Is it normal to pay a house/pet sitter?

Depends...do you want your cat and plants still alive when you return home?

Housesitting is a job. Its something the wealthy generally do. Helps prevent robberies n junk. Anyways yea you gotta pay

I'd ask nothing but for you to make me a fair dinkum dinner after you're back.
And to me taking care of a cat is more a joy than an hassle.

tes

I know we don't know much about each other but this afternoon when I was thinking here about my vacation this year - which starts pretty soon, a teacher on summer vacation - and suddenly your post came to mind because Australia is definitely on my list of countries to go to. I'd totally do it for free. This is so weird, seeing that we're on this specific website full of creeps! Haha anyway, it seemed like a good idea to at least mention that.

If you do pay someone, just don't be weird like this friend I used to have who would write a personal post-dated check.
Pay cash.

Of course my friend was really weird anyways, used to go on about politics and religion.

I definitely would pay them. An hour everyday from two weeks is a decent commitment on their part and you also want to make sure the job is done well. As for how much, I would say anywhere from 5-20$ an hour depending on how difficult the jobs are and what you agree is fair.

I honestly would suggest that you just discuss with the person your hiring as to what's fair and try to pay them as little as you can while keeping is halfway reasonable so they have an incentive to do their job well at least.

It’s not complex. I have a girlfriend do it for me when I go out of town and either she or I do it for my sister. You don’t have a relative or neighbor with the ability to do it?

You need someone with a proven track record if you want them to do all that, and do it well.

Pay them whatever a professional gardener would charge.

Otherwise, I agree with Swick.

Depends how well you know them, but generally, yes. How much, Idk, but you are asking them to do quite a bit. It's about their time and how much responsibility they're taking on for you.

I remember as a kid, I'd petsit the neighbours fish or cats or whatever and they'd leave me $10-20 or something for a couple of days worth of work. As I was older, and it was more responsibility, it'd be more, even if it was also staying in their home for a week or two. Like $100 a week or something, I can't remember exactly.

Couple of years back, I got one of my best friends to watch my elderly jerk of a dog for two nights. She didn't need much in terms of attention, other than someone around at night and to be fed, but she did need medication twice daily. I left my friend $100 and free run of whatever she wanted in the kitchen to eat, and I think she got herself takeout once and left the rest of the money.

Sounds like ur creating jobs and fueling the economy ,a real America if I ever heard one