'She doesn’t need to feed him, refuses to clean his litter box and doesn’t even sleep at home': Frustrated pawrent fed up with paying roommate $25 a day to catsit while they neglect responsibilities, leaving the cat alone

Author image for Sarah Brown
Sarah Brown • Writer and Editor
Aug 18, 2025 5:00 PM EDT

This situation is basically a catastrophe in roommate relations. One hooman just wants her feline friend cared for while she's away, but her roomie seems more hissterical than helpful. Despite kitty having an automatic feeder and only needing the occasional litter duty, the roomie insists on charging $25 a day, even though she pawsitively avoids the apartment most nights to cuddle with her boyfriend instead. Talk about a purrsuasive side hustle!

Now, the big question: is the pawrent wrong for refusing to cough up cash for care that wasn't really given? After all, if the litter box remains a stinky sitch and the food is on autopilot, then what exactly is being "watched"? Sure, the roommate has to share space with a sometimes meowy furball during the day, but that hardly seems worth a full paycheck.

In this tail, it seems the feline is more self-sufficient than the caretaker. Maybe it's time to claw back some boundaries, or just admit this roommate arrangement is less purrfect and more a litteral mess.

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  • 01
    O 'She will not let me pay for someone to stop by and take care him of him'
    via kulbabka / Canva

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  • 02
    My roommate and I are really good friends, but she made it clear that she doesn't love having to watch my cat when I am traveling. I completely understand so usually I pay for a boarder on Rover, and bring him over to someone's house. She
    via this_is_a_good_sign
  • 03
    Cheezburger Image 10543517184
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  • 04
    will not let me pay for someone to stop by and take care him of him when she is there so I am forced to board him. I do my best to be understanding and always accommodate her.
    via this_is_a_good_sign
  • 05
    Sometimes, she is fine with watching my cat when I pay her $25 a day. He has an automatic feeder and often times I come home and she hasn't cleaned the litter box for days, but I still pay her for her trouble, since I know he can be annoying at night.
    via this_is_a_good_sign
  • 06
    This past trip, I also offered to pay her so I don't need to pay for a boarder (since they are very expensive) and I've noticed from tracking her location that she has slept at her boyfriends almost every night. It seems a bit ridiculous to me that I have to pay her to watch my cat when I travel and she doesn't need to feed him, refuses to clean his litter box and doesn't even sleep at home most nights.
    via this_is_a_good_sign
  • 07
    Cheezburger Image 10543518976
    via Africa images / Canva

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  • 08
    AIO if I refuse to pay her for the nights she slept at her boyfriends? I know she has to deal with my cat during the day sometimes but she's not even taking care of him, he just likes to come in her room and sleep while she's wfh.
    via this_is_a_good_sign
  • 09
    Majestic_Bed_9997 Find a friend that is willing to stop by and check on the cat each day. Your roommate won't let a rover sitter come by, fine, but she can't stop you from having a friend come over and do the same thing.
    via Majestic_Bed _9997

  • If you’ve got a friend who can just pop in, you’ll save cash and avoid the roommate headache. She can’t really be mad at friends stopping by, even if strangers are a no-go. 

  • 10
    Motor_Dark6406 NOR, You're Not really good friends. You seem semi afraid of her off...why else would you pay her at all? You need an actual friend to come by and feed your cat wet food and clean the box. Don't give your roommate money just because.
    via Motor_Dark6406
  • 11
    Impossible_Thing1... Pay her for the amount of time she spends on cat care. If she spends two minutes a day feeding the cat, and that's all, then you probably owe her about five bucks.
    via Impossible_Thing1731
  • 12
    secret_sauce2 Apart of watching someone's cat is cleaning the litter box.
    via secret_sauce2
  • 13
    Jen5872 Take your unreliable roommate out of the equation. Just plan on boarding your cat.
    via Jen5872

  • Boarding may cost more, but it buys peace of mind. At least you’ll know your kitty is cared for properly, instead of stressing over whether the litter box is cleaned or meals handled.

  • 14
    Pre... It would make more sense to not pay her when she fails to clean the litter box. Although I am not sure why she would need to be there at night. A pet sitter doesn't usually do that. Unless that is part of the agreement to keep the pet company 24/7. In which case you should be paying a lot more than $25 a day.
    via Prestigious_Tour_538
  • 15
    Sad-Information2303 No absolutely not overreacting. I wouldn't pay her a penny. However, if you wanted to perhaps make a point you could pay her the $25 for the days / nights she has been at home with your cat. PLUS If you can
    via Sad-Information2303
  • 16
    see the cat litter hadn't been changed in a while then deduct a certain amount, at least half. ($12.50 each day for ensuring the feeder has sufficient food in and $12.50 daily for changing the cat litter). She'll get the message.
    via Sad-Information2303
  • 17
    For future pay someone else the $25 a day to pop by each day to feed and change the litter for your cat.
    via Sad-Information2303
  • 18
    Your roommate is NOT a good friend to you. She refuses to let anyone to come into your apartment to look after the cat but also doesn't care for the cat herself - not really and the very little she does do is only if you pay her $25 a day. Would you treat a friend or even an acquaintance that way? I know I wouldn't.
    via Sad-Information2303
  • 19
    You need to make new arrangements for future travels. If it was me I'd also be looking for a new roommate.
    via Sad-Information2303

  • Good friends don’t charge you for “cat care” when they’re not even doing the work. If she’s skipping litter duty and barely home, asking for pay feels pretty unfair. 

  • 20
    Severe-Possible- taking where she sleeps out of the equation, i wouldn't pay her if she doesn't clean the litter box. what other parts of taking care of a cat are there besides feeding and the litter box?
    via Severe-Possible-
  • 21
    BrambleDawn NTA, dude. Seriously, she's practically ghostin' ur cat while cashing in. U're paying for her to watch, care & hang with the furball, not to use ur place as as a pit stop! Maybe check out other pals or actual cat sitters who'd appreciate the gig (and ur kitty) more. Just my 2 cents.
    via BrambleDawn

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pets cat owners feline pawrents roommates Cats drama advice argument
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