Your parents seem like the obvious choice for pet-sitting their grand-dogs and cats. But do you really know what happens when they’re left in charge? Their well-meaning but outdated methods can turn life upside down. Here are the potential issues to watch out for.
1. Overfeeding
“We came back from 3 weeks in Greece and our cocker spaniel, Jenny, was literally twice the size. My grandma had been making her a full fry-up every morning. Every day, sausages, bacon, eggs—the works. Jenny looked like she’d eaten a football.”
2. Ignoring Dietary Restrictions
“My mum thought it was ridiculous that our cat was on a grain-free diet, so she fed him regular kibble. We spent the next week dealing with a very upset stomach. Milo was miserable, and we had to deep-clean the carpets more times than I care to remember.”
3. Too Many Treats
“Dad couldn’t resist Charlie’s begging eyes and gave him treats every hour. By the end of the week, Charlie expected treats all the time. He even started refusing his regular food unless it was mixed with biscuits.”
4. Skipping Exercise
“We asked my parents to walk Dax twice a day, but they thought once was enough. Our energetic pup was bouncing off the walls by the time we got back. Dax had chewed through his favourite toys and even started gnawing on the furniture.”
5. Allowing Bad Habits
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“Mum let our cat sleep on the couch despite knowing he wasn’t allowed. Now, we’re struggling to break that habit. Misty now thinks the couch is her throne, complete with claw marks to prove it.”
6. Ignoring Medical Needs
“Our cat needed daily medication, but my parents forgot to give it consistently. We had to rush her to the vet when we got home. It was a stressful and costly experience, all because they didn’t follow instructions.”
7. Misunderstanding Boundaries
“Our dog isn’t allowed in the kitchen, but my dad let him wander everywhere. Now, we’re constantly shooing him out. Buddy even started stealing food off the counters, thinking he had free rein of the place.”
8. Not Using Commands
“We trained Luna with specific commands, but my parents found them too formal and just used ‘come here’ and ‘sit’. Poor Luna was thoroughly confused. She ended up ignoring commands entirely, thinking she was back in puppy training.”
9. Overstimulation
“My parents thought our cat was bored, so they played with her constantly. By the time we got home, she was exhausted and irritable. Fluffy spent the next few days hiding under the bed, avoiding everyone.”
10. Ignoring Training Protocols
“We crate train our dog at night, but my parents felt it was cruel and let him sleep in their bed. Now he whines whenever we try to crate him. We’ve had to start the training process all over again.”
11. Giving Human Food
“Dad thought our dog looked hungry, so he shared his steak dinner. Now our dog begs at the table during every meal. He’s even started refusing his own food unless it’s ‘enhanced’ with table scraps.”
12. Disregarding Allergies
“Our cat has a mild allergy to dairy, but my mum gave her milk because she thought all cats love it. We ended up with a very sick kitty. Patches had to go on medication and a strict diet to recover.”
13. Different Health Practices
“My parents didn’t believe in giving our dog his regular flea treatment. We came back to a house infested with fleas. It took weeks and a professional exterminator to get rid of them all.”
14. Ignoring Play Preferences
“Our dog loves fetch, but my dad insisted on playing tug-of-war instead. The dog was frustrated and didn’t get his usual exercise. Rex started chewing on his leash out of frustration.”
15. Not Cleaning Litter Boxes
“Mum thought cleaning the litter box once a day was excessive, so she did it every few days. The house smelled awful when we returned. The cat even started using other parts of the house as her bathroom.”
16. Unsupervised Outdoor Time
“My parents let our indoor cat outside because they thought he needed fresh air. We spent days searching for him after he ran away. We eventually found him, but he was scared and had lost weight.”
17. Different Discipline Methods
“My dad scolded our dog harshly for barking, while we use gentle corrections. The dog was anxious and jumpy for days after we got back. It took a lot of calming and reassurance to get him back to normal.”
18. Not Following Schedules
“We have a strict feeding and walking schedule for our dog, but my parents did everything on their own time. The dog was confused and off-routine. We had to retrain him to get back to his regular schedule.”
19. Letting Pets Roam
“Our dog isn’t allowed off-leash in the park, but my parents thought it was fine. We spent hours looking for him after he wandered off. Thankfully, a kind neighbour found him and brought him back.”
A Generational Gap in Pet Care
When Boomer parents pet-sit, their well-intentioned efforts can sometimes clash with modern pet care practices. While their love for your pets is undeniable, these anecdotes highlight the importance of clear instructions and understanding when leaving your furry friends in their care.
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / Santiago Ortiz Valero.
For transparency, this content was partly developed with AI assistance and carefully curated by an experienced editor to be informative and ensure accuracy.
