Who should pay?

I have a relative that is moving very soon. Since they will have to rent for awhile, they cannot take two or three of their cats with them. I'm taking one, possibly two and I don't know where the other is going.

They plan on buying a house but it could be anywhere from two months to a year before they can find anything suitable. So they don't really know how long I would have to keep their cats. It could be a couple of months or possibly permanently.

Since I will be doing them a favor by keeping their cats, it seems to me that they should pay for the food and litter. If they were giving the cats to me, that would be different and I would pay because then they would be mine. But as of right now, I will just be temporarily keeping their cats for them.

Who do you think should pay for the food and litter? Is it wrong for me to insist that they pay?

I would ask that they help with as much as they can with anything the kitties need. Maybe even just ask them to when they can, just maybe more as a gesture?
Its very nice of you to do that for them!

For the moment the cats still belong to them so of course they should pay for them, when they decide that the cats will be with you for life then they are yours and you should pay, thats the way I see it

I agree with the other posters that you should not have to take full responsibility on paying for everything while you are babysitting the kits. If the kits need vet help at any time, make sure your relatives know they will need to pay for that also. You are doing them a big enough favor by putting a roof over their heads, you shouldn't have to pay for everything also. Make that very clear to them.

If you feel entitled to compensation tell them right away and work something out. I would hate to see a relationship ruined due to this. That is nice of you to this favor for them

they should pay

I wouldn't dream of letting someone foot the bill for looking after my cats no matter how long it was for. I would make sure their food and litter was ordered and delivered every month to whoever had them even if it was family that was doing me a favour.

What they have to remember is, if they put them into a cattery they would have to pay, so for me it's no different.

Unless you were thinking of making the cats' care a gift to your relatives, certainly the relatives should be paying for litter, food, vet bills, and giving the vet, whichever you'd be using - yours or theirs - a letter authorizing vet care and the bills to go to them, the owners.

I can't believe this is even a question - not only should all costs be covered, up front, not just reimbursing you, but certainly a very nice gift or evening out should be coming your way as well as appreciation for your labor and caring for the kitties.

i would offer to pay for food, litter & necessary vet visits. as a matter of fact, i did so when i was trying to find a foster situation for Chip & Firefox.

They should definitely pay for the vet bills and because you have cats, I would ask them to chip in for food and litter as your cats will also be consuming their cats food and using their cats litter, and vice versa....unless of course you are planning to keep them completely isolated.