Preparing Your Home for Cat Sitting

A little preparation before your trip can help ensure a smooth, comfortable experience for both your cat and your professional cat sitter.

Most cats adjust best when their routines remain as consistent as possible. By preparing your home in advance, you help create continuity, reduce stress, and allow your sitter to focus on providing attentive care.

Provide Detailed Care Instructions

Even if your cat's routine seems simple, written instructions are extremely helpful.

Include information such as:

• Feeding schedules
• Food locations
• Portion sizes
• Treat preferences
• Medication instructions
• Veterinary contact information
• Emergency contacts

The more information provided, the easier it is to maintain your cat's normal routine.

Ensure Adequate Food and Supplies

Before departure, make sure there is enough:

• Food
• Treats
• Litter
• Medications
• Supplements
• Cleaning supplies

for the duration of your trip, plus a few extra days whenever possible.

Travel delays and unexpected circumstances can happen, and having additional supplies helps prevent unnecessary stress.

Make Medications Easy to Access

If your cat receives medications, place them in a clearly designated location.

Provide:

• Medication names
• Dosages
• Administration instructions
• Timing requirements
• Veterinary guidance if applicable

Clear organization helps ensure consistency and accuracy.

Leave Contact Information

Make sure your sitter has access to:

• Your phone number
• A secondary contact number
• Emergency contacts
• Your veterinarian's information
• Emergency veterinary hospital information

This allows quick communication if questions or concerns arise.

Confirm Home Access

Before your trip, verify that your sitter can reliably access the home.

This may include:

• Keys
• Door codes
• Building access instructions
• Parking information
• Alarm instructions

Providing these details in advance helps prevent complications during visits.

Clean and Prepare Feeding Areas

A tidy feeding area helps make daily care easier.

Consider:

• Washing food bowls
• Organizing food supplies
• Labeling special diets
• Identifying feeding locations for multi-cat households

Small preparations can make visits more efficient and consistent.

Prepare Litter Box Areas

Ensure litter boxes are:

• Accessible
• Properly stocked
• Clean before departure

If your cat uses multiple litter boxes, make sure their locations are clearly identified.

Share Information About Your Cat's Personality

Every cat is different.

Helpful information may include:

• Favorite hiding spots
• Preferred forms of interaction
• Play preferences
• Fears or sensitivities
• Behavioral quirks
• Mobility limitations

Understanding personality helps us tailor care to your individual cat.

Create a Comfortable Environment

Before leaving, make sure your cat has access to:

• Favorite sleeping areas
• Window perches
• Scratching posts
• Water stations
• Preferred resting locations

Maintaining familiar resources helps support emotional comfort.

Inform Us About Any Recent Changes

Please let us know about:

• Recent illnesses
• Medication changes
• Veterinary visits
• Appetite changes
• Behavioral changes
• Household changes

These details help us provide more informed observation during visits.

For Multi-Cat Households

Multi-cat homes often have unique routines.

Helpful information may include:

• Feeding arrangements
• Social dynamics
• Resource sharing preferences
• Cats that need to be separated during meals
• Individual medication schedules

The more we understand the household, the better we can support it.

Schedule a Meet-and-Greet

When appropriate, a meet-and-greet allows us to:

• Review routines
• Learn your cat's preferences
• Discuss medical needs
• Review home access
• Answer questions

This helps create a smoother experience once care begins.

Our Philosophy

At Cats in the City, we believe successful cat sitting starts before the first visit.

Thoughtful preparation helps create continuity, reduces stress, and allows us to focus on what matters most: caring for your cat.

The more we understand your cat's routine, preferences, and needs, the more effectively we can support them while you are away.

Because great cat sitting begins with a well-prepared home and a well-understood cat.

Related Articles

• What Is Professional Cat Sitting?
• What Happens During a Cat Sitting Visit?
• What Services Are Included During Visits?
• How Long Are Cat Sitting Visits?
• Choosing Between Boarding and Cat Sitting
• Emergency Preparedness for Cat Guardians
• Benefits of In-Home Cat Care