Traveling Without Your Cat? Here’s Our Best Advice for Creating Your Cat Sitter Instructions

• Our best cat sitting advice at Cat-in-the-Bag is to provide vet details in case of an emergency. Your sitter should also know how to get your cat in their Cozy Comfort Carrier for emergencies and anxious moments.
• Cats thrive on routine. Make sure you give your cat sitter detailed feeding instructions and litter box cleaning info to keep things running smoothly.
• Knowing your cat’s personality will help your sitter understand your cat’s likes/dislikes and how to manage their stress.

As much as we’d like to bring our cats everywhere with us, it’s not always possible. Or realistic. That’s when cat sitters come in.

However, we’ve all been in that same scenario: You come home after that well-deserved vacation and your cat gives you “the stare.” You know, the stare that means they’ve been personally wronged by your vacation (oh, the drama) and you mustn’t EVER do it again.

The one way to ensure your cat is comfortable and happy while you’re away? Preparation. Creating a checklist allows your cat sitter to maintain your cat’s daily routine to a T and manage any health and safety needs, minimizing stress for everyone involved. Here’s our best cat sitting advice to get you started!

Create a Welcome Guide

While a welcome guide isn’t cat-specific, it’s still a crucial need for sitters. It’s a great way to give your sitter a lay of the land and give them an idea of what’s expected. Your cat sitting advice should summarize:

• House rules, like WiFi password, any off-limits areas, etc.
• Home security instructions
• Where supplies are located
• Specify whether they should get your mail or water your plants

Give Them Tips For Calming Your Cat

Any disruption to your cat’s routine can cause stress and anxiety. And that’s not even including the anxiety they may feel after an unexpected loud noise or during vet visits while you’re away!

That’s why it’s crucial for your sitter to know how to calm your cat in the car and at home. Here’s our cat sitting advice for minimizing stress:

• Use Your Cozy Comfort Carrier: Our soft cat carrier is made from soft and breathable cotton, it gently holds your cat so they feel more secure and comforted. Our seat-belt-ready carriers are also ideal for car rides and medication administration while you’re away. Vets love it!
• Maintain Routine: Make sure your sitter follows your cat’s routine so they feel secure.
• Create a Calm Environment: Tell your sitter what your cat’s fave blankets and hiding spots are so they can create a calm environment.

Detail Your Cat’s Personality

Your cat and your sitter will be spending a lot of time together. You want to make sure it’s enjoyable! Detailing your cat’s personality will help your sitter better understand your cat’s likes, dislikes, and sensitivities, so they can prevent cat stress and anxiety.

Cat-in-the-Bag’s best cat sitting advice is to address these questions in your instructions:

• What are your cat’s favorite toys?
• Are they allowed to go outside?
• Where do they like (and dislike) to be petted?
• Where are their go-to hiding spots?
• Are they friendly with other people or pets?
• Do they have any quirks?

Get Their Feeding Routine Down to a Science

Cats can become stressed by changes to their routines. They thrive on predictability! That’s why our cat sitting advice to you is to provide a feeding routine.

This cat sitter checklist should be very descriptive. Give your cat sitter instructions as to portion sizes, how to prepare their food, and when and where to feed your cat. This includes how many times a day your cat should be fed.

Regularly give your cat treats? Let your sitter know!

Provide Emergency Contact Info

No one wants to imagine something going wrong with our pets while we’re away. But a little preparedness can go a long way in ensuring your cat is cared for in an emergency. Our cat sitting advice is to make sure you provide:

• Your primary vet’s info
• Emergency contact details of a trusted neighbor or friend
• The closest 24-hour pet clinic
• Your pertinent travel info (hotel, phone number, etc.)

Be Specific About Litter Box Cleaning

Another important piece of cat sitting advice? Provide litter box cleaning instructions. It’ll help prevent messes around your home and ensure your cat’s comfort while you’re gone. Your cat sitter’s instructions should include:

• Location of all the litter boxes
• How often they should clean the litter box (hint: at least once a day)
• Where to find fresh litter
• How you want waste to be disposed of

Ready Your Sitter for Playtime (the Right Way)

Cats get bored easily. And it can get even worse when their parents are away. Our advice at Cat-in-the-Bag is to add playtime details to your cat sitting list. This ensures your kitty will get the proper mental stimulation and exercise they need to prevent stress and boredom.

What are your cat’s favorite toys? How do they like to play (pouncing, stalking, etc.)? How often do they play and for how long? These are all things your cat sitter should know.

Provide Information About Medical Conditions or Allergies

This is another crucial item for your cat sitter checklist! Your sitter MUST know whether your kitty has medical conditions or allergies so they can prevent any mishaps. This cat sitting advice also helps them ensure that they provide the best care for your cat.

Your cat sitter should also have instructions for medication administration, such as giving them pills with a treat or administering insulin while they’re in their cat carrier.

Ensure the Purr-fect Care for Your Cat

You’ve booked your vacation. You’ve planned the itinerary. Now it’s time to prepare for your sitter!

This preparedness helps maintain your cat’s comfort, prevents any emergencies, and reduces stress for your cat and sitter. Our cat sitting advice at Cat-in-the-Bag is to make a checklist of supplies and instructions, then double check them. And check them again.

Knowing you’ve given them all the necessary info allows you to relax and enjoy your trip without worrying about your precious cat’s care!