Pest control delineation of responsibility

[Sam Leon]

Need some advice here on pest control.

This is the third time in two years that I have to pay a professional pest control company to come treat and bait for roaches, specifically German roaches.

Last time the tech told me German roaches are "brought in".

Since they are otherwise good tenants for four years I decided to eat the cost of $300 each visit.

Year 1 and 2, never ANY issue.  Year 3 and 4, roaches.

Well, year 1 and 2 the house was pet free, then they got a cat and a dog on year 3.

Each time they had noticed an infestation, it was after they took a vacation.

A vacation where they left the cat in the house, and had a friend come by every two days and opened a few new cans of cat food and spread them on a plate.  That cat food sat in the same spot 24/7, and a bowl of water.  Then two days later new cans are emptied on top of it.

Wouldn't the cat food and water left in the same spot continuously invite roaches?

I mentioned that to them last time to not do that but two weeks ago I went in for maintenance and saw 20 cans of cat food stacked on the kitchen table and a pile of cat food on the floor with a note to their friend.

Now the roaches are back.

I don't have any proof that the roaches are caused by the 24/7 cat food, but I think my logic is sound.  Otherwise they have been good tenants.

Eat the cost AGAIN?  Or charge them?