Pet Sitter Handoff: Cat Care Instructions That Actually Get Followed
Leave sitters a clear cat care sheet: feeding, meds, litter, emergencies, and vet contacts. What to put in writing before you travel.
Sitters want to help. They fail when instructions live in three texts and a voice memo. A one-page handoff plus a shared log prevents missed doses and mystery litter box changes while you are away.
Before you leave: home walkthrough (15 minutes)
Show in person or on video:
- Food location, measuring cup, and exact portions
- Where treats are allowed (or not)
- Litter box location, scoop routine, and trash path
- Safe rooms (basement off, guest room open)
- Carrier location and how your cat enters it
Cats stress when furniture moves. Tell sitters what not to rearrange.
The one-page care sheet
Print or pin in Notes. Include:
Cat profile
- Name, age, microchip number if any
- Photo (helps if door slips)
- Shy or social with strangers
- Indoor only or supervised outdoor (usually indoor only)
Feeding
- Brand, wet/dry split, times
- Allergies or forbidden human foods
- “If she does not eat” threshold (e.g. call if 24h refusal)
Water
- Bowl vs fountain, filter change date if relevant
Medication
- Drug name, dose, time, with food or not
- What to do if a dose is missed
- Pill pockets or compounding notes
Litter
- Scoop frequency you expect
- Sign of trouble (straining, blood, outside box)
Play and stress
- Favorite toy, hideout, Feliway plug location
- Maximum alone hours before welfare check if multi-day
Emergency block (non-negotiable)
- Your cell and backup contact
- Veterinary clinic name, address, phone, account number
- Emergency / overnight clinic if primary is closed
- Authorization cap for urgent care (dollar range you approve)
- Pet insurance policy number if you have one
Say explicitly: call the vet if eating stops, breathing looks labored, or hiding is extreme.
Multi-cat homes: separate lines per cat
Never “feed the cats.” Use a table:
| Cat | Food | Meds | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Name | 1/4 cup 7am | none | hides under bed |
Separate bowls in separate spots if food stealing is an issue.
Daily sitter log (low effort)
Ask for one message per visit or a shared note:
- Ate yes/no and amount
- Litter normal / abnormal
- Mood one word
- Photo optional
You spot trends from the airport lounge without interrogating the sitter.
Keys, alarms, and cameras
- Spare key location or lock code with expiry
- Alarm codes and which sensors to bypass for cat motion
- If cameras exist, disclose them for sitter comfort and legality
Trust works both ways.
Return home: debrief without blame
First hour back:
- Read the log before changing food
- Note weight if you weigh weekly
- Thank sitter with specifics (“the med chart helped”)
Update the handoff sheet with anything that confused them for next trip.
Good instructions respect the cat and the human doing you a favor. Clarity is kindness.