A cat sitting checklist for a clearer handover

Agree the care arrangement first

Cats Protection recommends preparing daily instructions, emergency and veterinary contacts, and adequate supplies for a cat sitter. It also advises meeting the sitter in advance. The right care arrangement depends on the individual cat, so discuss any special requirements before confirming visits.

Your checklist should record that agreement. A template cannot decide how often your cat needs care or whether a particular provider is suitable.

Source: Cats Protection: Going on holiday without your cat.

Make a simple map of the essentials

You do not need a floor plan. A short location list can save repeated messages: food in one cupboard, bowls in a particular room, litter equipment in a named storage area. Explain any room restrictions and the existing indoor or outdoor arrangement directly with the sitter; do not leave it to inference.

• Food and the owner-provided feeding instructions
• Food bowls and water locations
• Litter trays, litter supply, scoop, and disposal materials
• Carrier and familiar bedding
• Cleaning supplies the sitter is permitted to use
• The current care pack and contact card

Describe what is familiar to this cat

Record the places your cat normally rests and the kinds of interaction the owner has already agreed are appropriate. Use observations: ‘often rests on the chair in the spare room’ helps a visitor orient themselves. Avoid assurances such as ‘always fine alone’ that could replace a proper care discussion.

If there are several cats, identify each clearly. Keep individual food instructions separate and explain any owner-established separation during meals. Label bowls or supplies when that will help prevent confusion.

Define what a visit update contains

Agree a small, repeatable update format. The caregiver can record the visit time, completed tasks, observations, and questions. Do not treat a scheduled visit as completed until someone records it. If a task cannot be completed, record the exception and use the agreed contact route.

Check the handover, then check the return

Before leaving, confirm access with the sitter, walk through the supplies, and resolve every ‘to confirm’ note. Agree what happens if travel dates change or a caregiver becomes unavailable. Keep access codes out of copies sent beyond the intended caregiver.

When you return, review the notes together and update the reusable checklist. For illness, injury, or other urgent health concerns, the caregiver should contact a veterinarian or emergency animal hospital directly, rather than waiting for a journal response.