The most useful handover is the one someone can follow when you are not standing beside them. Instead of writing a long description of your cat’s personality, begin with the tasks the sitter will actually need to perform.
Put the routine in order
List feeding, water checks, litter-tray care and other agreed tasks in the order they usually happen. Use the same names for bowls, cupboards and rooms that you use during the walkthrough. “Blue bowl beside the fridge” is clearer than “the usual bowl”.
If your cat has prescribed treatment, give the sitter the veterinary instructions and confirm that they are competent and willing to follow them. Do not leave them to infer a dose from an unlabelled container.
Explain access and exceptions
Show how locks and doors work, which areas must remain closed and where the carrier is stored. Agree on what the sitter should do if they cannot enter the property or cannot find the cat.
Share access details privately and only with the person who needs them. Avoid posting keys, addresses or security instructions in public messages.
Agree on useful updates
Ask for a brief report of completed tasks and anything unusual. A daily photograph may be pleasant, but it should not require disturbing a hidden or resting cat.
- Your number and a backup contact.
- The veterinary practice and emergency-care details.
- The current routine and labelled supplies.
- Permission and arrangements for urgent decisions.
- A plan if your return is delayed.
Finish by asking the sitter to explain the routine back in their own words. This often reveals a missing detail more quickly than adding another page. Keep a dated copy and review it each time your cat’s care changes.
Keep reading: another guide from our pet journal.
