'I told her she wouldn't be getting paid:' 18-year-old negligent petsitter ignores instructions and leaves cat outside overnight forcing pawrent to fire her without payment

Author image for Sarah Brown
Sarah Brown • Writer and Editor
May 19, 2025 6:00 PM EDT

This pawrent trusted her floofy queen, Daisy the calico, to a sitter while she went on a trip with her fiancé. Enter Ava, 18 years old, supposedly responsible, definitely not a cat whisperer. The one big rule? Don't let Daisy out without a leash. Pretty simple, right? Like, not letting the royal kitty wander into the wild where chaos (and raccoons) roam.

But nope. Ava cracked under feline pressure. Apparently, Daisy was meowing too much while Ava had a headache, so instead of dealing with it like a grown-up, she put Daisy outside... and forgot about her. All. Night. Long. No leash. No supervision. Just a fluffy predator snack roaming in the dark.

When confronted, Ava backpedaled harder than a cat caught knocking over a vase. Only admitted the truth when the harness hadn't moved an inch. Then had the nerve to ask for payment. Ma'am, this isn't a babysitting gig gone mildly wrong. It's a furlony offense.

Honestly? This sitter used up all her nine lives. Not paying her is the least of it. Daisy deserves a royal vet check, a salmon feast, and a sitter who doesn't treat her like a backyard lawn ornament.

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  • 01
    'She then forgot Daisy outside all night'
    via By Jody Parks from Pexels / Canva

    Disclaimer: This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02
    I (29F) have an eleven year old calico named Daisy. A year ago, I moved a few hours further from home for work, which came with the issue of needing to find a new sitter. My fiance (34M) and I were lucky to find somebody pretty quickly through a pet sitting app, but she ended up being
    via u/catmom51525
  • 03
    unavailable during the week of our trip. This came up over dinner at my sister's house, and her daughter/my niece suggested her cousin (BIL's family) Ava (18F), saying she's been looking for some side jobs to make money before she goes off to college this fall. I contacted Ava and she accepted the job.
    via u/catmom51525
  • 04
    I invited Ava over a couple days early so she could meet Daisy and get acquainted with the space. The most important detail here is that I emphasized our main rule to not let Daisy out unleashed and unsupervised. I
    via u/catmom51525
  • 05
    showed Ava the harness and leash I use to take Daisy on walks, explained the risks of letting her out unsupervised, and she seemed to understand. Fiance and I left on our trip a couple days later thinking all was well.
    via u/catmom51525
  • 06
    Cheezburger Image 10507297280
    via By sdominick / Canva

    Disclaimer: This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 07
    We finally got back yesterday, after a genuinely lovely week, and met Ava as she was finishing up with her last drop-in. During our reunion, I found scratches on Daisy. I asked Ava if she had any idea what happened. At first Ava's story was that she didn't know, and then she admitted it
    via u/catmom51525
  • 08
    might have happened when they went on a walk. I went to find the harness to see if there was any damage to it, but it was in the exact spot I left it in, along with the leash. I asked Ava point blank if she let Daisy out by herself and she finally admitted yes, that
    via u/catmom51525
  • 09
    Daisy wouldn't stop hounding her for food and treats and that she was yowling so much during a drop-in when she was having a headache that she put her out for "a little while" while she set up the food and cleaned the litter. She then FORGOT DAISY OUTSIDE ALL NIGHT. She said
    via u/catmom51525
  • 10
    Cheezburger Image 10507297536
    via By Harry Collins / Canva

    Disclaimer: This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 11
    she realized when she dropped back in the next morning for a feeding and a walk and Daisy wasn't waiting just inside the door that she remembered she'd put her out so she tried shaking a bag of Daisy's favorite cat treats (which worked, she's a greedy little cat).
    via u/catmom51525
  • 12
    I was furious at the point and asked Ava to leave. She asked what about the money, and I told her she wouldn't be getting paid. She got upset and said it wasn't fair to not pay her for an entire week over one mistake, but eventually left. She has texted me an apology since, but I've also
    via u/catmom51525
  • 13
    received some texts from my BIL, who is mostly taking her side in the issue and saying I should absolutely pay her, but that he would understand if I docked a day off. I told him I'll be putting my money towards a vet visit, which I have an appointment for tomorrow. AITA if I stand my ground here?
    via u/catmom51525
  • 14
    EDIT to clarify a few things: 1) Ava is not a family member of mine. She is my BIL's niece (technically step-niece, as his sister is Ava's step-mother). I do not consider her a niece or cousin of mine. Family is not a factor here for me. I didn't know her at all and admit I should've
    via u/catmom51525
  • 15
    been more cautious about hiring her. BIL said she was a very good a responsible kid, and she had done some pet sitting jobs before, so I thought everything would be fine. Won't be making that mistake again. 2) To those suggesting I still pay Ava, but dock the vet bills from her pay, if I
    via u/catmom51525
  • 16
    do that it will result in her owing me. I do not want to pursue legal action or try to get any money out of Ava. I have told her and BIL this and expressed more than once that the best I will do is compromise and consider us square- I don't pay her, she doesn't pay any of Daisy's vet
    via u/catmom51525
  • 17
    bills. 3) I know results for certain things won't be available/reliable so soon, I will be doing follow-up appointments for further testing and assessments.
    via u/catmom51525
  • 18
    NorthernLitUp NTA. Tell her you'll pay her whatever is left of her fee AFTER the vet visit, provided your cat doesn't need anything due to her injuries. Daisy very easily could have been infected by FIV from a feral cat. That's the part that would terrify me.
    via u/NorthernLitUp
  • 19
    Quite frankly, she'd be lucky if you didn't sue her for the vet care if Daisy did contract a disease.
    via u/NorthernLitUp
  • 20
    Far_Tie614 Breach of contract. "I will pay you to do this thing, per these specifications." Person does not do that thing, ergo person doesn't get paid. It's really not complicated. Nta.
    via u/Far_Tie614
  • 21
    Exi... NTA As a professional pet sitter, what she did was unacceptable. This is why it's always a good idea to hire a professional with Insurance.
    via u/ExistingCommission63
  • 22
    ETA "one mistake" - it wasn't a mistake, it was purposefully going against your instructions and then lying about it. She's lucky all your cat got was a couple of scratches; hopefully they heal up well with no lasting effects.
    via u/ExistingCommission63
  • 23
    kaawn NTA. That one mistake could have gotten your cat killed (or lost, which is worse). There has to be consequences for that. She's 18, at some point when she gets an adult job she'll learn you can't just "forget" things, especially if a life in involved.
    via u/kaawn
  • 24
    Pumpkin SpiceTrau... NTA. Small pets left outside overnight are often carried off and Illed by coyotes. She put your cat in SERIOUS danger.
    via u/PumpkinSpiceTrauma

  • Daisy surviving the night outside? That’s some serious catitude! She faced the dark, dodged danger, and lived to purr another day. One tough cookie with nine lives and zero fear!

  • 25
    Gemzanity NTA at all. Shes lucky your cat didn't get lost or worse. I'm currently dog sitting to help my friend out. As I'm not usually around dogs he's given me a comprehensive list of Dos and Don'ts. You bet I'm following that list to
    via u/Gemzanity
  • 26
    the letter because he knows his dog better than I do. Although we're getting on quite well. She even took me for a walk earlier.
    via u/Gemzanity
  • 27
    skiveman NTA. Stand your ground. I've done some pet-sitting in my time for both cats and dogs and I can quite honestly say that if If ed up as bad as that girlf ed up then I would never be asked again.
    via u/skiveman
  • 28
    She THREW the cat outside, to fend for itself because the cat was fussing too much because it hadn't seen any human for hours. Some cats are very greedy and won't quiet until they've been fed. This girl was young and she acted her age by showing her inexperience.
    via u/skiveman
  • 29
    I can imagine this girls - thoughts cats are cute, cats are no trouble, this'll be easy money - only for the reality to bite her hard.
    via u/skiveman

  • This petsitter thought it would be all cuddles and kibble, but caring for a cat isn’t just a walk in the pawrk. She fluffed up big time and totally missed the meowmo.

  • 30
    Lady-Faye NTA. The cat was injured in her care, because of her neglect and she shouldn't get paid. I'd feel a little differently if she had called you because the cat got out and wanted to inform you of what was going on, but like, she straight up did not care about it.
    via u/Lady-Faye

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pets outside advice feline Cats employee fight argument
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