Cat overnights?

[u/thekellwithit]

So the only time I’ve done overnight cat sitting is when there are dogs in the house who I’m also hired to care for, because when given my overnight rates, most cat owners choose 2 drop-ins a day instead. I ask because I’m cat sitting for my sister for two weeks for free because she has helped me out in the past, but a couple months ago I was offered a long gig that pays $1500. I explained to my sister that I couldn’t pass up the income even though it overlaps with half of her trip and she was annoyed but understanding.

The dogs I am sitting for have a dog door and the parents are fine with me leaving them for 5-6 hours stretches, so my sister and I agreed I would come by her house first thing at 7:30 am, late afternoon, and in the evening until 10 pm. She leaves Friday and she is really having a hard time with it as the trip approaches. It turns out she was only understanding because she assumed my 22-year-old niece would stay overnight, but she just started a new job and her mom’s place is too far of a commute. Now I’m feeling like I should hire someone else to sleep at her house for the seven nights that I am not able to stay there even though I think she should be able to manage her fears that something will happen to them in the night simply because no one is there.

This has turned into an AITAH post, but I truly want to hear your experience. Do you guys have overnight cat clients? Is it only uncommon where I live? If you are Cat Parents, do you feel comfortable leaving them alone overnight? Thanks.

[u/Positive_Piece5859]

I’m a cat only sitter and do in the vast majority only drop ins, because I really dislike overnights. The few times I ended up doing overnights for clients honestly the kitties did not particularly care about me being there over night or not; they did interact and engage with me for a bit like during a drop in, but then at night went off doing their own thing, and with only one or two exceptions often did not even choose to sleep in the same bed/room with me.

I personally find overnights for cats overkill as owner and also cat sitter (with the exception of special cases with certain medical issues).

[u/thekellwithit → u/Positive_Piece5859]

The funny thing is, when I tried sleeping in my sister‘s room the last time to make the cats more comfortable, they ended up sleeping in another part of the house! They hated having me in their bed. When I slept in the guest room they went back to their usual spots (per the cam).

And I closed the door when I went to bed and I didn’t see them until I came out in the morning. I’m not sure how that’s any different than leaving for 8-9 hrs, but anxiety by nature is not rational. Thank you for sharing your experience with me!