Cats & Cat Health

When you go on your summer holiday who looks after your cat? It isn’t always easy to find a reliable sitter who you can with your cat’s complete care.

Each time we go away I have a tug of love with Alfie. He just hates those catteries but if we go away for more than a week I feel I must put him into one. Less than a week our neighbour feeds him, but I don’y like to bother him for longer than that. We do go away for up to 6 weeks because our daughter and her husband plus one grandchild on the way live in England, which is 13,000 miles from NZ where we live.

I am planning to get a house sitter for our next trip, if I can find one. I searched online and found the National Association of Pet Sitters. This is what they say about hiring a pet sitter:

Hiring a pet sitter is a serious process. Make sure the person you choose is trained and professional. He/she will not only be responsible for your pet, but also will have regular access to your home. We recommend that you choose a NAPPS pet sitter.

Once you have identified a potential pet sitter:

• Develop a set of questions and conduct a thorough interview
• Ask for references
• Request proof of bonding and liability insurance coverage
• Make sure he/she interacts well with your pet

Services and fees can very widely. Be sure to determine:

• What your needs are
• Exactly how much services will cost
• Whether the prosective sitter will visit and meet you and your pet before you sign her up?
• Is the attitude and approach exhibited by the pet-sitter during the initial
  meeting with your pet positive?
• Does the pet-sitter seem comfortable and confident?
• Does the pet-sitter have regular office hours? Does he or she return
  customer inquiries promptly?
• Will the pet-sitter or pet-sitting service telephone to determine if the
  client has returned home as scheduled, or is the client required to
  notify the company or pet-sitter of his or her arrival home?

I would also ask if the sitter has a cat of her own or has had catsin the past. If she doesn’t have one now why not?. You need someone who loves them.
That is a useful check list but if you don’t have a pet sitting service in your area its not so easy.

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