Just got back from vacation this afternoon to find a long note from our cat sitter, that the cat had completely drenched his litter box in 3 days, so she was worried about him and decided to check on him daily instead of the alternate-day schedule we had agreed on. (She also knows that he is diabetic, and that a week before we left on vacation, he had been diagnosed with a large abdominal tumor of as-yet unknown type, which hadn’t been bothering him and was found on a fairly routine checkup. She also used to be a vet tech at our vet’s practice, so she knows more than the average person about these things. Plus she really does love cats.)
She also went above and beyond the call of duty in other ways, as she has when we’ve hired her once or twice before (going out to buy more cat litter when we ran out, straightening a few things in the apartment, etc.), and I’d like to show my appreciation, but can’t figure out how. I mean I could just pay her for the extra visits, but I’d like to do something more personal. Which is difficult, because I really don’t know her on a personal level, other than that she’s always been super-nice and conscientious to us.
Ideas, anyone?
I was the owner/operator of the (at the time) largest pet sitting company in Kingston, Ontario.
Give her a big tip.
A kitten!!!
Same as FloatyGimpy, money is good.
See’s. Or Sees Gift certificates, which are almost like cash.
If you feel funny about a cash tip, you could give a gift card to a grocery store or some other all-purpose store, which is the same as cash but more gift-y.
Cash for her, and a contribution to a pet shelter in her name.
I’m a pet-sitter who’s been in similar situations.* Just about anything to show your appreciation would be welcome: cash, gift cards, etc. I don’t expect things like that (it’s par for the course with any animal, as far as I’m concerned), but it is a nice gesture.
*Similar situations: the Bichon Frise with Alzheimer’s and an amputated rear leg that kept forgetting he had already been outside; the rug I steamed when I thought a Bengal cat had destroyed the carpet in my guest room (the stains were already there, but I got them out!); another cat (appropriately named Outlaw) that got stuck on top of a 10-foot-high kitchen cabinet… there’s lots more.
^ This.
Money is the best “thank you!”
I would put the personalization into a kind thank-you letter and include a cash tip. And then make sure she knows I’m happy to be a reference.
Give her xxxtra tip and sincere thanks!
I go the extra mile when I do petsitting…
her knowing that you appreciate her efforts is the best!
The thank you gifts I’ve always liked best were the plain old notes and cards. Trust me, she didn’t become a vet tech or a pet sitter to get rich, or because washing cat piss out of your scrubs is such a glamorous life. And she didn’t go to the extra effort for your kitty to get any sort of reward. That’s not what motivates us. What motivates us is knowing that we’re making the lives of critters and the people who love them better. Getting direct feedback confirming that we’re succeeding in that means a lot.
I would pay her for the extra visits, whether she expects it or not, because she did do the extra work. But rather than worrying about buying something, I would just put the check for the extra in a nice card with a handwritten note.
And a picture of the cat.
Our cat sitter is a neighbor, not a hired sitter. Whenever we go on vacation we try to bring back something small but enjoyable for her, such as a bottle of wine or a box of sweets. Once we got her a gift card to a nice local restaurant. She always protests, but I’d feel horrible if we didn’t do something.