Many responsible pet owners worry about their cat's care when they need to travel for work or leisure. Engaging a pet sitter is a good option for cats as they feel more comfortable in their own territory.
As a pet sitter for the last 10 years & a cat owner myself, let's discuss what every pet owner needs to know regarding engaging a pet sitter.
1. Be a good Paymaster
Good pet sitters do not come cheap, especially if you require a twice a day visit, so do your budgeting BEFORE booking your holiday & your sitter.
Do not withhold payment because you are broke after your expensive holiday or insist for discounts. Take into consideration that your sitter needs to travel the same distance every visit & stay for the agreed duration of time.
Furthermore, do consider carefully before engaging sitters who offer enticing deals such as "$12 for a 2.5 hour visit". If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
2. Always Meet & Greet
Book your pet sitter in advance and schedule a meeting 1-2 weeks before departure. This is a good opportunity for you to explain in detail what is required & set reasonable expectations. The sitter can familiarize herself with your home & both parties can express any concerns. This is also when the home keys are handed over & a deposit placed to confirm the assignment.
Avoid relying solely on a friend's recommendation & hiring someone without meeting them, as everyone's expectations varies & every cat requires different levels of attention. You will want someone extremely experienced if you have a sick cat.
3. Ensure adequate supplies
A responsible pet owner should ensure that the cat(s) has more than sufficient supply of Everything (i.e. food, meds, litter, paper towels, spray for clean up, dish soap, trash bags, etc). If you run out of anything, your sitter may charge you an additional fee to purchase it for you, to compensate their time, travel, parking fees to obtain the items. Your oversight should not cause your sitter to go out of pocket.
4. Leave behind Instructions
Although your sitter will likely take notes during the Meet & Greet, always leave behind written instructions to ensure there is NO Miscommunication, especially on feeding & medication dosage. Your sitter may also have many clients at the same time & would appreciate a list of instructions to refer to.
Leave behind vet details, as well as an emergency contact person, should anything happen to you, or your return gets delayed indefinitely for some reason.
5. Request for daily updates
A responsible sitter should send you daily updates of pics or videos, via text/Whatsapp, etc. Always request for this even if you are in a different time zone or in a location with poor cell service, so that you are able to see that your cat(s) look fine. They should also be updating you if your cat seems sick, is not eating well or not using the litter box normally.
6. Clean your Home, PLEASE
A clean home is essential for your pet's well being & is just basic courtesy. This entails cleaning out your fridge of near expiry items, vacuum & mop, ensure your kitchen sponges & towels are clean or new, garbage bins empty, provide a clean toilet & a dust free home.
I have been in homes which have left my soles black, thick covers of dust, sinks piled with dishes for weeks & pee stained toilets, and will never catsit for those clients again & I can only feel sorry for the cat(s) who have to live in those homes.
Your sitter is NOT a maid, so the sole responsibility is only towards the cat - cleaning litter, keeping the cat's area clean & cleaning up vomit. Some may go the extra mile of doing a basic vacuum if you are gone for a long trip, but do not take advantage of their kindness.
You can find a Downloadable Infographic below.
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