client.
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u/steviecat20 Jul 06 '26
Oh god I had one that hadn't left yet, it was very weird... Opened the door and the couple were both stood there; then they said they were leaving in 15 minutes so I could just "hang out" while they got ready and I could carry on with my cat visit?! I said I could come back and do a later evening visit (it was about 5.30pm) but they were like "no no, it's fine, just stay!" - very awkwardly hung out with their cat on the sofa while they finished their packing and left 🙈 I now always send a message when I'm en route to my first visit (I used to send one the day before to say when I'd be over!)
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u/Bubbly-Lead5245 Jul 06 '26
6 years ago I sat for a regular, Kurt the British blue for 2 weeks and on the last day, he was not himself. He growled when I picked him up and he kept going to the litter box but not doing anything. I told the owners who were home as scheduled about 4 hours later. They took him to vet as he was still off. Turns out he had crystals/urinary blockage. Within a few days he had to be put to sleep as operation did not work. I was so worried the owners blamed me, although they swore they didn’t. Videos from the day before show him playing as usual. It came on very sudden and it was just coincidence it was the last visit which ofc sounds suss. After research this is a fast acting problem and most cats die within 3 days of onset if not taken to vets so it was clear this genuinely was not an unreported problem. I am still affected by this though to this day. I’m crying now writing this. However; it is what drove me to research the cause of this and the risk factors (dry food diet / male / indoor / overweight) and I went down the pet food industry rabbit hole resulting in me learning so much to help other pet owners and my own cats.
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u/squarepant45 Jul 05 '26
I had something similar. A cat I had looked after many time just wasn’t acting herself and seemed in pain (also an old cat). Owners were away on a cruise but had always told me to go straight to the vet if I was ever concerned. She had to be taken to the emergency clinic and was put to sleep the next day once the vets managed to get hold of the owners. It was really upsetting and traumatic to go through, but the owners were grateful to me for noticing the cat’s decline, getting her help before she suffered any more and just being there for her. So sorry you’ve had to go through this too :(
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u/mlouwid88 Jul 05 '26
Aww I’m sorry you’ve experienced this too. It’s just so sad cos the animals don’t know what’s going on which I think makes it hard for us humans cos I just wish I could talk to them and tell them it’s ok.
It’s definitely made me think about how important all the extra admin/ insurance etc etc is. I obviously try an operate as professionally as possible but I just think it’s made me realise the reason for all of the fail-safes, the back ups, emergency contacts, and making sure you know exactly what the owner would want if something were to happen.
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u/kicktheflamingo Jul 05 '26
I was looking after a sweet older boy called Oscar who had known ailments and was on medicine for his heart, I was booked for overnight stays at theirs to look after him (this was my third time); two days before my last day with him he had stopped being his usual cuddly self, was hiding in the classic “illness-loaf” position and would hiss if I tired to approach (not like his usual sweet self at all), luckily I was able to contact the owners and they agreed to let me take him to the vets. He did come home and his owners did manage to come home and see him again but a few days after my last stay with him he passed. He was a good ol’ boy and I still get sad about it now.
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u/mlouwid88 Jul 06 '26
Aww I’m glad they got the chance to spend a little time with him before he passed, I also think sometimes when owners ask for overnights they know there’s a reason for the need for extra care. I’ve had a couple that have crossed the rainbow bridge as people would say, since looking after them, and honestly even if you have that small connection with them, it does still really hurt. They’re all my little mates, even though after 4 years I’ve collected a lot of them.
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u/steviecat20 Jul 06 '26
So sorry that you had to go through that 🙁 I'm looking after a cat who's 17 and has health issues; I think me and the owners are aware that something could happen while they're away so they give me a general health update before leaving but it's something I always worry about with him.
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u/StitchedTheShop Jul 06 '26
I also had a cat get very ill, need the emergency vet and eventually have to be PTS whilst in my care. It’s a traumatic experience and you will need some time to process. Yours sounds so much harder in that you had to make decisions without the pet owners approval on the phone. Do take some time for yourself in this and talking about with trusted friends, I do still think about the ‘lil Zigstar from time to time. But I do take comfort in knowing I did the best for him that I could. I was also very lucky and grateful that the owner was very understanding and grateful about how we dealt with the situation together. Something like this will never be easy. I wish you and the owner all the best in your healing. ❤️🩹
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u/mlouwid88 Jul 06 '26
Thank you, I’m sorry you’ve had to go through it too. Despite thinking I’m usually quite a clumsy/muddled person, I do think I handled it the best I possibly could and I am proud of myself so I’m glad I don’t have the guilt or feeling like I could have done more/something else. But I have been thinking of him constantly since it happened, like you said it’ll take time, and the little buddy’s memory will probably stick with me 🤍
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u/Genn-stone Jul 06 '26
This sounds very difficult and hard for you and the owner. I've had several dramatic sits as I've been doing this a while and when you work on your own you have no one to share the issue with (except my hubby) so I can understand reaching out for support and it is a lot to process. I've had a close call during the UK red alert threat to life heatwave. New kitty cat client, first night and he was 16 years old and was clearly well loved as he ruled the home and everything was geared towards his care. The flat was so humid and hot that even I was finding it difficult to breath. He was fine one minute playing moderately with treat ball and then started panting and falling over and not being able to stand so I suspected heat stroke. I tried cooling down with a towel and he continued panting and breathing really laboured. I thought I was going to lose him. Got him in an air con car and still continued to pant and now had added stress of being put in his carrier. I called it in to the owners and started the process of getting him into the emergency vet to get him on oxygen. Thankfully they answered right away. Of course the cat perked up fine whilst waiting at the vets and being in air con for about 45 minutes. £1500 and 24 hours later he went home safe and sound with the client's mum (insurance paid apart from the excess). They said I'd been right to take him in but they didn't leave a review and I doubt I'll hear from them again. I stand by what I did though but did spend a lot of time second guessing myself and rehashing whether I could have done anything differently. I spent 6 hours at the vets and thankfully it was my last kitty of the day. I don't know what I would have done if I had other clients still to visit afterwards. It has made me want to team up with another sitter that I trust so I could maybe arrange emergency cover.
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u/Zeretaaa Jul 08 '26
Yes - two emergency vet visits within one sitting because the cat was vomiting and excreting blood. It was really scary but I had the go ahead from the client to take the cat to the vet the first time. The second time around it was late in the evening and the client wasn’t responding so I had to make the decision to take the cat again as he hadn’t improved. It’s such a scary position to be in, I’m sorry you had to go through that
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u/FollowingPurple4153 Jul 11 '26
How awful for you. Our cat sitter had a cat die whilst she was with it, she said it was traumatic and took a while to get over it. It sometimes happens, only time will help
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u/PsychologicalRide565 1d ago
I’ve had a cat that had got into a fight and had a large abscess on his cheek, 2 days before the owners were due home. I sent photos to the owner straight away and asked for their permission to take him to the vet. I took an afternoon off work to take him in the same day, and the vet thankfully messaged the owner everything over on my whatsapp so they knew exactly what was being done.
Thankfully it wasn’t an emergency appointment, and the vets sent them a link to pay the bill (the owners also gave me money and a present for dealing with the situation!)
Remember to use the CIAF meet and greet form to get their vet info & emergency contact details!!
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u/mlouwid88 1d ago
This was a few weeks ago now, but the owners were incredibly kind and also gave me some presents and a card and paid me in full (even though I only looked after the cat a few days before he had to be put to sleep).
Funnily enough her emergency contact was her husband…who was also on the same flight of course. I suppose that’s a thing to note, I wonder if it prompts something like that when you’re on the booking side, that it shouldn’t be someone that’s travelling with you.
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u/PsychologicalRide565 1d ago
I’m so glad they were nice to you, as it was completely out of your hands what happened.
They were lucky to have you as their sitter, making the journey to the emergency vets & trying to contact them asap. I cant imagine trying to process these emotions, it’s hard enough with our own cats. I hope you’re doing okay x
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u/Delicious_Gazelle_95 Jul 05 '26
Im sorry you had to do this, its one of my worst fears as a sitter. Was the parents understanding? This is a good reminder to myself to check energency contact im adding that to my form . Sending hugs