With summer time rapidly approaching, most of you are planning at least one vacation this year. The biggest concern for any pet owner who is leaving town is finding an amazing pet sitter. Personally, I’m the type who wants a photo of my cat, Morty, twice a day. Maybe you’re like me and you have a dog that can come along but worry what to you do with your cat? The reality is, not all cats love to travel.
For me, leaving my cat with just anyone is out of the question. In fact when it comes to finding a pet sitter all my close relationships are scrutinized meticulously. I’ve left my cat with friends, roommates, even my boyfriend and every time, I worry something will get over looked. And for good reason. Last time I went away I noticed the sitter forgot to refill the cat’s water bowl. Now I hide extra water bowls around the house as backup, just in case.
So how can you take a relaxing vacation without having paranoid delusions about your cats safety? What if you don’t have any reliable friends or family who can watch them? What should you look for in a pet sitter? Here are some things I’ve learned you should look for to avoid a bad pet sitting experience.
Good credibility is key.
Before you go and hire the cheapest pet sitter on Craigslist, ask for some references. Qualified pet sitters will always have a list of clients to back up their work. Call and talk with these people to make sure your pet sitter checks out. Also, try asking your vet if they know of any good pet sitters in your area.
Make your level of service clear.
I’m lucky that Morty is relatively low maintenance. Even being a long hair, he can easily go a week without a brushing. But if you have a senior cat who needs medication or a special needs kitty, make sure your cat sitter knows the ins and outs of what they need. Ideally, you want your cat’s routine to be as normal as possible. My biggest fear about leaving Morty is that the pet sitter will dump some food in his bowl twice a day and leave without giving him any attention. If you want to guarantee your cat gets some extra attention while you’re gone, looking into pet sitters that offer play time or even training services depending on how much you want to pamper your fluff while you’re away.
Ask your friends for pet sitter recommendations.
As a self-proclaimed “crazy cat lady” my cat lady friends and I often sit around talking about our cats latest antics. So why not bring up pet sitters? They might have an amazing pet sitter you don’t even know about. A qualified sitter will usually come recommended by fellow pet lovers.
Have an emergency plan in place.
Once you have chosen a pet sitter, talk to them about an emergency plan. Make sure they have your contact and preferred vets information. If your cat is staying out of town, confirm that they have a vet nearby.
Follow these guidelines and you should not only find the perfect pet sitter for you and your furry family, but also enjoy a much needed, stress free vacation.
