What Should I Prepare Before a Cat Sitting Visit?
Preparing well before a cat sitting visit helps the visits run smoothly and keeps your cat’s routine clear while you are away.
The most important things to prepare are food, water, litter tray details, access instructions, vet details, emergency contacts and any behaviour notes that help the sitter understand your cat.
Good preparation is especially helpful for shy cats, senior cats, indoor cats, cats on medication and multi-cat homes.
Prepare clear feeding instructions
Food is one of the first things your cat sitter needs to understand.
Before the visits start, make sure the feeding routine is written down clearly. Include what your cat eats, how much they should receive and when they normally eat.
It helps to include:
- Food brand and type
- Where the food is stored
- How much food to give per visit
- Whether wet food, dry food or both are used
- Any treats allowed or not allowed
- Any food sensitivities or foods to avoid
If you have more than one cat, make it clear which cat eats which food. This is important in homes where one cat needs senior food, sensitive food, medication food or a special diet.
Make fresh water easy to manage
Your cat sitter should know where the water bowls or fountains are and how often they should be cleaned or refilled.
If your cat uses a water fountain, leave clear instructions for how it works. If it needs topping up, cleaning or checking, explain that before the booking starts.
It also helps to leave a spare clean bowl available in case the fountain stops working or needs to be switched off.
Prepare the litter tray area
Litter tray instructions are important for cat sitting visits.
Make sure your sitter knows:
- Where each litter tray is located
- Which litter you use
- Where spare litter is stored
- Where waste bags are kept
- Where used litter should be placed
- Whether your cat has any litter tray habits to watch for
If your cat is sensitive about litter tray changes, mention this. Some cats are very particular about tray location, litter type or cleaning routine.
Leave enough supplies
Before you leave, check that there is enough food, litter, medication, waste bags and cleaning supplies for the full booking.
It is better to leave a little extra than to run short while you are away.
Useful items to leave ready include:
- Food
- Treats, if allowed
- Litter
- Waste bags
- Kitchen roll
- Cleaning spray safe for the area
- Medication, if needed
- Spare bowls
Keep these items in an easy-to-find place. A sitter should not have to search through cupboards during a visit.
Give clear home access instructions
Access instructions should be simple and tested before the first visit.
Make sure your sitter knows exactly how to enter and leave the property. Include gate details, alarm instructions, key box information or smart lock notes where needed.
If there is an alarm, explain:
- How to disarm it
- How to arm it again
- What to do if it does not work
- Who to contact in an emergency
Access problems can delay visits, so it is worth checking all keys, codes and instructions before you go away.
Share your cat’s normal routine
Cats often cope better when their routine stays familiar.
Tell your sitter what is normal for your cat. This can include where they sleep, where they hide, when they usually eat, whether they go outside, and how they usually behave with visitors.
Helpful routine notes include:
- Favourite hiding places
- Favourite sleeping spots
- Whether your cat is indoor only
- Whether your cat is allowed outside
- How your cat reacts to new people
- Whether your cat is likely to hide during visits
- Any sounds, routines or habits that are normal
This helps the sitter understand what is normal and what might be unusual.
Explain medication and health needs in advance
If your cat needs medication, this must be agreed before the booking is confirmed.
Leave clear written instructions for any medication, including dose, timing, storage and how your cat normally takes it.
Also include your vet details and an emergency contact.
If your cat has a medical condition, recent illness or behaviour change, mention it before the visits start. A cat sitter can follow agreed care instructions, but urgent health concerns should always be handled by a vet.
Leave emergency contact details
Your sitter should know who to contact if they cannot reach you.
Useful emergency details include:
- Your mobile number
- A second contact person
- Your vet’s name and phone number
- Emergency vet details, if different
- Any travel dates or time zone information
Clear contact details help avoid delays if something unexpected happens.
Prepare the home for safe visits
Before you leave, do a quick home check.
Make sure windows and doors are secure, food is stored safely, bins are managed and anything dangerous is out of reach.
For cats, it is also useful to check:
- Open windows
- Balcony access
- Loose strings or cords
- Plants that may be unsafe for cats
- Cleaning products
- Small items that could be swallowed
A calm, tidy setup helps the sitter focus on your cat’s care.
Use the client portal for important details
For Housesitter.ie clients, the client portal is the best place to keep pet details, access notes and care instructions together.
Before requesting cat sitting visits, new clients should register, add their cat details and provide the information needed for safe and clear visits.
This helps keep booking requests, pet details and messages in one place.
Cat sitting in Dundalk
Housesitter.ie provides cat sitting and home visits in Dundalk, Co. Louth.
Our cat sitting visits are designed for cats who are happier staying in their familiar home routine while their owner is away.
Visits can include feeding, fresh water, litter checks where needed, basic home checks and updates after visits.
Need cat sitting in Dundalk?