Finding decent cat help or hiring a pet sitting service can be a difficult decision. After all, leaving your beloved friend in the care of a complete stranger is not an ideal situation. You, like most owners are probably struggling with very common thoughts such as “how will they know if Chunky is hungry? Only I know my cat’s hungry cry!” or “Will my cat sitter know that Meemee loves her treats before bed? She doesn’t sleep well without a treat or two!” These thought are very normal, similar to leaving a child at daycare leaving a cat with a sitter or cat help service is emotional and distressing.
However, it is possible to leave tear-free!
Here are some tips you can use to make sure that your cat sitter or helper is qualified, caring and most importantly compatible with you and your feline friends;
Always ask for referrals. The best way to ensure your pet’s proper treatment is to ask for contact numbers for past clients. When calling make sure to ask all of the questions you have on your mind, the reason behind a referral is to set your mind at ease if you hang up without all the answers you will still be unsure when leaving your pet.
Bring your cat with you when you visit a cat sitter or boarding service. When searching for cat help it is imperative that you do so with your cat in tow. By bringing your pet along you can see first hand how well the sitters or caregivers interact with your cat. If they seem less than enthusiastic about your visit or your cat, you may want to consider alternative arrangements.
Make sure to ask a sitter about their own pets. If they grin and beam with pride or reach into their wallet to show you pictures of their own beloved beasts then you can rest assured they are true animal lovers. If they say they don’t have any animals of their own or show no signs of emotional connection, then they may not be the right cat help for you.