u/Tasty-Needleworker-6

I’m going from working for a cat sitting company to setting up on my own and wanted some input on one of the ideas I had. I found it annoying when customers would have a specific time to be there for (not a time frame), unless it was for a necessary reason like medication. I want to try and avoid that on my own as the main reason for me going solo is so I have more autonomy. Is it worth charging more or should I just set a boundary?

I have resigned from a zero-hour contract with a one week notice, in my resignation I mentioned stress and health as my reasons for leaving. I have not raised a grievance (although understand mentioning these things are a ‘grievance’) but have been booked in for a grievance call on my behalf without discussion. I have been told this call will be to discuss through options to help improve so that I will stay. I do not wish to stay and don’t want to do the call, I just want to leave and move on. What are my rights?

I just need a little pep talk. My test is next week, and despite feeling ready for general driving I am worried about the test itself. I have one full lesson and another one before the test, I’ve asked if my instructor gets any cancellations to let me know so I can get more practice in. I’m doing generally fine but keep making small mistakes. I can’t do any private practice as there is no one to go with me unfortunately.

Last month our dog died, ever since then our cat has been experiencing grief, he went off his food for a bit (fortunately his appetite has come back!), he looks for the dog and when he finds something of his he will sleep on it, he’s been more vocal and seems to be experience separation anxiety, which he hasn’t before.

For some background on our cat - he is an ex-feral cat, approximately 12 years old (possibly older), in very good health, we’ve had him for 8 years and he’s always been absolutely fine, we had a dog when he joined our family, when the dog died he was a bit off for a week but was fine soon after. We bought home two rescue adult dogs about 5 months after and he was fine with them, showed no signs of stress. He wasn’t their best mate, he didn’t really cuddle up to them or play with them but did enjoy giving them a good side eye!

We lost one of our dogs last year, since then our cat seemed to take the other one under his wing a bit more. He was kinder to him but still a bit of a meanie! We lost our dog last month and our cat has been grieving ever since.

Getting another pet wasn’t really something on the agenda, we aren’t going to get another dog for various reasons. However our cat seems to miss having a friend/rival! It’s not a decision we want to make lightly which is why I’m asking for advice.

As far as we’re aware he’s never lived with another cat, however we’ve had cats who have snuck into the house before and he’s never been bothered, even when they eat his food! He’s not bothered when he sees cats out the window or when he meets cats outside (he doesn’t start fights, he will finish them though!) and he wasn’t bothered by the dogs. He’s a very social cat and whenever there are people around he wants to be their best mate, I also work with cats and come home smelling of them and he’s never been bothered. This is why I think he could be okay with another cat.

I’m just really not sure what age cat would be best for him? I keep going back and forth on a kitten or a cat at least 1 year old+. I think a kitten would be good as he could raise the kitten but I’m interested in hearing opinions on this, especially if anyone has any real life experience of a similar situation.