Regarding a pet sitter, is this passive aggressive?

[Zebra Cheeks]

What’s up sherbros.

My wife and I often go traveling and get a pet sitter while we’re out of town. It can be tough to find reliable pet sitters, and we have an elderly cat who really needs someone to come for meds and food 2x and a day. We have ring doorbells (they have cameras that let you watch video on your phone), and last time we were out of town we noticed our pet sitter was basically coming, giving food and leaving. She would stay maybe 2-3 minutes. The issue is part of her service we paid for is a 45 minute stay with time spent with the cat. We noticed when we got home she had tried to turn on the television, because it had been changed to settings we don’t use.

Now, we don’t particularly care about the tv because honestly if she wants to kick it, watch some tv, and hang out with the cat, that’s fine with me. That’s kind of what we were hoping for. I’m thinking of leaving instructions to use the tv, and some water/snacks out so she can hang out, make herself comfortable, and properly spend time with our cat.

Here’s the question. Because we never confronted her about either the leaving early, or the tv, is it passive aggressive or weird for me to leave out the instructions and snacks? I feel like it will solve the situation but my wife is wondering if this is kind of a shitty thing to do, or if it feels like “we’re watching you” etc. What would you do?

 

[TheTickG]

Get a new sitter that might not cheat you. Let them know you can stalk (ring doorbells) them while you're away. Leave milk, cookies, and TV instructions.

 

[FyrFytr998]

No. You’re paying them for a service. If they can’t perform the job as agreed upon, get another sitter.

 

[Sweater of AV]

To me that has "we're watching you" vibes.

Just be honest with her and mention you noticed she wasn't staying the 45 minutes because you have a doorbell cam and can see who comes and goes. Ask her if there's anything you can do to make the 45 minutes more comfortable. If things don't work out then find another sitter. I'm a bit surprised it's that hard to find reliable sitters.

 

[DougieJones]

Did you tell her you have the doorbell camera and does it notify you when someone comes and goes automatically?

If the answer to both is yes you are overthinking this

 

[The Good The Bad The HBK]

45 mins is not difficult, get a new sitter

 

[Tone C]

Kill her and feed her to your cat as an apology.

And get a new sitter.

Show her what happened to the last one.

Should solve any issues.

 

[Beau Wring]

TLDR, however if you have a pet, why the fuck are you dicking around somewhere else? Only time i wasn't with my dog in the almost 16 years i had him was when i was in hospital.

Pet Sitter ?

 

[NoSmilez]

Leave the TV instructions and some snacks.

Old cats are weird though. They might not like new people.

 

[Alphaboy]

So she doesn't know about the Ring cam?

I agree with everyone else in saying to confront her directly. Be polite of course, but directly. I'm sure you're paying her a substantial fee for her to be leaving after 2 of the 45 minutes.

People in this world prey on nice people who are non-confontational. Sure knew what the assignment was.

 

[JudoThrowFiasco]

Get a new sitter

 

[Iroh]

Be properly aggressive and

 

[Tuvatuva]

I would hire a new sitter. You could be direct with your current one, but it's obvious she doesn't want to be there. You could talk to her, she'll adjust her behavior for a bit, then go back to her usual habits. That's what people do.

 

[GSP_37]

Leave snacks inside an hour glass set for exactly 45 minutes. Also leave in the open a porno bluray and an adult toy. Recalibrate the video camera.

 

[mozfonky]

I pet sat for a buddy, 2 times. Never again, I wasn't charging and the dog was such a baby couldn't leave him alone for no amount of time and the times I did, they are seeng him on their living room cam freaking out, no mas as Roberto Duran would say.

Any way, could be worse. One of my pals lets a dingy ethiopian girl pet sit, it snowed when she was there and she slid into their 2021 luxury suv.

 

[Dogshare]

Wouldn't it make more sense to just talk with her instead of leaving some instructions?

 

[Domitian]

I agree with the get a new sitter advice and this time make it very clear to the next person on what the rules are. What you are asking for is not unreasonable in the slightest.

 

[Kardashians]

To me that has "we're watching you" vibes.

Just be honest with her and mention you noticed she wasn't staying the 45 minutes because you have a doorbell cam and can see who comes and goes. Ask her if there's anything you can do to make the 45 minutes more comfortable. If things don't work out then find another sitter. I'm a bit surprised it's that hard to find reliable sitters.

This is the answer I think.

I’ve pet sit before and loved it honestly, would hang out with the cats a lot. Perhaps it was easier because it was my next door neighbor.

On the flip side last summer I hired a pet sitter for the first time in my life, to care for my 4 animals of the time. She got paid a pretty penny. But when I came home after two weeks my biggest rabbit had lost a noticeable amount of weight from under feeding. I left confident and happy about my animals being okay to coming home to realize she wasn’t feeding them as was instructed and I doubt she was spending time with them either. So, felt like shit tbh. Get your pets the best xx

 

[William Huggins]

No pics????

 

[William Huggins]

I think your cat threatened the pet sitter with a knife...............