How to Prepare Your Cat for a Cat Sitter

Start with a meet-and-greet

You have a trip coming up and a cat who hides when the doorbell rings. The easiest first step is letting the sitter meet your cat, and your home, while you are there. Every new client with us schedules a meet-and-greet using our client forms, and the Petsitting Form there asks for your contact details, your cat's description, medical condition and favorite toys, your vet's name and contact details, special instructions, and your consent to give treats and to take your cat to your vet in an emergency.

Many cat sitters also suggest a short trial visit before a long trip, so your cat sees the same person a second time and you can answer questions about anything that came up. Plan both early, since many sitters' holiday schedules fill up well ahead.

Stock supplies and label everything

Set everything out in one spot so the sitter doesn't have to search your cabinets. A clear setup also means each visit can go to your cat, not to hunting for the scooper.

• Food for the whole trip, plus extra in case your return is delayed, with portions and feeding times written down. Cornell notes that changes in food can bring back bladder flare-ups in some cats, so stick with what your cat already eats.
• Litter and bags. Cornell suggests one more litter box than the number of cats. The ASPCA advises against ammonia, deodorants and scents, especially lemon, when cleaning the box.
• Water bowls in more than one place, away from food and litter, which the AAFP's owner tips recommend.
• Medication in its original packaging, with your vet's written instructions and what to do if a dose is missed (ask your vet).
• Cleaning supplies for accidents or hairballs, and paper towels.
• The carrier, out and open, plus a towel to drape over it.

Show the sitter where your cat hides

A shy cat may spend the first visits under the bed. That's normal, and it's why the sitter needs to know where to look. The AAFP's tips for owners say every cat needs a safe place to retreat to, such as a cardboard box, a carrier or a raised perch, and that people should let the cat choose and control contact.

Walk the sitter through your cat's usual spots, including the odd ones: the back of the closet, inside the box spring, behind the washer. A careful sitter usually tries to see your cat at every visit without dragging it out. Leaving the carrier out as one of those safe places can make it familiar, and it is ready if your cat ever needs a trip to the vet.

Cat-proof doors, windows and plants

Tell the sitter if your cat dashes for the door, and ask them to check window screens and close off rooms you don't use. The ASPCA recommends keeping cats indoors, so make sure everyone who comes in knows to keep your cat inside.

Lilies need their own warning. The FDA says every part of a true lily or daylily is toxic to cats, including the pollen and even the water in the vase. A small bite, a few grains of pollen licked off fur, or a drink from the vase can cause fatal kidney failure in less than 3 days, and the FDA says treatment delayed by 18 hours or more generally leads to kidney failure that can't be reversed. Take bouquets out of the house before you go, and check gifts that arrive while you are away. Cornell's common cat hazards page adds human medications and household cleaners to the list. Our guide to foods and plants toxic to dogs and cats has more.

Agree on what gets a phone call

Cats often don't show obvious signs of pain or sickness, the AAFP notes, so small changes matter. Agree with your sitter on what they should report right away and how to reach you. The table below covers the signs that can't wait, based on Cornell and FDA guidance. Our guide on how long a cat can be left alone explains why. Before you leave, settle these details:

• Your phone number, and a backup person nearby who has a key.
• Whether you want an update after every visit or only when something changes.
• Who can make a decision about vet care if you are on a plane or out of signal.
• Which signs mean the sitter should call your vet first and you second.

Write the vet plan down

Put your vet's name, phone number and address on the counter or fridge, plus the nearest emergency clinic you would want used after hours. Decide in writing what the sitter may approve if you can't be reached. Our pet emergency plan guide walks through those choices.

If your cat has a health condition, ask your vet which changes would worry them, and add those to the sitter's list. For medication, write the dose and timing exactly as your vet prescribed. Our cat sitting visits can give pills, liquid medication or medication mixed into food, and our cat feeding visits can handle special diets. To see what a visit looks like step by step, read what a professional pet sitter actually does during a visit.

When a sitter isn't the right plan

If your cat is recovering from surgery, needs injections, or needs to be watched closely for a medical problem, ask your vet whether boarding at the clinic would be safer. Our guide to cat sitting vs. boarding compares the two, and our guide to cat sitters vs. automatic feeders covers short gaps.

For most healthy cats, staying home with visits keeps the routine steady. You can read how visits work in our posts on cat sitting in Mount Rainier and cat sitting in Edgewood and Brookland.