Unexpected situations
1 – CANCELLATIONS –
It may happen that you book me in advance and then unforeseen events occur that cause you to cancel your holiday or work trip.
Cat-sitters we do not have cancellation insurance, so once I have blocked those dates for you, I may not be able to accept another service, which would certainly leave my schedule empty.
For this reason, if you cancel, please give me as much notice as possible so that I can offer my services to another cat, otherwise my expected income will be affected as I am unlikely to be able to find a service at the last minute.
For the above reasons I apply the following charges:
- For cancellations up to 15 days before the original appointment = no charge
- For cancellations made between 15 and 7 days before the originally scheduled date, if the reservation is for less than a week = 30% of the total amount.
- For cancellations made between 15 and 7 days before the originally scheduled arrival date, if the reservation is more than one week = 10% of the total amount
- For cancellations made between 7 and 1 days before the originally scheduled arrival date, if the reservation is for less than a week = 50% of the total amount
- For cancellations made between 7 and 1 day before the originally scheduled arrival date, if the reservation is more than a week = 25% of the total amount.
2 – CHANGE OF DATES BEFORE THE START OF THE SERVICE –
It will not always be possible for me to change the dates agreed as I may have another booking before or after the one you have booked.
My service includes an overnight stay, so I cannot accept two houses at the same time.
If something unforeseen happens and you need to leave earlier or return later, I will do my best to find a solution to visit your cat, but I will not always be able to do this, bearing in mind that I travel by public transport and that distances cost time and money (this is why I do not usually offer “visits”, except in exceptional circumstances).
3 – LAST MINUTE BOOKINGS –
Reservations made less than 5 days in advance, and as long as they can be accommodated, will incur an extra fee of the usual fee (see cost details).
4 – EMERGENCY –
a) the cat
b) yours
c) mine
a) THE CAT –
Sorry, but I can’t take your cat to an outside vet if it is ill.
If your cat becomes ill while you are away, it’s important that someone you trust (family member or friend) can take your cat to your regular vet (I can’t do this as I am unable to carry weight due to an accident).
For this reason it’s VERY IMPORTANT that you inform your back-up person (family member, friend, neighbour or colleague whom you trust) that a cat sitter will be looking after your cat in your absence and that she will contact them in the event of an emergency with your cat.
You should also leave a copy of your house keys with this person so that they can come and enter if necessary.
Another option is to call HOMEVET, a mobile vet service that will travel to your home, but it’s not an emergency service, so it will depend on the availability of their vets and the urgency of your cat. In that case, you need to authorise this option and pay for the assistance.
b) YOUR –
There may be a delay in your return from abroad, for schedule rasons, if you are travelling for work, or due to the airline issues.
Please, if you know in advance that you will be away from home for an additional extended period of time, please let me know so that I can arrange extra days at your home with your cat if possible, or contact your trusted person.
As I said, I will do my best to find a solution for me to stay and/or visit your cat, but I will not always be able to arrange it.
In the event that I am able to stay with your cat, each extra day will incur an additional last minute fee (see cost details).
c) MINE –
I offer my services independently, so I have no additional staff or people to replace me in the event of serious illness or accident.
Yes, I will always do everything in my power to provide you with the agreed service (I have treated cats that were in my care even after I broke my elbow), but it’s important to consider that we are vulnerable and something may happen that prevents me from providing you with the service or its entirety; I’m not talking about the flu, but something really serious or an accident that incapacitates me for the agreed service.
If this happens when you have already paid me for the service, and as long as I’m obviously conscious, I will refund all or part of the amount paid, as the case may be.
It’s therefore very important that you have a back-up in the form of a trustworthy person who has the keys and can come to your home if something serious happens.
