Why You Need to Hire a Cat Sitter
Why Hire a Cat Sitter?
Are you debating leaving your cat on her own while you’re traveling? I hope you’ll read this article and think again. The best thing you can do for your cat’s safety and well-being while you’re not around is to hire a cat sitter. Leaving your cat alone while on vacation is not only bad for his emotional and mental health (yes, even if you think your cat doesn’t care if there are people around!)–it’s also a hazard to her physical health and safety.
A professional pet sitter will visit your home at least once a day–the ideal arrangement is for at least two daily visits, though, to keep your cat’s routine as normal as possible. Many of our clients do even more than this, and arrange overnight pet sitting for their lucky feline friends.
Your Cat Does Care if Someone’s There
It’s easy to make the mistake of assuming cats don’t need as much company as dogs or other pets. It’s true that cats bond with humans differently than other pets–but they do bond with us. Maybe your cat seems to prefer alone time, or doesn’t seem too interested in humans. Regardless, your cat is still used to people being home, and may suffer from separation anxiety. The sounds of your footsteps and your voice are a normal part of her environment. When you go away, that environment changes drastically. A human presence in the home will create a safe and familiar environment for your cat. This is so important–many cats will act out when they’re confused about where all the humans went. Common behaviors include scratching household objects and urinating outside the box.
So Much Could Happen (To the Cat)
Because cats are somewhat independent animals, it’s common to assume that a cat will be just fine if you leave enough food and water out. However, so many things could happen while you’re not around. A pet sitter’s regular attention could mean the difference between life and death for your cat.
A cat could become trapped in a cupboard, closet, or bedroom. It’s not too difficult for a cat to accidentally knock a door closed, and become stuck without access to food, water, or a litter box. As a cat sitter, I have on occasion shown up to a visit to find that a cat has gotten stuck behind the wrong door. I shudder to think what would have happened if the owners hadn’t hired a cat sitter. Homes are full of hazards to the unsupervised cat. Hanging plants, paper shredders, dangling cords/wires, and plastic bags are just a few examples.
A cat home alone could also have a medical emergency. The visiting cat sitter has the training and knowledge to recognize most such issues, and will take the time to get your cat veterinary attention if needed.
So Much Could Happen (In Your Home)
As we’ve pointed out before, pet sitters often “double” as house sitters. They’ll bring in your mail, rotate porch lights, and take care of plants. Beyond that, your pet sitter is a constant set of eyes on your home while you’re away. Suppose a minor disaster were to happen in your home while you were away–maybe a pipe bursts, or there’s a power surge. If you don’t have someone stopping by your house regularly, the damage will simply pile on until you’re back from vacation.
Play It Safe: Hire a Cat Sitter
Why take the chance of one, or many, of these things going wrong while you are out of town? You owe it to your cat, and yourself, to hire a reliable, professional pet sitter to look after your home and your feline friend while you’re away. Contact Boulevard Bark to talk about cat sitting rates and scheduling.
