Choosing the Right Cat Sitter

October 14, 2025

Ensuring Your Cat’s Comfort and Safety

Nicole Welna

Whether you are traveling or needing extra support caring for your cat, finding the right sitter is essential for your peace of mind and your cat’s well-being. Ensuring proper care is crucial, so here are some key considerations and questions you can ask to help guide your selection of the perfect sitter for your feline friend.

When choosing a cat sitter, qualifications matter. One size doesn’t fit all, so the ideal sitter should have experience to match the needs of your cat. Considerations include the age and number of cats in the household, special dietary needs, and medication administration.

Sitters can be found at sites like Wag and Rover if you are comfortable with a hobby sitter, but those sites are not the best place to find a professional pet sitter. Local Facebook groups or the Nextdoor app are great places to ask for recommendations from your community. You can also try Googling “professional pet sitter” or “professional cat sitter near me,” but make sure to check reviews before deciding. Additionally, you can ask friends, family, or neighbors for recommendations. To locate more-experienced, professional sitters, consult local pet-care agencies or get referrals from your vet. You want a sitter who cares for animals full-time and not just as a side job.

Here are some questions to ask when interviewing a potential cat sitter:

• How much experience do you have with cats like mine?
• Are you familiar with the dynamics of a multi-cat home?
• What type and amount of time will you be spending with my cat?
• Do you understand the needs of cats at various ages?
• Do you have certifications or training related to animal care?
• What is your approach to feeding schedules and giving medications?
• Are you comfortable taking my cat to the vet if necessary?
• How do you handle emergencies?
• Do you have a reliable backup caregiver available to fill in if you are unable to attend a scheduled visit? How would I contact them?
• Are you insured, and can you provide documentation for me? (It is essential that your sitter is insured. It shows a commitment to professionalism and helps protect both parties in case of unexpected issues.)

It is also helpful to consider your cat’s personality when interviewing a sitter. Does your cat prefer a quiet environment? Is your cat nervous around new people? These insights can help you gauge how your cat will respond to the sitter and whether the sitter’s approach aligns with your cat’s temperament.

If your cat requires extra care such as needing insulin, subcutaneous injections, or oral medications, make sure the sitter knows exactly how to administer these. It is best to schedule a meet-and-greet with the sitter around your cat’s medication time so you can demonstrate your process. An experienced sitter can show their approach as well.

The sitter should also be asking you questions about your cat. A good cat sitter will show genuine curiosity and attention to your cat’s specific needs, habits, and personality. You want to feel like they are interviewing you as much as you are interviewing them.

Finally, always ask for references from past clients, especially if the sitter has not been recommended by someone you trust. Speaking with other pet parents about their experiences can give you invaluable insight into how reliable and attentive the sitter is.

Before leaving your cat in the sitter’s care, make sure to leave important information. At the very least, you should provide the sitter with the following:

• the name, number, and address of your regular vet and the closest emergency vet in case of urgent health issues
• the location of essential supplies, such as food, water, litter, and cleaning materials (make it easy for the sitter to follow your routines to keep your cat comfortable)
• where the cat carrier is located, just in case of an emergency (the carrier should be easily accessible)
• a written note with feeding schedules and any other important notes, such as favorite toys, routines, or behavior quirks
• an emergency contact, whether it is a family member, friend, or neighbor who can step in if needed

Choosing the right sitter ensures that your cat will feel safe and be well cared for so you can have peace of mind while you are away. The extra time spent on finding the perfect person will pay off in your cat’s comfort and health.