Cat-sitters and Cat-owners – Top Tips from Vet Matthew Bayliss

Many of our members have asked us to follow up our commentary about making a home dog friendly. Others have asked for specialist commentary on a cat related information for cat-sitters and cat owners. We have written this article from the point of view of helping cat-sitters and others who care for cats. Ands we have consulted with Vet Matthew Bayliss on some scientific and veterinary advice.

Vet’s Tips for cat-sitters – Cat body language

We thought we might start by considering cat behaviours. Cat-sitters and cat owners all over will recognise some of these actions and postures.  These tips from our Vet Matthew Bayliss may help us understand our own feline friends.

It is worth remembering as our Vet Matthew Bayliss has commented:

Cats and Dogs are creatures of habit, and if anything changes in their day to day routines they can become quite nervous.

Naturally this is not true of all pets. However, for cat-sitters and dog-sitters unfamiliar with their new charges it is worth noting.  And whether you are a pet owner preparing your pets for your absence, or a cat-sitter ready to take on the responsibility read on with care.

Watch the body language

One of the best ways to determine a pet’s reaction to something is by watching the body language. Ever wondered what your cat’s body language says? Cat sitters and watchers in particular may be familiar with the fact that our feline friends use a wide range of signals to convey their feelings and intentions physically.

So whether you are introducing a new toy, new food or even new people and pets to their eco-system a cats body language includes a variety of postures, facial expressions and vocalisations that will tell you what is going through their mind.

By paying attention and taking the time to learn to read these communications you’ll be able to get a better idea of what’s on your cats mind. Sainsbury’s Bank Money Matters have kindly shared a useful infographic to help you interpret these cat behaviours. Check at the end of this blog for their handy guide.

Manage a pet meet and greet

Some cats are always shy around new cat-sitters, strangers and newcomers to their home environment. If you are organising a cat-sitter or house-sitters to care for them it is best to have time before you leave, for either a ‘meet and greet’ or a day or so when you are altogether before you leave on your trip.

Stick to the cat sitting routines

Many rescue cats are particularly anxious around people and other animals they do not know. Experienced cat-sitters can help to manage the anxiety they experience. One way to do this is to keep everything else as close to the usual routine as possible in the owner’s  absence.

• Keep them at home in their own environment
• Ensure the food and treats stay the same with a regular feeding pattern
• Brush them as often as they are used to
• Change the cat litter exactly as the owner describes.

Cat sitters can monitor the pets to detect any signs of a sick cat

Although most cats can easily hide signs of illness, some signs are unmistakable.

• Off their food and have stopped eating
• Not drinking water
• Lying down and lethargic
• Sleeping all the time
• Very limited movement.

If you suspect these are different behaviours to their usual activities then call the vet.

Cat sitters learn what is normal inquisitive cat behaviour

Chloe the Persian Kitten is enchanting, sweet, with a very quiet miaow, and also rather shy. As soon as I would enter the room where she was sitting, instantly she would take cover in one of her favourite hiding spaces. Cat sitters look out for those hiding places and make note when you arrive. Just in case you think the cat is lost, look there first.

Somewhere safe, but with a good view of me. After a few days of regular monitoring I must have passed some test, because she began to greet me with a rub on the legs as I was fixing breakfast, and a little quiet song all of her own! Only then was I one of her approved cat-sitters.

Some cats are more adventurous and are ready to greet you with ears forward, approaching you perhaps to bump you in a welcome gesture. Here is Ellie, who took no time to come straight up to me to greet me and more or less enquire what I was doing there. There was a long conversation that ensued with direct eye contact.

Other cats are altogether more inclined to act with benign indifference, with their presence near you indicating a modicum of curiosity. Don’t be offended. This is a good degree of healthy acceptance. After a couple of days, a few meals and treats, there will usually be a more positive interaction.

Another top tip from our Vet Matthew Bayliss:

Use a pheromones plugin

As most cat-sitters will know any cat can be anxious, however if any changes occur in and around the cats environment, this can exacerbate the stress.

Pre-loading the environment with pheromones (e.g. Feliway plug-in) before the event can help the cat through stressful situations, like having new people in the house.

Feliway is an analogue of facial pheromones used by cats to tell other cats that this is a nice place, and I’m comfortable here, you may have seen your cat rubbing the side of their face against objects or even you – if this does happen you’re very privileged!

Join the HouseSit Match cat sitters

If you would like to join our cat-sitters on HouseSit Match register as House-sitter. Then build a profile for yourself that will be seen by pet owners. Give as much information as you can about your previous experience as a house sitter, cat sitter or pet sitter.

Be prepared to share your references and any up to date police check information you have. Then you can search our listings for free to find your ideal cat-sitting assignment.

Our special thanks to Vet Matthew Bayliss BVSc MRCVS

Start your housesitting adventure or to find your house and petsitting solution register with HouseSitMatch:

To register as a House-sitter follow this link

To register as a Homeowner follow this link

FURTHER READING FOR CAT OWNERS AND CAT-SITTERS

At Housesitmatch.com we like to offer our readers supplementary articles on topics related to the ones they have just read. We hope cat owners and cat sitters will find these articles of use .

Tips for cat sitting – Top 10 

Live with cats? How to cat proof your home

Why keep pets at home with petsitters

Beginners guide to petsitting