If there is a downside to going on vacation, it’s leaving our cats behind. Since cats can experience so much anxiety in new environments, many people choose to leave them at home, asking a friend to stop by at meal times. Asking a friend to help is convenient (and often good for your wallet), but is it what’s best for your cat?
Kasey Kohler, owner of Capital Pawsitting, started her business when she found herself hesitating to leave her immune-compromised cats (who have FeLV) in the care of her friends. “I would have my friends do it but they didn’t have a lot of experience with health issues in animals so it always worried me that they wouldn’t notice if something was wrong until it was too late. I thought about it, and between my experience as a vet assistant and with sick cats at home, I thought those things could bring people comfort in knowing that I would recognize a problem before a random friend or neighbor would.”
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1. They’ll Put More Time and Energy Into Caring For Your Cat
When you hire a friend, you never know quite what you’re going to get. Will they take the time to find your cat if she’s hiding? Will they make an effort to actively engage with her? Or will they simply scoop some food into her bowl then plop down on your couch to watch television for 20 minutes?
When you hire a professional sitter, you’ll get to be a part of a discussion to establish how often they should visit your home, how long they should stay, and what you expect from them. In addition to the basics (feeding, cleaning the litter box), a professional sitter will make sure to get a good visual of your cat to check for any injuries, stress, or behavior red-flags.
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2. You’ll Be Hiring Someone Who Has Made it Their Job to Understand and Love Animals
People generally don’t get into the pet sitting business by accident. They become pet sitters because they love animals and want to devote their lives to spending time with and caring for them. A professional sitter will have the experience to understand your cat’s subtle behavior cues and have the skills to help your cat feel more safe and relaxed in your absence.
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3. Background Checks
Letting someone into your home while you’re away requires an immense amount of trust. Many professional pet sitting businesses perform background checks on prospective employees before hiring.
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4. References and Testimonials
One of the best ways to feel secure about leaving your furbabies behind is to read testimonials and references that rave about how great your new cat sitter is.
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5. Insurance
Most professional pet sitters will carry insurance policies to cover problems in the rare case that something may happen to your home, property, or cat while you are away.
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6. Specialized Training and Experience with Administering Medications
Professional pet sitters will have the training and experience to recognize a problem quicker than the average person, and will know how and when to take action.
Hiring a professional sitter is also a great idea if your cat requires oral medications, injections, or any other kind of specialized care. Many pet sitters are skilled and experienced with many types or procedures and handling techniques.