Cat sitting: a guide for pros
What customers ask, how to win the job, and what to put on your profile.
Offering cat sitting
Cat owners hire cat sitters for steady care in familiar surroundings. Your visit log, your litter routine and your medication record are what win trust and repeat bookings.
What customers ask
- Will my cat come out to see you?
- Can you give my cat medication on time?
- How do you clean the litter box?
- Will you send me a photo after each visit?
- What do you do if my cat seems sick?
How to win the job
- On the first call, ask for the cat's age, health, medication, food, litter habits and any hiding or anxiety.
- Visit before the first booked stay so the cat gets used to you, and say how it went.
- Keep a visit log with feeding, litter notes, medication and any change you notice, and send it to the owner.
- Explain how you clean the litter box and what products you use, in plain words.
- Put the visit times, the number of cats, the medication steps and any extras in the quote.
- Confirm the vet the owner wants you to call, and the steps to take first.
What to put on your profile
- Photos of cats in your care, shown with the owner's permission
- A list of your cat services, such as drop-in visits, medication care and litter cleaning
- Your pet first aid training and the date it was completed
- Your insurance status and your emergency plan, described in plain words
- Your visit schedule and the area you cover
Follow-up that helps the customer
- Offer a pre-trip visit to introduce the cat and review the plan
- Suggest a regular visit schedule for a client who travels often
- Offer a grooming or brushing add-on for a cat that needs it during the stay
Licenses and permits
A license is often not required for cat sitting, but rules differ by state and city. Keep your business registration, any local business license your city or county requires, and a current insurance policy, and list your training and insurance on your profile.
Questions
Do I need a license to care for cats in clients' homes?
A license is often not required for cat sitting, but rules differ by state and city. Check your local city or county rules for business licensing and keep your insurance current.
What if a cat goes missing during a visit?
Search the home and the area right away, call the owner, and follow the emergency plan. Keep a record of each step, and contact local animal control or a shelter if the cat is still missing.
Should I give medication to every cat?
Only when the owner has written it on the plan and labeled the medication. If you have a question about a dose or a change in the cat's health, call the owner and the vet before you give anything.
About this guide
This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.
Edit history
- Oct 29, 2026: Drafted by infinibell to our content guidelines.
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