My cat Miso once went on a hunger strike for three days because I hired the wrong person (cat sitter) to look after her.
The sitter was perfectly nice. She came highly recommended by a neighbor, showed up on time, and left detailed notes. But something about the whole setup stressed Miso out so badly that she hid under the bed for the entire four days I was gone and barely touched her food.
When I got home, Miso stared at me like I’d personally betrayed her. And honestly? I felt like I had.
After that trip, I got serious about finding someone who actually understood cats — not just someone who was available and willing. Because there’s a massive difference between a person who likes animals and a person who genuinely gets cats.
Cats are not small dogs. They don’t respond to enthusiasm. They don’t warm up to strangers quickly. They have routines, preferences, invisible boundaries, and opinions about everything — including who is allowed in their personal space and when.
The wrong sitter doesn’t just inconvenience your cat. It genuinely stresses them out, which can affect their appetite, their litter box habits, and their immune system. That’s not dramatic — that’s just cat biology.
So here’s what I learned, mostly through getting it wrong first.
Sign #1: They Ask Questions Before You Even Hire Them
The first time I found a great cat sitter, I knew it within the first five minutes of conversation — because she asked me more questions than I asked her.
She wanted to know Miso’s routine. What time she normally eats. Whether she liked to be picked up or preferred being left alone. What her hiding spots were. Whether she had any health issues. What her litter situation was. Whether she was an indoor-only cat or had any access to the outside.
That level of curiosity before even discussing pay told me everything I needed to know about how she’d treat Miso when I wasn’t there.
A bad sitter shows up and asks where the food is. A good sitter shows up wanting to understand your specific cat as an individual.
What to look for: During your first conversation or meet-and-greet, a great cat sitter will naturally start asking about your cat’s personality and routine. If you’re the only one asking questions, that’s worth noting.
Sign #2: They Let Your Cat Set the Pace During the Meet-and-Greet
Always, always do a meet-and-greet before committing to anything. This is non-negotiable.
And pay close attention to how the sitter behaves when they first encounter your cat.
An inexperienced person will often immediately try to approach the cat, make eye contact, reach out to pet them, or call them over. This reads as threatening to most cats, especially shy or anxious ones. It’s the human equivalent of a stranger walking up to you and immediately going in for a hug.
A great cat sitter will sit down, make themselves small, look away, maybe extend a hand and let the cat come to them on their own terms. They’ll talk quietly. They won’t force anything.
When my current sitter came to meet Miso, she sat on the floor near the door and basically ignored her for ten minutes. Miso — who famously hates everyone — walked over and sniffed her hand within fifteen minutes. That had never happened before with a stranger.
I hired her on the spot.
Practical tip: Schedule the meet-and-greet when your cat is likely to be somewhat active — not right after a meal when they’ll just want to sleep, and not at a stressful time like right after a vet visit. Give it at least 30–45 minutes so your cat has time to actually respond.
Sign #3: They’re Comfortable with Cat Body Language
You don’t need to quiz your sitter on cat behavior theory. But the good ones just know things.
They notice when a tail is puffed up versus relaxed. They don’t try to pet a cat whose ears are flat. They understand that slow blinking is a sign of trust and return it. They know the difference between a cat who wants attention and a cat who’s tolerating attention and is two seconds from swatting.
I had a sitter once who kept trying to pick up my previous cat, Mochi, even after Mochi made it abundantly clear she didn’t want to be held. The sitter thought she was being affectionate. Mochi thought she was being terrorized. Mochi spent the whole weekend behind the washing machine.
A sitter who reads body language correctly is a sitter who will actually respect your cat — which is the entire point.
How to test this: During the meet-and-greet, watch what they notice. Do they comment on your cat’s behavior? Do they back off when the cat shows stress signals? Do they seem to understand what your cat is communicating without you having to explain it?
Read More: Take Care Of A Kitten When You Work
Sign #4: They Send Updates Without You Having to Ask
When you’re away — especially for the first time with a new sitter — the anxiety is real. You’re in a meeting or at a dinner table in another city and you’re wondering if your cat is eating, if she’s hiding, if she’s okay.
A great cat sitter understands this without being told.
They’ll send a photo of your cat eating breakfast. A short video of her playing. A quick message that says “She was waiting by the food bowl when I arrived — good sign.” It doesn’t have to be constant updates. It just has to be enough for you to relax.
My current sitter sends me two updates a day without fail. One in the morning and one in the evening. She knows what to photograph — Miso eating, Miso in her favorite window spot, Miso doing literally anything that proves she’s alive and not hiding under the bed.
That’s not just good customer service. That’s a person who actually cares.
Platforms worth knowing: Rover and Wag both have built-in messaging and photo-sharing features within their apps. If you’re booking through either platform, you can request that updates be sent through the app so everything is documented in one place. Some sitters also use WhatsApp or iMessage for a more direct line — totally fine as long as you’re both comfortable with it.
Sign #5: They Take the Routine Seriously
Cats are creatures of habit in a way that’s genuinely hard to overstate.
Miso eats at 7:30 AM and 6:00 PM. Not 8:00 AM. Not 6:30 PM. If her schedule shifts by more than 30 minutes, she gets anxious — and an anxious Miso means a stressed immune system, and a stressed immune system means a vet visit I didn’t budget for.
A great cat sitter doesn’t treat the schedule as a rough guideline. They treat it like what it is: part of your cat’s health management.
They’ll also stick to the same litter-cleaning routine, the same feeding spot, the same everything. Cats notice when things are different. Keeping things consistent is one of the most important things a sitter can do.
Mistake I made: I once assumed a sitter would just “figure it out” and didn’t leave detailed enough instructions. I didn’t write down feeding times, litter preferences, or which toys Miso liked. The sitter did her best but was essentially guessing. Write it all down. Every single detail. The more information you give a good sitter, the better job they can do.
Sign #6: They Know What a Real Emergency Looks Like
This one doesn’t come up often — but when it does, it matters enormously.
A good cat sitter knows the difference between “the cat is being dramatic and hiding” and “something is actually wrong with this cat.” They know the warning signs that require a vet call: not eating for more than 24 hours, lethargy that seems unusual for the cat, difficulty breathing, vomiting more than once or twice, straining in the litter box, or visible distress.
Before any trip, go through emergency protocols with your sitter. Give them your vet’s name and number. Give them the address of the nearest emergency animal clinic. Explicitly authorize them in writing to take your cat to the vet and approve emergency treatment if they can’t reach you.
A good sitter will ask about this themselves. A great one will want to know your vet’s name during the first conversation.
One thing most people forget: Make sure your contact information is up to date at your vet’s office and that your sitter is listed as an authorized person to bring your cat in. Some clinics won’t see a pet brought in by a non-owner without prior authorization on file.
Sign #7: Your Cat Is Actually Okay When You Get Back
I know this one sounds obvious. But hear me out — because “okay” means more than just alive.
A well-cared-for cat comes home from a sitting situation (or greets you back from a trip) with their normal appetite intact, their litter box habits unchanged, and their behavior relatively normal within a day or two. Some readjustment is natural after any change in routine. But if your cat is hiding for days, refusing to eat, or showing signs of stress well after you’ve returned, something about the sitting experience wasn’t right for them.
After my disastrous first sitter experience with Miso, it took almost a week for her to get back to normal. After my current sitter watches her for a long weekend, Miso is basically back to herself within half a day. That difference is entirely down to the quality of care and whether the cat felt safe during the whole experience.
Keep an eye on your cat for the first few days after you return. Normal behavior is a quiet sign that you’ve found someone worth keeping.
How to Actually Find This Person
Great cat sitters are out there. Here’s where to look:
Rover — the most widely used pet sitting platform. You can filter by experience with cats specifically, read detailed profiles, check reviews, and message sitters before booking. Look for profiles that mention specific cat experience (not just “I love all animals”) and read reviews from other cat owners carefully.
Nextdoor — genuinely underrated for this. Local recommendations from actual neighbors who have used a sitter are more trustworthy than anonymous platform reviews. Search for “cat sitter” in your neighborhood feed.
Your vet’s office — ask if they have a recommendation list or bulletin board. Vets often know good local sitters, and a sitter who has a relationship with a vet clinic is already a green flag.
Personal referrals — still the gold standard. If someone you trust has a cat and a cat sitter they love, that recommendation is worth more than fifty online reviews.
A Few Mistakes Worth Skipping
- Not doing a trial run. Before a long trip, book your sitter for a shorter one — even just an overnight. See how your cat responds, how the sitter communicates, and whether the whole thing works before you’re away for two weeks.
- Choosing based on price alone. The cheapest option is rarely the best option for something this important. Look for value — a slightly higher rate from someone experienced with cats is almost always worth it.
- Forgetting to leave written instructions. Verbal instructions get forgotten. Leave a printed or written sheet with feeding times, food amounts, litter instructions, behavioral quirks, emergency contacts, and vet authorization. A good sitter will appreciate it.
- Skipping the meet-and-greet because you’re in a hurry. This step is never optional. Your cat’s reaction to the sitter tells you more than the sitter’s reviews ever will.
Read More: 10 Easy Homemade Cat Food Recipes
The Bottom Line
Finding a great cat sitter takes a little more effort than just clicking “book” on whoever has availability. But when you find the right person — someone who genuinely understands cats, respects your specific cat as an individual, and communicates proactively — the difference is night and day.
For your cat. And honestly, for your own peace of mind when you’re away.
Miso still hides when new people come over. She still has opinions about everything. But when my sitter walks in now, she walks out from behind the couch within five minutes.
That tells me everything I need to know.
FAQ
Q: What is a cat sitter?
A cat sitter is someone who looks after your cat while you’re away — either visiting your home once or twice a day to feed, play, and clean the litter box, or staying overnight. They provide care in a familiar environment so your cat stays comfortable and stress-free.
Q: How much is a cat sitter per week?
A cat sitter typically costs $15 to $30 per visit in the US, which works out to roughly $100 to $200 per week for once-daily visits. Overnight stays or multiple daily visits cost more, and rates vary by location, experience, and platform — Rover and Wag are good places to compare local pricing.
Q: What should a cat sitter do?
A cat sitter should feed your cat on schedule, refresh water, clean the litter box, spend quality time with the cat, and send you regular updates with photos. They should also watch for any signs of illness or unusual behavior and know when to contact you or your vet.
Q: Is it safe to use a cat sitter?
Yes — using a reputable, vetted cat sitter is generally very safe for your cat. Always do a meet-and-greet first, check reviews, and use trusted platforms like Rover that offer background checks. Leaving written care instructions and emergency vet authorization adds an extra layer of protection.
Q: What are the red flags in a pet sitter?
Watch out for sitters who ask no questions about your cat, seem uncomfortable around animals, show up late to the meet-and-greet, or give vague answers about their experience. Other red flags include no reviews, no references, and reluctance to provide emergency vet contact procedures.
Q: Can anyone be a cat sitter?
Technically yes — there’s no formal license required in most places. But a truly good cat sitter has hands-on experience with cats specifically, understands cat body language, and knows how to handle emergencies. Platforms like Rover let sitters build verified profiles with reviews, which helps filter for quality.
Q: What are the risks of pet sitting?
The main risks include your pet experiencing stress from a change in routine, an inexperienced sitter missing signs of illness, or miscommunication about care instructions. These risks are significantly reduced by hiring an experienced sitter, leaving detailed written instructions, and authorizing vet care in advance.
Q: What is the silent killer of cats?
Chronic kidney disease is often called the silent killer of cats — it progresses slowly with few obvious symptoms until it’s quite advanced. Other silent threats include hyperthyroidism, diabetes, and heart disease. Regular vet check-ups are the best way to catch these conditions early.
Q: Is it safe to have a cat sitter come to your home?
Yes, having a cat sitter come to your home is generally safer than boarding your cat at a facility — cats are territorial and do much better in their own environment. Use a trusted platform with background-checked sitters, do a trial visit before your trip, and always inform a neighbor or friend that someone will be entering your home.
