Cat Sitter Checklist With Plenty of Questions To Think About

When you’re away from home for vacation or other reasons, having a cat sitter check on your cats can help you worry less.

And yes, even if you’re only going to be away for two nights, you should still have a cat sitter.

I’ve been a cat sitter and have also hired cat sitters for my cats.

This cat sitter checklist will help you prepare for your time away. Providing information about your cats and their routines will help the pet sitter do a good job.

Also, some of the questions may help you decide who you want your cat sitter to be. You might be thinking of the young teenager next door, but after going through this list, you may decide on a trusted adult or a professional cat sitter.

Providing ample information can help reduce the need for the pet sitter to contact you with questions while you are away.

If you decide to hire a professional cat sitter, they may ask you to fill out an information sheet. The information below can be written on paper or entered into a Google doc to share with them (or both!).

Here’s my basic cat sitter checklist, including questions that will help you decide what information to give your cat sitter.

Your Contact Information

• Your contact information
• How often do you want to be contacted?
  • Do you want to receive texts confirming the cats are fine?
    • If yes, do you want a photo of each cat each day?
    • Do you want a text at each visit?
  • Or, do you only want to be contacted if there is a problem?
• Your veterinarian’s contact information and location in case of an emergency.
  • Let them know where they can find the cat carriers, just in case.
• How will they access your house?
  • This could be a house key, passcode for the security system, code to open the garage door, etc.
  • You’ll need to make sure the cat sitter can access your home. Have them test the key or other entry method BEFORE you are out of town.

Visit Frequency

• How often and at what times should the cat sitter visit?
• How long do you want the cat sitter to be at your house each visit?

Ideally, the cat sitter would stick to the same routine you’ve established with your cats. This means feeding them at about the same time each day. And playing with them in the same way that they are accustomed to.

However, some cats will ignore the pet sitter and hide. Short visits to provide food, water, scoop litter boxes, and any other tasks may cause your cats less stress.

Each Cat’s Information

Provide basic information about each cat.

• Each cat’s name and description
• Personality
  • Will they want to be petted?
  • Do you want the cat sitter to confirm they see each cat at each visit?
  • If a cat hides, where should the pet sitter look for it? Provide a list of their favorite hiding spots.
  • You can also note if it’s okay not to look for a particular cat.
• A picture of each cat (printed or texted to them)

Cat Duties

Provide a list of all cat-related tasks they should perform at each visit and any information needed to complete them.

• What time(s) should the cat sitter visit?
• Where is the cat food?
• Do they get wet food?
• Are there automatic feeders to refill?
• Can they have cat treats? If so, how many?
• Do the cats graze or have specific feeding amounts at specified times?
• Where are the water bowls or water fountains?
• Top off water fountains. Dump and refill water bowls every morning.
• Where are the litter boxes? How often do they need to be scooped? What’s your system for scooping the waste and disposing of it?
• Can the cat go outdoors? If so, what’s that routine look like?
• Any house rules that may seem obvious to you, but might not be to a cat sitter (examples below).

Your House Rules

Are there things the cats are not allowed to play with?

The cat sitter might bring them to your house and unknowingly leave them lying around, putting your cats at risk.

• Plastic bags, or plastic from any source (like takeout bags or containers)
• Small hazards, such as hair ties and milk rings, etc.

Because I’m paranoid about poisonous plants, you may want to remind cat sitters not to bring flowers into the house. The sitter might not be aware that some flowers are very poisonous. They might decide to surprise you with fresh flowers in a vase for your return. It’s not worth the risk!

Also, if you have rules about how to safely dispose of wet cat food, include the instructions. For example, at my house, we rinse them right away and put them in the recycling so that the cats do not have access. We don’t want them licking a sharp edge! When I’ve cat sat for others, the cans were put into the trash.

Do they need to wash wet cat food dishes each day? If you have plenty of cat dishes, can they leave them in the sink or dishwasher?

Medication Needs

Having a cat that needs daily medication may make it feel harder to be away from home.

Do your best to find a cat sitter who is comfortable giving medication.

Make giving the meds as easy as possible for your cat sitter.

Be as specific as possible and give written or video instructions they can reference.

Here are a few example situations:

When I had a cat that needed thyroid medication twice a day, we ordered the compounded version that could be applied to her ear instead of asking the cat sitter to give a pill. She was a great pill taker for me, but it’s unlikely she would have done well with a stranger. However, she was fine with a random person touching her ears.

Once, when I was dog-sitting, I had to open the dog’s mouth and place a pill at the back of her throat so that she would swallow it. The owner made a video demonstrating how to do this, which was very helpful to watch the first time I did it on my own.

We have a cat that needs a small dose of Miralax every day. It’s an easy process of mixing the powder with a drop of water and a meat tube treat. Due to Charlotte being picky, it needs to be mixed up in a fresh, clean bowl and not the same bowl her wet food was served in that day.

Non-Cat Duties and Information

Share any additional information they may need or tasks for them to complete.

• WiFi password?
• Are there any security cameras to be aware of?
• Do you want them to bring in your mail? If so, share what time of day the mail is usually delivered. If you are having your mail held at the post office, let them know that too.
• Are there any other tasks you’d like them to help with, such as watering the plants (which of course are cat safe!)
• Will the garbage need to be taken out?
• Are there doors that are to remain closed at all times?
• Open blinds in the morning, close them in the evening.
• Are there lights that would be left on?

Plan Ahead – Steps To Take Before You’re Away

Have the cat sitter visit at least once to meet the cats, review the checklist, and show them where things are located.

With proper planning and a prepared cat sitter, you can go on your trip and not have to worry about your cats.