Sublet owner offers discounted rent if subletter petsits his cat, subletter agrees, but draws the line at sending owner picture documantation: ‘It's not in my job description’

Author image for Bar Mor Hazut
Bar Mor Hazut • Senior Editor
Jan 14, 2026 9:00 PM EST

Every pet owner dislikes the idea of being separated from their beloved fur babies for longer than a few hours. It is the one downside of going on vacation, and the one thing you usually can't keep out of your mind when you try to relax by the beach. Even if you hired the most highly acclaimed pet sitter in the whole world, or if your most responsible family member agreed to take care of your best furriend, it can still be stressful to leave them behind.

While cats are usually easier to pet sit for, cat owners are no less extreme when it comes to the need to know they are okay. We have two cameras at home that we check every single day while we're at work, and it's sometimes still not enough to soothe our minds. We have so much love for these babies, and we can't bear the thought that something might happen to them, unlikely as it may be, while we are not around.

The cat owner in the story below was left without a cat sitter right before they went off traveling for a month. As a last resort, they asked their subletter if they could cat sit and offered them a $100 discount on the rent in return. The subletter thought this was a great deal, so they happily agreed to the job.

As we all know, cats are usually very low maintenance, so this wasn't a complicated task for the subletter. However, when the owner asked if the subletter could send him a photo of the cat every other day, the subletter firmly refused, claiming this wasn't in the job description.

We fully understand the need to have physical evidence that your cat is doing okay while you're away for a month, so our hearts go out to the cat owner. Plus, taking a few pictures of a cat you are currently living with doesn't seem like a completed task, so why not just do this favor and get it over with?

Scroll down to read the full story, and let us know what you would have done in this situation in the comments below. After that, check out this awwdorable story of a lovely grandpa who adopted the last cat in the shelter.

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  • Person Taking Pictures of Sitting Cat
    via Rümeysa

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

  • AITAH (30M) for not sending my sublet owner (35M) pictures of his cat daily?

    I am watching a cat, although I'm not really a pet sitter. It's a sublease from an acquaintance who is traveling for a month.
    via LowRevolution6175
  • His ex gf was supposed to watch it, but backed out last minute. As a favor I told him yes I'd watch the cat.
    via LowRevolution6175
  • He knocked off $100 off the rent, woopty do. The cat is not a lot of work, and is well behaved.
    via LowRevolution6175
  • However, the owner keeps asking me for photos of the cat every other day, and even wanted to videocall.
    via LowRevolution6175
  • To be clear this is NOT a friend who I talk to every day, it's just a friend of a friend who had an apartment open when I needed it.
    via LowRevolution6175
  • I already feed the cat, play with it, and clean the litter box. How do I tell him that sending photos of his cat, especially after the first week, is not in my goddamn job description?
    via LowRevolution6175
  • Taking a Picture of a Cat on a phone
    via sambarfoto

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

  • JadedByFire Annoying yes. Worth being mad or upset about - no. A text is low effort. Video call - gtfo, no way. It's a cat... that cat couldn't care less about a video call. In this economy, $100 off rent is worth the two seconds a text takes.
    via JadedByFire
  • LowRevolution6175 Original Poster's Reply $3 a day for cat sitting is basically slave labor if we're actually considering economics and hours worked. I'm doing it as a favor
    via LowRevolution6175
  • JadedByFire Ah but you weren't complaining about the amount of $ you were or were not offered for the job, were you? You asked about sending photos of the cat and that's what I answered.
    via JadedByFire
  • LowRevolution6175 Original Poster's Reply $ and amount of responsibility go hand in hand imo. I don't mind doing the litter box, but i don't wanna be bothered daily with requests.
    via LowRevolution6175
  • ContemplatingFolly Yes, YTA. It would take you a whole minute to snap a few pix of the cat every couple of days and shoot him a text. I see it may not be your thing, but it is his. Owner may be worrying if cat is ok, because cats can be weird about change. Glad you are playing with him. I'm thinking owner will chill after a bit.
    via ContemplatingFolly
  • LowRevolution6175 Original Poster's Reply nah, owner hasn't chilled after me sending pix the first week (which i understand being nervous) Like I said, I take care of the cat. But why the hell do I have to be bothered every day with extra requests
    via LowRevolution6175
  • shootna1911 Maybe the way you reacted to the request is cause for concern. It would be for me.
    via shootna1911
  • carniewesso68 You lost me at the guy wanting to video call his cat. What the actual fuck is wrong with people ②
    via carniewesso68
  • Jafar_420 I don't know man it seems like you could snap a picture in a couple of seconds and then hit send and be done with it and the same with a short video call. I wouldn't do the video call everyday but I would send a picture every couple of days no problem. It's only $100 but you did get paid for the service. YTA.
    via Jafar_420

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Tags

cat Cats pet ownership discount cat pictures pet sitter rent cat owners sublet entitled people cat sitting
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