Cat Sitter Checklist: Feeding, Litter, Medication and Emergency Instructions

A useful cat sitter checklist should allow another person to care for your cat without guessing. Before you leave, write down exactly what your cat eats, when they are fed, where water and litter boxes are located, how medication is given, what behaviour is normal, who to contact in an emergency and where essential supplies are kept.

Keep the routine as familiar as practical. Cats often cope better when food, litter, resting places and normal human interactions remain predictable while their caregiver is away. The sitter should also know what changes would be unusual enough to contact you or your veterinarian.

Quick Answer

Before leaving your cat with a sitter, provide written instructions covering food portions and meal times, fresh water, litter-box care, medication, play and social preferences, indoor/outdoor rules, veterinary contacts, emergency authorization and your travel details. Show the sitter where food, litter, cleaning supplies, medication and the cat carrier are kept, and identify any behaviour or health changes that should trigger a call.

Why Written Cat-Sitter Instructions Matter

A verbal handover is easy to forget once you are away.

AAHA recommends giving pet sitters both a pet profile and clear instructions about the animal’s daily routine. Useful details include feeding amounts, medication administration, litter-box care and the location of supplies.

Written instructions are particularly important when:

the sitter does not know your cat well
more than one cat lives in the home
medication is required
the cat has a medical condition
food portions differ between cats
the cat is allowed outdoors under specific rules
you may be difficult to contact while travelling

Choose and Meet the Sitter Before You Leave

If the sitter is new to your household, arrange a visit before the trip.

Show them:

where the cat normally eats
water locations
litter boxes
favorite resting and hiding places
food and litter storage
medication
cleaning supplies
the cat carrier
doors or rooms with special access rules

Cats Protection recommends meeting a prospective sitter in advance and making sure they understand the individual cat’s needs, particularly when medication or special care is involved.

Write Down the Feeding Routine

Do not simply write “feed twice a day.”

Record:

food brand and exact product
wet, dry or mixed feeding
amount per meal
meal times
treat allowance
where food is stored
which bowl belongs to which cat
whether cats need to eat separately

If your cat follows a veterinary diet, make that clear and tell the sitter not to substitute foods without veterinary direction.

Record What Normal Appetite Looks Like

A sitter needs context to recognize a meaningful change.

Write down whether your cat normally:

finishes food immediately
eats slowly over time
prefers several smaller meals
needs privacy to eat
occasionally leaves some food

A sudden decline in appetite may be more important than whether the bowl is completely empty.

Explain the Water Routine

Show the sitter every normal water source.

Record whether your cat uses:

a standard bowl
several bowls
a water fountain
water added to food under an established feeding plan

Fresh water should remain available unless a veterinarian has given a specific medical instruction. Do not ask a sitter to restrict water to reduce litter-box use.

Give Clear Litter-Box Instructions

Cats Protection includes litter location and cleaning instructions as core information for cat sitters.

Show the sitter:

where every litter box is located
where clean litter is stored
where the scoop is kept
how waste should be disposed of
how often each box is normally scooped
whether a full litter change will be needed

If more than one cat shares the home, explain which toileting patterns are normal where possible.

A sitter should not have to search the house for a litter box after an accident occurs.

Tell the Sitter What Urine and Stool Changes Matter

Ask the sitter to tell you about significant changes such as:

no obvious urine being produced
repeated trips to the litter box
straining
blood in urine or stool
new diarrhea
repeated constipation signs
urination or defecation outside the box when unusual for your cat

Repeated attempts to urinate with little or no urine require urgent veterinary attention.

Prepare Medication Instructions Carefully

For every prescription medication, write down:

medication name
the prescribed amount
administration time
frequency
how your veterinarian instructed it to be given
where it is stored
whether refrigeration is required
what to do if a dose cannot be given

Do not ask the sitter to change a dose, double a missed dose or improvise medication instructions.

If your cat is difficult to medicate, practice the handover before the trip and confirm that the sitter is comfortable performing the task.

List Every Relevant Medical Condition

The sitter should know about conditions that may affect daily care or emergency decisions.

Examples include:

diabetes
kidney disease
hyperthyroidism
heart disease
arthritis
seizure disorders
urinary disease
food allergies
recent surgery or illness

Do not expect a sitter to diagnose disease. Their role is to notice when the cat differs from the baseline you described and follow the contact plan.

Describe Your Cat’s Normal Behaviour

A sitter may otherwise misinterpret normal hiding as illness or dismiss an unusual withdrawal as personality.

Tell them whether your cat normally:

greets visitors
hides from unfamiliar people
enjoys petting
dislikes being picked up
plays actively
sleeps in specific rooms
hisses when frightened
is likely to approach the door

For help explaining feline signals, you can link the sitter to Pawnium’s Cat Body Language Guide.

Do Not Force a Shy Cat Out of Hiding

A shy cat may remain under a bed, inside a box or in another familiar safe location when a sitter visits.

Cats Protection specifically notes that shy cats may prefer to remain hidden.

The sitter should confirm the cat’s wellbeing without chasing or forcibly pulling them from a safe hiding place unless there is a genuine emergency.

Instead, look for indirect evidence where appropriate:

food eaten
water use
litter-box activity
movement between known resting locations

Explain Play and Social Preferences

Maintaining familiar social interaction can make the sitter’s visits more predictable.

Write down:

favorite toys
usual play time
whether the cat enjoys brushing
where the cat likes to be petted
behaviors that mean the cat wants interaction to stop

Do not leave string, yarn, ribbon or wand toys available for unsupervised play if they can create an entanglement or ingestion risk.

FelineVMA recommends positive, predictable human interaction suited to the individual cat’s preferences. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

Keep the Home Routine Predictable

Try to preserve the normal arrangement of:

food
water
litter boxes
beds
scratchers
hiding places

FelineVMA notes that cats generally prefer familiar spaces and that unfamiliar smells, sights and sounds can be stressful. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}

A holiday is not an ideal time for the sitter to rearrange the cat’s environment unnecessarily.

Write Down Indoor and Outdoor Rules

Do not leave this decision to the sitter.

Clearly state whether the cat:

must remain indoors
normally uses a secure catio
uses a cat flap
has established supervised outdoor access

If you want the cat kept indoors while you are away, state that explicitly.

If normal outdoor access will continue, explain the exact routine and what to do if the cat does not return as expected.

Prepare for a Missing-Cat Emergency

Give the sitter:

a recent clear photo
microchip number
microchip database information
your current contact details
backup contact details
usual hiding places
instructions not to delay contacting you

The 2025 Cats Protection sitter checklist specifically includes microchip number and database information. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}

If an escape occurs, the sitter can also use Pawnium’s What to Do If Your Cat Gets Lost guide.

Show the Sitter Where the Carrier Is

The cat carrier should be easy to locate in an emergency.

Do not leave it buried in a garage, attic or storage room where the sitter cannot find it quickly.

Show the sitter:

where the carrier is stored
how the door or latches work
which carrier belongs to each cat
how your cat normally enters it

If carrier entry is difficult, Pawnium’s Cat Carrier Training Guide can help improve this skill before future trips.

Provide Your Veterinarian’s Information

Write down:

clinic name
address
telephone number
normal opening hours
after-hours emergency clinic

Tell your veterinary practice who will be caring for the cat if the cat has important ongoing medical needs.

Decide Who Can Authorize Veterinary Treatment

Do not assume your sitter can automatically consent to treatment on your behalf.

Before travelling, ask your veterinary clinic what authorization it requires.

Your written emergency plan can include:

your primary phone number
your destination or time zone if relevant
a backup decision-maker
who may authorize veterinary treatment
how emergency costs will be handled

AAHA specifically recommends planning emergency decision-making and financial arrangements when a caregiver will be unavailable. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}

Leave a Backup Contact

You may be:

on a flight
in a different time zone
without mobile reception
temporarily unavailable

Give the sitter a trusted second contact who knows the cat and can respond promptly.

Confirm that the backup person knows they have been nominated.

Tell the Sitter What Counts as an Emergency

Your sitter does not need to diagnose the cat, but they should know which signs should not wait for your reply.

Seek urgent veterinary help for signs such as:

obvious difficulty breathing
open-mouth breathing or respiratory distress
collapse or unresponsiveness
seizure activity
major trauma
uncontrolled bleeding
suspected poisoning
repeated attempts to urinate with little or no urine

Other new changes such as persistent vomiting, diarrhea, refusal to eat, marked lethargy or pain should prompt veterinary advice rather than being dismissed because the owner is away.

Use Your Cat’s Normal Baseline

A written baseline is more useful than telling the sitter simply to “watch for illness.”

Record what is normal for:

appetite
water intake
urination
stool
vomiting frequency if any
activity
mobility
grooming
social behavior
sleeping locations

Pawnium’s Cat Health Check at Home can help you document the cat’s baseline before you leave.

Multi-Cat Household Instructions

Do not give one generic set of instructions if the cats have different needs.

For each cat, record:

name and photo
food
portion
medication
normal behaviour
preferred sleeping location
handling preferences

AAHA specifically advises identifying individual pets clearly in multi-pet households so the sitter does not confuse them. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}

Also explain if cats must eat separately or if one cat is likely to steal another’s food.

Senior Cats and Cats With Medical Needs May Need More Support

A standard brief visit may not suit every cat.

Very young cats, senior cats and cats with medical conditions may require more frequent observation or specialized care.

Cats Protection notes that young, older or medically affected cats may need more frequent visits than the typical routine. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}

Before booking, confirm that the sitter can safely perform every required task.

Home Information the Sitter Also Needs

The sitter should know enough about the house to care for the cat safely.

Record:

entry instructions
alarm information where appropriate
rooms the cat must not enter
where cleaning supplies are stored
trash and litter-waste disposal
thermostat or heating instructions
where spare keys are kept, if relevant

Do not leave dangerous household products accessible simply because someone will visit daily.

Ask for a Simple Daily Update

Agree on what type of update you want before leaving.

A short daily message can record:

cat seen
food eaten
fresh water provided
litter box checked
medication given
play or interaction
anything unusual

This is more useful than receiving only a photo with no information about eating, toileting or medication.

Cat Sitter Handover Sheet

Information	Details
Cat name	____________________________
Photo provided	Yes / No
Owner phone	____________________________
Travel location / time zone	____________________________
Backup contact	____________________________
Veterinarian	____________________________
Emergency clinic	____________________________
Microchip number	____________________________
Microchip database	____________________________
Food	____________________________
Amount per meal	____________________________
Meal times	____________________________
Water locations	____________________________
Litter-box locations	____________________________
Litter routine	____________________________
Medication	____________________________
Medication times	____________________________
Medical conditions	____________________________
Normal behaviour	____________________________
Favorite hiding places	____________________________
Indoor/outdoor rule	____________________________
Carrier location	____________________________
Emergency authorization	____________________________

Printable Cat Sitter Checklist

Before You Leave

☐ Meet the sitter in the home
☐ Provide keys/access instructions
☐ Confirm visit schedule
☐ Leave your travel contact information
☐ Provide a backup contact
☐ Provide veterinarian and emergency-clinic details
☐ Confirm emergency treatment authorization
☐ Update microchip contact details
☐ Provide a recent photo of each cat

Food and Water

☐ Enough familiar food for the whole trip
☐ Exact meal portions
☐ Feeding times
☐ Treat rules
☐ Separate-feeding instructions if needed
☐ Water locations
☐ Food and bowl locations shown

Litter

☐ All litter boxes shown
☐ Enough litter supplied
☐ Scoop location shown
☐ Scooping routine explained
☐ Waste-disposal instructions supplied

Medication and Health

☐ Medication provided
☐ Written veterinarian-prescribed instructions
☐ Storage instructions
☐ Medical conditions documented
☐ Normal appetite documented
☐ Normal litter habits documented
☐ Emergency signs discussed

Behaviour and Routine

☐ Normal personality explained
☐ Hiding places shown
☐ Handling preferences explained
☐ Favorite toys identified
☐ Play routine explained
☐ Indoor/outdoor rules written down
☐ Escape risk explained

Emergency Preparation

☐ Carrier location shown
☐ Carrier checked and usable
☐ Veterinarian number saved
☐ Emergency clinic number saved
☐ Backup contact confirmed
☐ Missing-cat plan provided

Cat Sitter or Boarding Facility?

Home sitting can suit cats that prefer familiar surroundings and predictable territory, while a professionally run boarding facility may be more appropriate in other situations.

The choice depends on:

the individual cat
medical requirements
how frequently the sitter can visit
security of the home
whether specialized care is needed

If you are comparing the options, use Pawnium’s Cat Boarding Checklist as well.

FAQs

What information should I leave for a cat sitter?

Provide feeding amounts and times, water locations, litter instructions, medication details, behavior and handling notes, indoor/outdoor rules, veterinarian and emergency-clinic contacts, your travel contact details, a backup contact and instructions for emergency authorization.

How often should a cat sitter visit?

The appropriate frequency depends on the individual cat. Cats Protection recommends at least twice-daily visits for typical home care and notes that very young, older or medically affected cats may need more frequent attention. Individual health and medication needs can require a different plan. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}

Should I leave my cat sitter the microchip number?

Yes. Current Cats Protection sitter guidance includes the cat’s microchip number and database information. Keeping these details available can save time if the cat escapes or is found away from home. :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}

Should the sitter know where the carrier is?

Yes. The carrier should be easy to locate in case the cat needs veterinary care or emergency evacuation. Make sure the sitter knows how it opens and closes before you leave.

Can my cat sitter give medication?

Only if the sitter is comfortable and capable of following the veterinarian’s instructions. Provide the prescribed medication, exact directions and veterinary contact details. For complex treatment, consider a sitter with appropriate experience or another care arrangement.

What if my cat hides from the sitter?

Do not ask the sitter to drag a shy cat out of hiding. Explain your cat’s usual hiding places and how to verify eating, drinking and litter use. A major change from the cat’s normal behavior or inability to confirm their wellbeing should trigger contact with you.

Bottom Line

A strong cat sitter checklist removes uncertainty.

Leave exact feeding, water, litter, medication and routine instructions; describe what normal behavior looks like; show the sitter where supplies and the carrier are stored; and provide veterinary, emergency and backup contacts.

The most useful handover is not the longest one. It is the one that lets the sitter quickly answer three questions: What should I do today? What is normal for this cat? What should I do if something goes wrong?