How to find the right cat sitter in Northamptonshire

July 7, 2021

If you’ve booked a summer holiday but haven’t made arrangements for your cat yet, our head nurse has some advice for you.

Read all about homecare options below and download our handy checklist to help you remember what you need to do before you depart.

Download our cat holiday checklist

There are some excellent catteries in Northamptonshire but not all cats do well away from home. Stay-at-home cat care is an increasingly popular option but it’s important to get the details right for your cat. These are your homecare options:

  • Daily visits can be carried out by a friend, neighbour or professional cat sitter. They’ll need to take care of your cat’s basic needs and ideally spend time with them too. Family members are a great option as your cat will likely be comfortable in their presence.
  • Live-in care is a more focussed version of daily visits. It may be the better option if you have an anxious cat, they’re on medication, or you have several pets. Your pet(s) will have company at various times of the day and their routine can remain relatively unchanged.

You’ll feel better while you’re away if someone trustworthy and knowledgeable is looking after your cat and is checking your home is secure.

Top tip – Our head nurse recommends getting your cat microchipped before you go away (if they’re not already), in case they go missing. Add your cat sitter’s details to your microchip account online so they can talk to animal care professionals on your behalf. Book a microchip appointment.

What your cat needs when you’re on holiday

When looking for a cat sitter, we advise that you should check they’re able and willing to take care of the following:

  • Regular visits at least twice daily.
  • Your cat’s food & routine should be the same as if you were at home.
  • An abundant supply of fresh water must always be available.
  • Litter trays should be cleaned twice daily, especially during warm weather.
  • Quality time spent playing or simply being with your cat.
  • Flea & worm products applying or medication administering if required, and a trip to our vet practice if there’s a problem…

Common cat health issues that need a vet’s attention: male cats having issues urinating, deep scratches or animal bites, vomiting & diarrhoea for over 24 hours, heatstroke, breathing difficulties, not eating, swelling on the face or throat, eye injuries, severe or uncontrollable bleeding, poisoning, severe pain or a suspected fracture, seizure or collapse. You may want to print this for your sitter.

If it isn’t someone you know personally and you’re choosing a professional cat sitter, we recommend asking them about:

  • References – Are they able to provide details of a few other people they have sat for?
  • Insurance – Professional cat sitters should be insured – ask to check their documents.
  • First Aid – Do they know pet first aid and the signs to look out for if your cat is unwell?

Now that you know what to look for in a cat holiday sitter, all that’s left to do is make sure you and your cat are ready for when you go away. Our cat holiday checklist can help you with this – download now.

If you have any tips of your own, you can always post a comment on our Facebook page to help other cat owners too.

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