In this episode of the podcast we talk about Cat Care options and the different ways you can organise care for your cat when you travel away.
#1. Catteries
Traditionally Catteries would be the only option for people when they were travelling away. If you didn’t know anyone who could come to your home and feed your cat then you would need to house your cat in a facility while you went away.
There are lots of pros and cons to using a Cattery which we have written about before.
#2. Friends of Family Members
If you have friends or family near to you then this is a great option. There is no cost – just remember not to ask them too often and bring them a nice gift back from your holiday!
We have talked about whether a friend makes a good Pet Sitter before as there are pros and cons to this option.
3. Using a Cat Sitter
A Cat Sitter is a great option if you want your cat to stay at home but you don’t want to impose on friends and family by asking them. Your Cat Sitter comes to your home as many times a day as you need them and follows your instructions regarding their care.
Click to download a full explanation of our services and a list of FAQ’s about Our Cat Sitting Services.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cat Sitting.
Who Will My Cat Sitter Be?
Your Cat Sitter will meet with you and your cats prior to using our services. This is your chance to get to know them and make sure that it’s a good match for you.
If for any reason, it wasn’t a good match then we have plenty of other Cat Sitters that are available to take care of your cats and you can meet with someone else.
Will I Get the Same Cat Sitter Each Time?
Your primary Cat Sitter will be the person who takes care of your cats most of the time. If they are sick, on holidays or have a personal emergency then we will always have a backup Cat Sitter that can take care of your cats.
We want your cats to have consistency in their Cat Sitter, but we also realise our Cat Sitters need to take time off sometimes.
One of the benefits of working with a professional Pet Sitting company is that you will never have to worry about whether your Cat Sitter is available as we have lots of Cat Sitters in each area.
My Cats Are Very Nervous and Don’t Like Strangers – Will They Be Ok?
If your cats are nervous we will take the time to get to know them. We would never force them to make friends with us and instead give them time to get to know us.
Most cats will quickly realise we are there to feed and play with them. They get used to the new routine and are happy to see us.
The meet and greet is also a great time for them to see us interacting with you. If they sense that you are happy then they will be more comfortable with us.
A very nervous cat will be much happier in their own home and we do everything to make sure that they have a good experience with us.
My Cat Likes to Hide From Strangers – What Will You Do?
If your cat doesn’t want to come out and play that’s fine. We always closely monitor their water, food, and litter to make sure your cat is eating, drinking and using their litter on a regular basis.
We can check their normal hiding places, but we would never insist that they need to greet us or play with us.
Can You Give Medication to My Cats?
If your cat needs medication while you are away we can give that to them. You can update full instructions regarding their medication onto your online pet care profile.
What If My Cat Gets Sick?
If your cat is sick then we would take them straight to your vet. We require your vet’s details before visits start so we can make sure we know which vet to contact.
We would also be in regular contact with you with updates.
When Can I Meet My Cat Sitter?
Your first opportunity to meet your Cat Sitter is at the Meet and Greet. This happens before any visits are carried out and is your chance to check that the Cat Sitter is a good match for you and your cats.
At the Meet and Greet you and your cats will have a chance to get to know your Cat Sitter, find out a little more about them and make sure everyone is happy.
It’s also a chance for you to go over your pet care instructions – for example, what do you feed your cat, where are the food supplies kept, where do you keep the cleaning supplies, where do we dispose of the cat litter etc.
What Happens If My Cat Sitter Is on Holiday or Sick?
If your Cat Sitter cannot care for your cats for any reason then we will always have a backup in place to make sure your visits can be carried out as normal.
What Time Will My Cat Sitter Visit My Cats?
When you are ready to book a Cat Sitter you can let us know when you need visits and we can create your online booking to match those needs.
You can have as many visits as you need and we operate 24/7 – 365 days per year.
How Long Is a Cat Sitting Visit?
We have 2 options for cat owners.
- A 45-minute visit each day.
- 2 x 20-minute visits, morning and evening.
If you need a combination of the 45-minute and 20-minute visits or you would like more than 2 visits per day then we can put together a custom schedule for you.
We do require cat only household to have at least one visit every day. These requirements are for the health and safety of your cats.
How Will I Know My Cats Have Been Visited?
We monitor all visits via our online booking system. The system uses modern GPS technology to track the arrival and departure of all visits. You will also receive a pet care journal after every visit with pictures of your cats.
If at any stage, you have a query over your visits then you can contact the office at any stage and we will be happy to update you on the status of them.
You can also check via our online system the status of your visits.
Will I Get Updates from My Cat Sitter?
After every visit, we send you a Pet Care journal to let you know that your visits have been completed and your pets are safe and your home is secure. You also receive pictures of your pets as part of the journal.
Will You Play with My Cats When You Visit?
If you have games or toys your cat normally likes to play with then we can play games with them. We can also brush your cat if that is something that you normally do.
We would never force your cat to play if they would prefer to relax and chill out instead.
What If I Need to Extend My Trip or I Am Delayed?
If you need extra visits at the end of your schedule that we can accommodate that.
One of the reasons we never put your keys back through the door on the last visit is just in case you are delayed and need an additional visit.
What If I Want to Ask a Question While I Am Away?
You can contact the office via phone or email at any stage of your trip and someone will be able to assist you.
Do I Need to Give You a Key to My House?
We will need a key to access your home, much like you might give a key to a cleaner or an electrician to carry out their work.
Your key will never be marked with your address and only a secure code system is used. Any details given to us are held on a secure server which only Pet Sitters Ireland can access.
How Much Does a Cat Sitter Cost?
The cost of Cat Sitting visits depends on the time of day and frequency of the visits.
For an up to date quote please contact us on 1800 30 30 10 or email via the contact form and we will be happy to outline the options available to you.
How Do I Book a Cat Sitter?
All bookings can be done online via our website or we can take bookings over the phone at 1800 30 30 10.
If you are booking last minute you will need to call the office to book.
How Can I Pay for My Cat Sitting Visits?
Your visits will be billed via our online booking system and payment can be made online via debit or credit card.
Want to book our Cat Sitting services or have more questions for us? Get in touch today via the website at or call us on 1800 30 30 10.
