There’s a reason I would rather come back in my next life as a cat instead of a dog, and yes, it does have to do with the fact that most people would leave me alone unless it was time to feed me. This is where I break out in the opening number from the musical Cats, and remind everyone that the popular phrase, “A cat can look at a king,” exists because cats will treat everyone the same so long as they get the respect in turn.
So, yes, cats tend to be a little less high maintenance than dogs and definitely a little less inclined to please. Cats on average need more sleep than dogs, less daily exercise, and express their happiness in more subtle ways, like head-butts and rubbing against legs. You have to know what you’re looking for when interacting with a cat, while dogs make their mood fairly obvious.
All of this has created a long-held belief that cats do not WANT attention or interaction, and actually don’t miss us when we’re gone. In turn, this has caused people to think they can leave their cat for long periods of time alone in the house without human companionship. We see it all the time in the pet care industry.
From a professional speaking for your cat…they miss you! And in truth, yes, your cat needs a pet sitter everyday when you're gone. Everyday. Oregon State University performed a study showing exactly that; your cat sees you the same way your dog sees you, and forms attachments akin to the bond shown by children to their caretakers.
So now that you are informed, what’s the best way to schedule your pet sitter to come see your cat?
CHOOSING A PET CARE PROFESSIONAL WHO KNOWS CATS
Cats aren’t only subtle about their affection, they’re kind of subtle about everything, including when they’re not feeling well. Because of this, you want someone caring for your cat to be knowledgeable on cat behavior and needs. Hiring a professional pet sitting business is a great option, so long as they have credentials like insurance and have proven to be dedicated to the wellbeing of your cat first and foremost. Use a professional that checks in with photos and detailed reports every single time they are there. That way, you have a visual of how the kitty is doing, and a written record of behaviors in case any behaviors are different or confusing.
Most cats do best staying in their own home, so I always recommend against boarding your feline family member.
FIGURE OUT THEIR ROUTINE AND BOOK ACCORDINGLY
Most of our cat parents who book with us are pretty flexible on times we come by, since with cats, you don’t have to worry about potty accidents in the home. And if this article has convinced you to add at least ONE visit a day for your kitty, that’s a great start. But if we’ve convinced you that your cat deserves more than that, here’s what I would recommend:
First, prioritize routine feeding times and if your kitty needs any medications and what time they get those. When we know a pet needs meds, the time we are scheduled to come by is very strict. Especially with cats, routine with feeding and meds take top priority. Does your cat get food at night or in the morning, or both? Do they get a little snack midday? We love to know all these details! We hear a lot from cat parents who have an automated feeder, and in turn think their cat doesn’t need a daily visit. But I will tell you, almost every time that happens, the automated feeder gets jammed or something happens and we would all hate for our cats to not have access to food because of technology failing. Keep that in mind!
Then, what time(s) do you find they are most active and ready to play? Cats are by default crepuscular, which means they are typically most active at dawn and dusk, but a lot of our cats evolve to the family’s schedule, so things may be a bit different. Pay attention to when your cat is most active to request your pet sitter come by then if it aligns with feeding and meds. That way, your pet sitter can get some good playtime and love after they’ve taken care of things like cleaning the litter box and washing bowls.
Lastly, make sure your cat is getting enough time with their pet sitter to cover all of his/her needs. Again, I will be happy if I convinced someone to add a daily 30-minute visit with their cat while they are out of town, but I would actually suggest longer than that. Because cats need about 30 minutes of exercise spread out over a few sessions daily, one 30-minute visit isn’t going to be particularly engaging for the cat, especially if your sitter has other tasks like cleaning and feeding to take up that time. From a pet professional who is also a major cat lady, I would say two 30-minute visits throughout the day, or one 45-60 minute visit is a fantastic option for cat parents to book.
That’s my spiel, and I hope it helps knowing exactly what your cat needs when you're gone. Now you can smother them in love, and tell them you KNEW they loved you deep down!
–your neighborly Phoenix pet sitters at Hand and Hound Pet Sitting
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