How to Be a Cat Sitter

By Melissa Maroff

Instructions

Step 1:
Find out beforehand if the cat is friendly or is shy and hides from strangers. If the cat hides, be sure to find out where her hiding places are so that you can at least check and make sure she’s okay.
Step 2:
Open the door slowly when you arrive, since some cats have a habit of darting out.
Step 3:
Call out the cat’s name. If he doesn’t surface, look in his hiding place to see if he’s there. Don’t coax him into coming out. He’ll come out when and if he’s ready.
Step 4:
Sit down and call the cat over if she doesn't seem fearful. She will probably want to check you out and then maybe sit on your lap. If she sits on your lap, stroke her gently and speak softly in a reassuring voice. If you hear purring, it’s a good sign. Spend a few minutes doing this, since she likely misses her family.
Step 5:
Spend some time playing with the cat to alleviate boredom. Cats enjoy toys they can chase after or swipe at. Playing with them also helps you to bond.
Step 6:
Put food in the cat’s dish as per the owner's instructions and fill the water bowl with fresh water. Cats normally eat when they are hungry; so if he doesn’t eat while you’re there, don’t worry. Feed treats as per the owner's instructions or guidelines on the package.
Step 7:
Scoop out waste from the litter box as well as any clumps of litter and throw in the trash. After a few days, you might want to take the trash out to prevent household odors. Find out from the owner how often the litter needs to be changed. When it’s time, dump out all of the old litter and replace with new.
Step 8:
Leave at least one light on for the cat and to deter burglars. It’s a good idea to rotate the lights. Bring in any mail, newspapers and fliers that have been left outside.
Step 9:
Keep the phone number and address of the cat’s regular veterinarian, as well as the closest animal emergency clinic handy. Also, have a spare house key and make sure a local back-up person has a copy of the key in case an emergency arises and you can't get to the cat.

Tips & Warnings

Know the location of household cleaning products in case of an accident. Cats sometimes go outside of the litter box or vomit due to separation anxiety from their owner being gone.
If you are uncertain about anything, especially when it comes to feeding or administering medication, don’t hesitate to call the owner. Even if they are on a remote island and are holding their calls, they should make an exception for their baby.
Never pick up a cat by the scruff of the neck or by the front legs. Place one hand behind the front legs and your other hand beneath the hindquarters and gently lift up.
Cats sometimes fight over food. If there is more than one cat in the household, check with the owner as to whether this is the case. You may need to make sure they finish eating before you leave, or pick up their food bowls.
If you are asked to let the cat out in the yard for some fresh air, make sure to keep an eye on her at all times.

Photo/Video Credit

Photo by Melissa Maroff

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