How to Locate the Ideal Cat Sitter for Your Kitty
Finding a new sitting company can be difficult for numerous reasons. There's sometimes a process of filling out form, meeting the sitter themselves, and then actually having them care for your cat. But this all becomes a much more complicated process when you have an elderly cat, or even multiple elderly cats that you need care for.
It's not always easy to know by someones outward appearance if they'll be a good fit for you. But there are some steps you can take to make sure you're getting the absolutely best care possible for your kitty. The most pressing thing to address when considering hiring someone new is their amount of experience and what that experience encompasses. Ideally, you'll want to find someone with background in caring for sick and elderly pets. Although your cat might be completely healthy at the time you leave them, it's not uncommon for cats to have adverse reactions to their humans leaving. They are certainly creatures of habit and they don't usually like their schedules being disrupted.
Once You've Narrowed Down Your Options, Take a Closer Look
On the surface, many pet sitters look the same. But to truly compare them, you'll want to take a deep dive into their history. Do they have any veterinary medicine background? Have they cared for pets like your before? How often have they done this? Do they have first aid and CPR certification? Are they insured? These are all critical things to bring up when searching for a good match.
It's also important to note that although someone may have experience in a certain field, they may not have as much as another. Or they may not have been in the field for the past 5 years. Now, this doesn't mean they won't do a good job. But it does bring up the question as to what their current abilities are and what they're able to handle if your cat experiences any sort of distress while you're away.
Cats in Their Golden Years Need Special Care
When leaving your elderly cat, you'll want to plan for the worst and hope for the best. Plan for the worst meaning, be prepared to provider the caregiver with your vet's contact information in case of an emergency, also be sure to let them know if this vet has emergency hours or not. In addition, there's some small things you can do to make a big difference in your cat's comfort level while you're gone. Leaving some extra yummy food and treats behind is a great start! Have some readily available so your cat sitter is able to provide it in the event that your cat isn't taking their regular food or if they need food to help with a bond with your kitty. We also recommend using the spray "Feliway" if possible. This has been shown to reduce cat's stress levels.