Leaving your beloved kitty behind when you travel is often hard but finding the right cat sitter can go a long way to giving you peace of mind. But what does the right cat sitter look like and where do you find that person?
Your next door neighbor or a friend may offer to look after Fluffy but it’s important to think about what level of care you are expecting from a sitter. Do you want someone to live in while you are away? Do you want someone who is experienced with cats? Do you want someone who can handle a cat emergency or would know what to do if Fluffy gets sick? A friend or neighbor may not be the best option.
Organizations like the National Organization of Professional Pet Sitters and Pet Sitters International are resources to help you find professional pet sitters in your area. Trusted Housesitters is another organization which provides live-in sitters. You can also check with your vet, local humane society or local pet rescue group. They may have suggestions/referrals. Once you get some names, look for on line reviews or ask for references.
When you have some potential candidates, set up interviews either in person or on a video call. You want to get a sense of their personality and their competence. Here are some topics to cover:
- How long have they been doing cat sitting?
- How experienced are they with cats?
- If you have more than one cat, are they comfortable sitting for multiple cats?
- What would they do in an emergency?
- What back-up plan do they have if something prevents them from getting to your house at one of the scheduled times?
- What are their fees?
- Can they administer medication to your cat(s), if necessary?
- What would they do to get your cat(s) comfortable with them?
- How willing are they to provide periodic (or daily) updates on how kitty is doing while you’re away?
- Are they comfortable with your house rules, e.g., no smoking; no visitors.
Once you have chosen a potential cat sitter it’s time for them to meet Fluffy. Observe how the cat sitter interacts with your pet and how your pet responds. For example, does the sitter get down on the floor with your cat and talk in soothing tones? Does the sitter attempt to engage kitty in play? If this meeting goes well you’re likely feeling comfortable enough to take a chance on the sitter.
Before leaving on your trip have the sitter come to your home so you can explain kitty’s feeding instructions, show where food bowls, toys and litter boxes are kept, describe kitty’s routines and favorite hiding places. If a personal visit is not possible be sure to leave a detailed note with all this information.
When you return from your trip you’ll quickly be able to assess how well the cat sitter did. Is the house as you left it? Does Fluffy look happy and well-cared for? If so, it’s a win-win – you got a trip free of worry about your pet and Fluffy got a nice vacation!