TL;DR: A cat sitter visits your home to feed your cat, clean the litter box, and spend time with them while you are away. Professional sitters also administer medication, send photo updates, and notice early signs of illness or stress. For most cats, in-home care is far less disruptive than boarding.

What does a cat sitter do?

A cat sitter takes care of your cat in their own home while you are away. The core tasks in any cat sitting visit are:

Feeding on the cat's schedule, with the exact portions and food they are used to
Cleaning the litter box so it does not become a problem between visits
Providing company and handling basic interaction; how much depends on the individual cat's personality
Checking for signs of illness or distress and contacting you if something seems off
Administering medication for cats on daily treatments, including insulin injections, eye drops, or oral tablets

Most cat sitters also bring in post, water plants, and send a short message or photo after each visit so you know everything is in order.

What a typical cat sitting visit covers

A standard visit runs 30-60 minutes. The sitter arrives, handles feeding and litter, spends some time with your cat (whether that means active play or simply sitting nearby), checks the water bowl, and notes anything worth flagging to you. The quality of a visit depends on how clearly you have briefed the sitter. Cats with strict feeding windows, medication schedules, or specific anxiety triggers need detailed written instructions. The pet sitter instructions guide has a template you can adapt for cat care. For cats on medication, confirm before booking that the sitter has experience with your specific medication type. Giving an oral tablet to a cooperative cat is different from giving insulin to a diabetic one, and not all sitters have both skills.

How to find a trustworthy cat sitter

The most reliable way to assess a cat sitter before booking is to read their reviews carefully, then arrange a meet-and-greet. Reviews worth trusting describe a specific situation and its outcome: "she noticed my cat had not eaten on day two and messaged me straight away" is meaningful. "Great sitter, very professional" is not. Look for sitters who mention experience with:

Shy or anxious cats: the approach is different from handling a sociable cat, and not all sitters understand the distinction
Cats on medication or special diets
Senior cats with age-related health needs

On Petme, sitters are identity-verified and background-checked before taking bookings, and you can see both reviews and an active social feed showing their current and recent sits. The guide to choosing a trustworthy cat sitter covers the evaluation process in detail.

Questions to ask before booking a cat sitter

A short conversation before confirming any booking tells you more than a profile read alone. The questions worth asking:

How do you handle a cat that hides for most of the visit?
What do you do if the cat refuses to eat?
How and when would you contact me if there was a health concern?
Have you given medication to cats before? What type?
Do you send updates after each visit, and in what form?

A sitter who has thought carefully about what can go wrong is exactly who you want. For situations where a cat is aggressive or difficult to handle, the relevant guide covers specific approaches.

How much does cat sitting cost?

Drop-in visits for cats typically run $15-$30 per visit in the US. Overnight stays, where the sitter stays in your home, cost $50-$100 per night depending on the sitter's experience and your location. Factors that push rates up: urban locations, senior cats with medical needs, multiple cats, and holiday periods. For a full breakdown by visit frequency and your cat's age and health, the guide to cat sitter visits covers the right schedule for different situations.

In-home sitting versus boarding: which is better for your cat?

Most cats do better with in-home sitting. Cats are territorial animals; staying in familiar surroundings with their own scent, food, and routines causes far less stress than being moved to an unfamiliar space. Boarding facilities or a friend's house require the cat to adapt to a new environment, which many cats find genuinely distressing. Boarding makes more sense for cats that are highly social and comfortable with change, or for situations where the owner's home cannot be accessed for a week or more. For most cats, especially shy, anxious, or older ones, the stability of staying home with a visiting sitter is the better welfare choice.

How to prepare for a cat sitter

Good preparation makes the difference between a sitter who manages and one who genuinely keeps your cat settled:

Leave written instructions covering feeding times, exact food amounts, litter box location and cleaning routine, any medications, and emergency contacts
Arrange a brief meet-and-greet before your trip so the sitter is not a stranger on day one
Leave your vet's number and the nearest 24-hour emergency vet
Note any hiding spots and tell the sitter not to be alarmed if the cat does not appear between meals, but to follow up if they do not appear at feeding time
Leave a worn item of clothing near your cat's sleeping area; familiar scent reduces anxiety during your absence

If your cat has specific health needs, the senior cat sitting guide covers additional considerations for older cats and those with ongoing conditions. For a broader preparation checklist, the guide to preparing your cat for a sitter goes through each step.

Frequently asked questions about cat sitters

1. How often should a cat sitter visit?

At least once a day, ideally twice. Healthy adult cats can manage a single daily visit, but twice daily is better for kittens, senior cats, and cats on medication. The longer a cat goes without a check-in, the more time any problem goes unnoticed: an empty water bowl, an overfull litter box, or the early signs of illness. The full breakdown by age and health need is in the cat sitter visits guide.

2. Can I leave my cat alone with just an automatic feeder?

Not for trips longer than 24 hours. Automatic feeders handle food but not litter, water quality, companionship, or health monitoring. A cat that is off their food, unwell, or injured needs a person to notice and respond. For any absence longer than a day, a sitter or trusted person checking in daily is the minimum. Most vets and cat behaviour specialists advise against leaving cats alone for more than 24 hours regardless of feeding automation.

3. How do I introduce my cat to a new sitter?

Arrange a short meet-and-greet before the first solo visit. Ask the sitter to let the cat approach them rather than reaching out immediately. Most cats need a few minutes to decide whether someone is acceptable. If the cat stays hidden throughout the meeting, that is normal for a first encounter and does not mean the sit will fail. What matters is whether the sitter gives the cat space and reads the situation correctly rather than forcing interaction.

4. Should I tip my cat sitter?

It is not expected but is always appreciated, particularly after a long sit, a difficult booking, or if the sitter went beyond the scope of normal care. A tip of 10-15% or a detailed review describing specifically what they did well both mean a lot to a sitter who handled the job properly. If you were happy with the sit, a specific review is often more valuable to the sitter than a cash tip, as it directly improves their visibility for future bookings.

5. Is cat sitting better for my cat than boarding?

For most cats, yes. Cats are territorial and routine-dependent; staying in their own home with a visiting sitter causes less stress than being relocated to a boarding facility or a friend's house with unfamiliar smells and animals. Boarding may suit cats that are unusually sociable and comfortable with change, but for most cats, especially shy, anxious, or older ones, in-home sitting is the better welfare choice.

6. What makes a cat sitter trustworthy?

Specific reviews that describe real situations and outcomes, experience with cats that have medical or behavioral needs, clear communication from the first message, and a willingness to ask questions about your cat rather than just confirming the booking. A sitter who wants to know your cat's routine, food preferences, hiding spots, and what to watch for health-wise is taking the responsibility seriously. One who skips these questions and just confirms availability is not.

Cat sitters 101: what does a cat sitter do?