Top 6 Tips for Cat Sitting
At first glance, pet sitting a cat and understanding cat’s behaviour may not seem as challenging as dog sitting. For the most part, cats can generally keep to themselves and do not need that much human interaction, right? Well you could be forgiven for thinking that, as it is what most non-cat owners may think. But in reality, cat sitting comes with its own set of rules and challenges.
Here are our top six tips for being a successful cat sitter:
Have the owner give you a walkthrough of the cat’s daily life. Make sure you know where everything is kept, and where to get supplies from if they run out. Don’t rely on the owner to tell you everything as many things will be second nature to them. Write down all the information and create a working file on what you need to do on a daily basis.
Keep to the Plan!
Cats are creatures of habit; they expect certain things to happen at certain times. While you might not be able to give them the same sort of presence their owner would, make a schedule and keep to it. This will help the cat get used to a new time frame and keep stress to a minimum.
Let the cat approach you…
Many cats are sensitive to change, and nothing is bigger than suddenly having an unknown human cat sitter enter your territory. Be mindful that you are an intruder in their space, it may take time for the cat to get used to you.
Beware Escapees!
If your cat is usually an outside kitty, they may try to take flight at the first chance they get. To avoid this, see if there is a way to get into the house using a two-door system. This could be entering via the garage door and then the internal door once the garage is closed.
Although in some houses this may not be an option. In that case, it is best to open the entry door very slightly and peek in looking for movement. Block the door with your leg and slide in, opening the door as little as possible.
If the cat does manage to escape, you should contact the owner to let them know. In most instances, the cat will be sitting by the door waiting to go inside the next time you visit.
Remain Calm
Avoid being overly noisy or excited when visiting your cat. Let the bowl and their food do the calling for you. Once you have feed them, they will be more willing to accept some affection and possibly a sneaky play session! This will aid in your bonding with the cat.
Emergency Care
Usually only needed in extreme circumstances, but it is very important to know where to take the cat if something does happen.
Have on hand the name and phone numbers of the cat’s vet. Ask the owners for their contact details, and who else to contact in case of emergency. Keep these numbers with you at all times.
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