The year-end holiday season is approaching and many travellers have purchased their air tickets, booked accommodation and planned their itineraries. Those who are pet owners also need to consider who would take care of their furbabies while they are away. They can choose from boarding hotels, professional pet sitters or turn to their own family and friends for help.
As cat owners, we have hired cat sitters and also taken care of other people’s cats. In this series, we aim to share our thoughts and tips on the various options available.
Pet sitters
The biggest advantage of engaging a pet sitter is that your cats do not need to leave their homes. Cats are territorial in nature and can get easily stressed in a foreign environment. If your cat has a health condition like FIV, they may not be accepted at most cat boarding hotels. Cats who have loads of energy and love zooming around the house might also feel constricted in a confined space.
Here are some things to consider when engaging a pet sitter:
- Where to find a pet sitter – In Singapore, pet owners can use pet sitting apps (like Pawshake, Godpawrents) and some cat boarding hotels (Nekoya, Cradle Cat Hotel, Shangri-Paw) also provide cat sitting services. There are also independent pet sitters who advertise their services through pet sitting apps and social media.
- Cost – Bear in mind that cheaper is not always better. New pet sitters might charge lower fees ($15-$25 per visit) while the more experienced ones typically charge higher fees ($25-$40 per visit) because of their expertise. There might be additional charges for multi-cats households or administration of medication.
- Experience – Is the pet sitter experienced in handling cats, multiple cats in a household, or cats who are timid? Feel free to ask questions about their experience.
- Skills – Does your cat need to be medicated daily? Check if the pet sitter has expertise in administering the type of medication required. Some pet sitters are only able to administer oral medication while some have expertise in administering injections.
- Frequency of visits – How often do you need the pet sitter to drop by your home? Pets who are more needy might need more frequent visits, like twice a day. Pets who are more skittish might be more comfortable with just one visit a day. If you choose only one visit a day, you would have to consider how one of your cat’s meals would be provided (eg. through an automated food dispenser).
The next article will discuss the pros and cons of placing your cat in a boarding hotel. Stay tuned!
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