Coworker demands $2000 for taking care of woman's cat during her 6-month deployment, ruining work friendship: 'No money was promised before I left'

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Ely Bulnes • Writer and Editor
Oct 24, 2025 1:00 PM EDT

Trusting someone to take care of your pet while you're away is no small thing. For many of us, our furry companions aren't just pets, they're family. So when a friend agrees to watch them, it's a big act of trust and usually understood as a kind favor, not a paid gig. After all, cats and dogs don't need round-the-clock attention like kids do (even if we sometimes treat them that way). But every now and then, the line between friendship and business gets a little blurry.

One woman learned that the hard way after returning from a six-month deployment to find her "friend" and coworker expecting a massive paycheck for cat-sitting. Despite covering all the pet's expenses during her absence and giving an extra $300 as a thank-you, her coworker demanded an additional $2,000, arguing they should be paid at the same rate as a professional pet boarding service. Now she's turned to the internet to find out who's being the unreasonable one here.

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  • 01

    AITA for not wanting to pay my friend $2K for watching my cat?

    Woman petting a cat on her lap
    via sambarfoto

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02
    Hi, I 26F was deployed for six months. My male coworker who I thought I was friends with agreed to take care of my cat while I was gone. No money was agreed or
    via u/Swimming-Champion-90
  • 03
    promised before I left. During the time I paid for her expenses as he told me them. And when I got back I picked her up I gave $300 because I considered this a favor
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  • 04
    Army woman in military uniform smiling
    via SDI Productions from Getty Images Signature

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 05
    from a friend. They did not like the amount given and wanted $2K. In their words the pet care center (nearest boarder) costs
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  • 06
    $20/day or $100/week so they should get $10/day because of the effort involved in taking care of my cat. She stayed at their
    via u/Swimming-Champion-90
  • 07
    house with their other pet during the time so they didn't have to travel to take care of her. So AITA for not wanting to pay $2K? I
    via u/Swimming-Champion-90
  • 08
    obviously realize now this person is not a friend and I no longer will consider them as such and treat them only as coworker.
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  • If no money was agreed upon beforehand, it's really crazy to demand so much after-the-fact! 

  • 09
    Man holding several twenty dollar bills
    via Karola G from Pexels

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 10
    jajjjenny ESH. For 6 months, I would have compensated my friend for their time & effort. $300 was a nice gesture but I probably would have paid $500 minimum.
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  • 11
    I would just never expect a friend to watch my cat for free for 6 months. While cats are generally low maintenance, daily care is still involved.
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  • 12
    Your friend sucks as throwing a $2K invoice at someone out the blue is not it. But any costs should have been discussed up front.
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  • 13
    hummingelephant That's what friends and family are for though. At some point the friend will need help and OP would be there for them. It's a give and take.
    via u/hummingelephant
  • 14
    The friend is a scammer, if he wanted money, he needed to say that before accepting. It's not like he didn't know it would be 6 months. Wanting money afterwards is a scam. Op could have asked someone else.
    via u/hummingelephant
  • 15
    analogascension NTA. The standard practice for watching a cat is that you'd pay for any food, vet-visits, and any destroyed items, and this you
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  • 16
    seem to have done. Only a real a- hole would come up with a figure like 2 grand after the fact when it wasnt agreed upon beforehand.
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  • 17
    No_Teacher_3313 2k is insane. You would not have paid for a professional boarding facility, so the cost is irrelevant. I'd
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  • When I catsit for my friends I do it for free, but I understand that a whole six months of that responsibility could warrant some cash.

  • 18
    watch a cat for just the costs involved and a small gift from the county you were in as a thank you. You are NTA. This person is no friend for sure.
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  • 19
    TheThirteenthCylon For six months though?
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  • 20
    No_Teacher_3313 Yeah, it's a long time. But I love cats and foster for a rescue so maybe I'm biased.
    via u/No_Teacher_3313
  • 21
    If I wanted money I would mention it upfront for sure. And I probably wouldn't do it for someone who wasn't a friend. But if you offer, then you can't just demand that amount of money after the fact.
    via u/No_Teacher_3313
  • 22
    Emotional-Channel-42 ESH. $300 for six months is insane lol. Yall should've agreed prior to you leaving. $2k is a lot,
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  • 23
    but so is six months. $1.66 a day to watch your cat is pretty insulting. I'd have at least countered with $1k.
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  • 24
    I watched a coworkers cat for five days and expected zero dollars. They gave me $300 when they returned. We def made less salary than you as well.
    via u/Emotional-Channel-42

Tags

terrible coworkers friendship cat employee pets adulting coworkers relationships pet workplace entitled Cats entitled people
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