What Should I Leave For My Cat Sitter Before I Go Away?

cat sitter

Before you leave your cat in the care of a professional cat sitter, there are things you can do to help ensure the cat sitting visits go smoothly.  However, your cat sitter should ask you to first complete a detailed profile.  Questions they should be asking about include your cats personality, feeding instructions, litter box care, your cat’s favorite toys, hiding places and medical/veterinarian information.  Other questions should be about caring for your home including bringing in mail, watering plants, taking out trash, emergency contacts, etc.  It is just as important to meet with your cat sitter in person at your home for a consultation before you leave town.  This allows you to introduce your cat sitter to your cat, to make sure they are the right fit, to review all the details in your profile together while showing them everything they may need at the visits, and to exchange keys.  Reviewing your profile in person also gives you both the opportunity to add any missing details about caring for your cat and home.  However, there are still other things you can do before you leave to ensure the visits will go smoothly so you will return to a happy and well cared for cat and home.

Check out our top 13 list of things to leave readily accessible to help you cat sitter for the visits.

  1. Purchase more food than your cat needs while you will be away so you won’t run out if your travel plans get extended.
  2. Leave out a can opener, utensils, and additional serving plates or bowls, if needed.
  3. Make sure you have plenty of litter and deodorizer to top of the litter box daily as well as enough for a full clean up, if needed, with a new liner.
  4. Leave a clear list of your cats medications and additional medication to last not only while you are away but in case your trip gets extended.
  5. Provide a scooper and plenty of bags for cleaning the litter box daily.
  6. Leave out a Dustbuster, vacuum, and/or broom with a dustpan so your cat sitter can keep the area around the litter box neat and tidy.
  7. In the event of an emergency, leave out a cat carrier.
  8. Place your cats’ favorite toys and treats somewhere easy to find.
  9. If your cat enjoys being brushed, leave one out.
  10. Supply additional paper towels to clean up any messes including vomit, if your cat is susceptible to throwing up.
  11. Post a copy of your itinerary in your home, including your contact information and contact information for your emergency contacts.
  12. If a mail key is needed to bring in the mail, leave one out for your cat sitter.
  13. Provide a collar and leash, if your cat likes to go on walks.

By doing the above aside from completing a detailed profile and meeting with your cat sitter before you leave, it will make it easier for your cat sitter to give your cat the best care.  This will help make for a happy cat and a nice clean home upon your return.

If you haven’t hired a cat sitter before you may find our articles useful on How Do I Find A Pet Sitter and 5 Reasons Your Cat Will Love A Cat Sitter.

Do you have suggestions for other things to add to this list?

 

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10 Comments

  • Salma says:

    Great list. I don’t have any pets, but I will pass this along to my friend who does. Thanks.

  • This is very helpful. A friend of mine got a bunch of kittens, she’l need this for sure.

  • Sophie Bowns says:

    We don’t have a cat, but your tips are good!

  • Jennifer Shafton says:

    Hi Salma. Thank you for letting us know you pass along the article to a friend who has cats. We are glad you liked the list.

  • Jennifer Shafton says:

    How great you can share this with your friend who has kittens.

  • Jennifer Shafton says:

    Hi Sophie thank you for letting us know you like the tips.

  • K. Lee Banks says:

    This is an excellent list! As pet parents of 6 cats (and one dog!), this will be useful the next time hubby and I go away. We went to Punta Cana last November for my daughter’s wedding and were gone for 5 days. We had a friend who stayed here, but my mom-in-law also stopped in to help out once in awhile. We covered some of the things on your list, but not all! Thanks for sharing!

  • Jennifer Shafton says:

    As a pet parent to 6 cats and 1 dog, we are thrilled you found our list to be helpful and you plan to use it the next time you need a pet sitter to help ensure the visits go smoothly. Congratulations on your daughter’s marriage. Check out our post to be published on Tuesday, 6/24 on what you can leave for your dog sitter before going away. We cover dog specific items that are not mentioned in this article.

  • Memory says:

    I add pictures of each cat (there are 5 now) to the instructions. I also add info on their normal behavior – like the Maine Coon who put his paws on my uhem “backside” when I am preparing food so she knows he is not attacking – just “helping”. Also to keep cupboard doors tightly closed because one of them gets in and throws things out of the cupboard and onto the floor. And that one of them pees “outside the box” on a regular basis so she doesn’t worry that he is getting a UTI – he is just a brat. My cat sitter is the most important person in my life and I carry her business card in my wallet with instructions to call her FIRST in case of emergency!

  • Jennifer Shafton says:

    We love all the details you leave for your cat sitter. We get all this information, pictures too, when clients complete their profile. You sure do help your cat sitter make sure she can give the best care possible.

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