Get a Cat Sitter when You Leave Town

Having to leave your cat at home while you travel can be stressful for both you and the cat. While you are away, you want to make sure that your cat is comfortable and well looked after. In order to get a cat sitter, you can ask someone you know to watch your cat, hire a professional cat sitter, or place your cat in a kennel or boarding facility. Before leaving your cat, it is important that you provide detailed care instructions.

Steps

Finding Someone You Know to Cat Sit

1. Ask a friend or relative to stay at your house. Many people feel the most comfortable asking a trusted and responsible friend, relative, or neighbour to look after their cat while on vacation. The best option is to find someone who can stay at your house with your cat. This way your cat will be able to remain in a comfortable environment and will have company throughout the day.
   • It is best to choose someone how knows your cat and has experience with companion animals.
2. See if someone can check in on your cat. If you are unable to find someone who can stay overnight with your cat, you could ask someone to check in on your cat while you are away. Ask someone who lives close by, such as a neighbour or friend. They should spend at least 30 minutes each day at your house. During this time they will feed the cat, check the litter box, and interact with the cat.
3. Leave your cat at a friend or relative's house. Friends or relatives may be willing to watch your cat while you are away, but only if they can do so at their own home. This is often called in-home boarding. Make sure your friend or relative creates a safe environment for your cat and is able to regularly feed and play with the cat.
   • You may want to visit your friend or relative's house with your cat prior to your trip. This way, your cat can get accustomed to the space.

Hiring a Professional Cat Sitter

1. Search for local cat sitters online. To find a cat sitter, search online for local businesses or through the database of the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters. This site lists licensed pet care providers in your area and is a great place to find a pet sitter.
2. Get a referral for a cat sitter. Ask a friend, your vet or groomer, or a local shelter if they know of any reputable professional cat sitters in the area. This way you will be able to ensure that you are getting a responsible sitter. If a friend has used this cat sitter in the past and found they did an excellent job, you will be able to feel more relaxed about your cat’s care while on vacation.
3. Interview potential candidates. In order to get to know your potential cat sitter and ask them about the type of care they will provide, you should set up a meeting and interview. It is very important that you trust your cat sitter because they will have open access to your home while you are on vacation. Some questions to ask a potential cat sitter include:
   • How long have you been working as a cat sitter?
   • How often will you visit the cat each day?
   • Describe a typical visit. What will you do? How long will you stay?
   • Are you able to stay overnight with the cat?
   • Will you play and interact with the cat?
   • Can I see your list of references?
   • Are you able to provide additional tasks, such as watering the plants or checking the mail?
4. Set up a home visit. Before leaving on your vacation, you should set up an in-home visit with the cat sitter. This way you can walk them through any instructions, and they can familiarize themselves with your home environment and meet your cat. Watch how the cat sitter interacts with your cat. This can be a good indication of how they will treat your cat while you are away.

Boarding Your Cat While on Vacation

1. Search for kennels in your area. Although most cats prefer to remain in their home environment, you could also board your cat at a kennel while on vacation. Search online for local kennels, pet hotels, or catteries in your area.
2. Ask your vet or groomer if they board cats. In some instances, veterinary offices and groomers will also offer boarding for cats. In order to determine if your vet or groomer will board, ask them personally, or search their website for boarding options.
3. Take a tour of the boarding facility. Kennels vary vastly in terms of cleanliness, environment, and care practices. Before you leave your cat at a kennel or boarding facility, make sure you take a tour. Drop in unexpected and ask to see the facilities. This will allow you to get a good idea of the environment.
   • If the cat is going to remain in a cage the entire time, you may want to consider other care options.

Preparing to Leave Your Cat with a Sitter

1. Inform your vet that you are going away. Tell your vet who will be watching your cat and see if you can set up a payment option in case an emergency arises. Most vets will allow you to leave your credit card number in order to pay for any potential medical expenses. This way you are ensuring that your cat will receive proper medical attention should anything happen.
2. Leave a detailed list of care instructions. Make sure that your pet sitter, whether it is a friend or professional, knows exactly how to care for your cat. Leave a detailed list of care instructions in a visible place, such as the counter or refrigerator. For example, provide specific feeding instructions that include the amount of food to give your cat, where the food is located, and the time of day that your cat should be fed. Other instructions include:
   • Medical information: Types of medicine, how and when to administer the medicine.
   • Cleaning the litter box.
   • Playing and socializing with the cat.
   • Emergency contact information: Phone number of the vet and your contact information.
3. Agree to a price. If you decide to hire a professional cat sitter, they will likely charge a daily fee that may vary depending on the number and length of visits each day and the number of cats you have. Typically a cat sitter will charge $15-$20 per day for one 30 minute visit. An additional $5 will be added if there is more than one animal.
   • If you ask a friend, relative, or neighbour to watch your cat, you could offer to pay them for their services. Alternatively, you could present them with a gift when you return from your travels.
4. Hide or remove any valuable possessions. If you have valuable possessions, you may want to ensure that they are safely stored or removed from your home. For example, you could place priceless heirlooms in a locked safe, or leave them with a trusted friend or relative. It is best to take extra precautions while you are away from home.

Warnings

• If you opt for an informal cat-sitter (i.e. friend, relative, or neighbour) they may not have as much experience caring for animals or dealing with medical emergencies. Make sure you leave detailed instructions.

Sources and Citations

See also

• Have Multiple Cats
• Bring a Second Cat Into the Family and Not Make Your Old Cat Upset
• Introduce a New Cat to the Family
• Make a Cat and Dog Get Along
• Introduce a New Puppy to the Resident Cat
• Help Cats Become Friends
• Encourage Multiple Cats to Get Along with Each Other
• Keep a Dog or Cat Successfully While Living in an Apartment