In-home care can preserve a cat’s familiar surroundings, but a helper needs clear information and a way to reach you. Do not rely on memory: write down the routine and the needs of this individual cat in advance.
Choose visit frequency according to your cat’s age, health, and habits; ask a veterinarian if you are unsure about the plan.
Meet the helper in advance
Invite the sitter to your home before you leave and show where food, bowls, litter, carrier, and cleaning supplies are kept. Introduce the sitter without forcing contact; let your cat watch from a comfortable distance.
Check that the person is comfortable with the agreed tasks and can visit at the needed times. Arrange a backup in case plans change or a visit is delayed.
Leave written care instructions
Write down feeding times, bowl locations, litter cleaning, familiar games, and things your cat usually avoids. Include outdoor-access rules and doors that must stay closed.
Leave your veterinary clinic’s details, an emergency contact, and ways to reach you. Put the carrier somewhere the sitter knows. If your cat has special care needs, ask only someone with suitable experience and an agreed plan.
Agree what to do if something changes
Decide how the sitter should contact you if your cat does not come out, skips a familiar activity, or there is a problem with the home. Do not ask them to diagnose a condition or change care on their own.
Make sure the person has keys, current numbers, and permission to contact the clinic in the agreed way. After returning, check that food and litter supplies were sufficient.
SMALL STEPS OF CARE
What you can do
- Introduce the sitter to your cat before leaving
- Show where food, water, litter, and carrier are kept
- Leave the routine and outdoor-access rules in writing
- Provide clinic and backup-sitter contacts
- Set visit frequency to suit your cat’s needs
What to avoid
- Leaving only verbal instructions
- Assuming a sitter can manage special care without experience
- Having no backup if the sitter cancels
CHECKING IS CARING
Sources and further reading
Sources checked November 2, 2026. The editorial team prepared this guide from public recommendations; it has not received individual veterinary review.
How we prepare our guides →Every cat has their own pace. Your attention makes a difference.
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