What is Cat Sitting?
Cat sitting is a service where a trusted person comes to your home to care for your cat while you’re away, ensuring they stay in their familiar environment with basic needs met, such as food, water, and litter box care, along with playtime, cuddles, and medication if needed. This reduces stress compared to boarding.
What does cat sitting involve?
Cat sitting involves in-home care for a cat while owners are away, covering feeding, fresh water, litter box cleaning, playtime, socialization, and health monitoring, plus optional tasks like medication administration, grooming, mail collection, and plant watering, all to maintain the cat’s routine in its familiar environment.
What is the Connection Between Cat Sitting and a Cat Sitter?
Cat sitting is the service, while a cat sitter is the trained professional who delivers that service. The quality of cat sitting depends entirely on the cat sitter’s experience, reliability, and understanding of feline needs.
Who is a cat sitter?
A cat sitter is a trusted person who cares for your cat in your home while you’re away, handling feeding, litter box cleaning, playtime, medication, and offering companionship, ensuring your cat stays in its familiar environment to reduce stress, often with professional sitters providing updates and extra home care like mail collection.
Finding someone you can trust with your beloved cat isn’t easy. This guide will help you find the best professional cat sitter.
What does a cat sitter do?
A cat sitter provides in-home care for felines while owners are away, handling essential tasks like feeding, fresh water, and thorough litter box cleaning, plus crucial socialization through play and affection, and often administering medication and performing light home checks (mail, plants) for owner peace of mind.
Duties and Responsibilities of a Cat Sitter
During their visits, pet sitters handle a range of responsibilities, including:
Core Responsibilities:
- Feeding & Hydration: Providing specified food and fresh water at set times.
- Litter Box Maintenance: Scooping, cleaning, and refreshing litter boxes regularly.
- Play & Companionship: Engaging the cat with toys, cuddles, or quiet observation to prevent boredom and stress.
- Health Monitoring: Observing for any changes in appetite, behavior, or signs of illness.
- Medication: Administering pills, insulin, or other treatments as instructed by the owner.
What qualifications should a cat sitter have
A great cat sitter needs more than just love for cats, they should have reliability, experience with feline care, and strong communication, plus beneficial qualifications like pet first aid/CPR, insurance/bonding, background checks, and knowledge of animal behavior to handle emergencies and specific needs like medication or special diets.
1. Essential Qualities & Skills
- Reliability & Trustworthiness: Punctual, follows instructions, respects your home, and has good references/reviews.
- Genuine Love for Cats: Shows passion and empathy, ensuring your cat feels comfortable and loved.
- Communication: Keeps you updated with notes, photos, and can relay crucial info.
- Problem-Solving: Can adapt and handle unexpected situations calmly.
- Patience & Compassion: Makes the cat feel safe, especially if they’re shy or stressed.
2. Beneficial Qualifications & Certifications
- Pet First Aid & CPR: Crucial for handling emergencies, especially for senior or medically complex cats.
- Insurance & Bonding: Protects you and the sitter, especially if they’re a professional business.
- Background Checks: Provides peace of mind when they’re in your home.
- Formal Training: Diplomas in Animal Care or certificates from organizations like City & Guilds show expertise.
- Medical Experience: Experience with administering meds or a vet tech background is valuable for sick pets.
A Pawland cat sitter is a trained in-home pet care professional who looks after cats while owners are away. Sitters are selected for their skills, experience, communication, and ethical standards. All are verified and background-checked, with only 16% of applicants accepted, ensuring trusted, high-quality care. Explore Pawland’s professional and experienced cat sitter profiles.
What is the 3-3-3 rule for cats?
The 3-3-3 rule for cats is a guideline for new owners, suggesting three phases of adjustment: 3 days to decompress (feeling overwhelmed, hiding), 3 weeks to learn routines (settling in, exploring), and 3 months to feel truly at home (building trust, showing true personality).
Why people choose cat sitting services
People choose cat sitting to keep their cats safe, comfortable, and stress-free in a familiar environment while they’re away. Cat sitting provides personalised attention, maintaining daily routines, playtime, cuddles, and medication if needed. It also ensures home security and peace of mind through regular updates from a trusted, trained sitter.
Key reasons people choose professional cat sitting services include:
1. Benefits for the Cat
Cat sitting provides a safe, comfortable, and stress-free experience for your feline companion.
- Reduced Stress in a Familiar Environment: Cats are highly territorial and creatures of habit. Staying at home avoids the anxiety and confusion of being in a new place or around unfamiliar animals, helping them feel secure.
- Maintained Daily Routine: Sitters ensure feeding, playtime, and sleeping schedules remain consistent. This stability supports your cat’s sense of security and keeps their normal behavior intact.
- Personalized One-on-One Care: Unlike boarding facilities, a cat sitter provides individual attention. Play, cuddles, and companionship are tailored to each cat’s personality, preferences, and energy level.
- Better Health Monitoring: Professional pet sitters can spot early signs of illness or discomfort, allowing quick action and preventing serious health issues.
- Safer Than Boarding Facilities: In-home care reduces exposure to other animals and potential stressors or infections common in group settings.
- Emotional Comfort and Companionship: Regular human interaction keeps your cat mentally stimulated and emotionally content, reducing loneliness while you’re away.
- Ideal for Senior and Special-Needs Cats: Experienced sitters provide specialized care, including medication, gentle handling, and attention to medical or mobility needs.
- Improved Mental Well-Being: A familiar environment and consistent attention reduce anxiety, boredom, and fear, promoting overall happiness.
- Fewer Behavioral Issues: Maintaining routine and companionship helps prevent stress-related behaviors like aggression, excessive meowing, or hiding.
With a cat sitting, your pet stays healthy, happy, and comfortable in a safe and familiar home environment.
2. Benefits for the Owner
Cat sitting provides pet owners with peace of mind, knowing their cat is safe, happy, and well-cared-for while they’re away.
- Peace of Mind While Away: Whether it’s a vacation, business trip, or long workday, owners can relax knowing their cat is in professional, reliable hands.
- Flexible and Convenient Care: Services can be booked via apps or online platforms, offering drop-in visits, overnight stays, or custom schedules to suit your lifestyle.
- Regular Updates and Communication: Professional sitters often send daily photos, videos, or notes, keeping owners connected to their cat’s well-being.
- No Need for Transportation: Cats stay in their familiar home environment, eliminating the stress and hassle of travel to a boarding facility.
- Customized Care for Your Cat: Sitters provide personalized attention, following routines, administering medication if needed, and adapting care to each cat’s personality.
- Home Security Benefits: Sitters make the house appear occupied by opening blinds, turning lights on/off, bringing in mail, and managing bins, helping deter burglars.
- Suitable for Busy Schedules: Cat sitting fits seamlessly into the lives of busy owners, providing reliable care without disrupting their routines.
- Trusted Care in Your Absence: Professional sitters are insured, bonded, and have backup plans in case of emergencies, ensuring consistent, dependable care.
- Reduced Worry About Cat’s Health: With trained sitters monitoring behavior, health, and medication, owners can feel confident that their cat’s well-being is prioritized.
You can also explore the top reasons to hire a cat sitter in 7 Reasons Why You Should Hire a Cat Sitter.
Is Cat Sitting Safe?
Cat sitting is generally very safe and often better for cats than boarding because it keeps them in their familiar environment, reducing stress and illness risk, but safety depends on choosing a trustworthy, professional sitter, thoroughly vetting them (references, insurance, background checks), providing clear instructions, and ensuring they’re prepared for emergencies like having vet contacts handy.
Want to know how Pawland keeps pets safe? Learn more through our Trust & Safety.
Types of Cat Sitting Services
Cat sitting services primarily offer Drop-in Visits and Overnight Stays, with variations like longer visits (30-60 min), live-in pet sitting for extended trips, and sometimes added services like medication administration or plant watering, all focused on keeping the cat in its familiar, less stressful home environment.
Different Types of Cat Sitting
1. Drop-In Visits
A drop-in visit is a short, casual, and often unexpected visit to someone’s home or a place, usually without a formal appointment, like a brief check-in to say hello, give a hug, or provide quick care for pets (feeding, potty breaks, playtime).
Drop-in cat visits let busy pet owners ensure their cats are cared for without disrupting their schedules. A professional sitter visits your home for a short period, usually 20-60 minutes, to provide feeding, fresh water, litter box cleaning, playtime, cuddles, and medication if needed.
2. Overnight Cat Sitting
Overnight cat sitting is a service where a pet sitter stays in your home, usually for about 12 hours, to provide companionship and care for your cat while you’re away, offering a more comfortable, less stressful alternative to boarding for felines that need extra attention or have specific needs, and also makes your home look occupied for security. It includes feeding, fresh water, litter cleaning, playtime, cuddles, and usually photo updates, with sitters also handling tasks like watering plants or collecting mail.
3. Live-In Cat Sitting
Live-in cat sitting means a professional caregiver stays overnight in your home, providing 24/7 companionship and care for your cat, unlike drop-in visits where the sitter just pops in, this service offers ultimate comfort for the cat by keeping them in their familiar environment, handling feeding, litter box cleaning, playtime, medication, and ensuring routine to reduce stress while you’re away.
4. Short-Term Cat Sitting
Short-term cat sitting involves hiring someone (sitter) or using a service to care for your cat at home or board them for a few days to a couple of weeks, offering food, litter cleaning, play, medication, and updates, with options from trusted friends.
5. Long-Term Cat Sitting
Long-term cat sitting provides consistent, in-home care for extended periods (weeks/months) by a trusted sitter, minimizing stress for cats by maintaining their routine, familiar environment, and stable care, unlike boarding.
6. Emergency Cat Sitting
For urgent or last-minute cat care in the UAE, Pawland provides verified sitters ready for emergency drop-in or overnight visits. Through the Pawland app, you can quickly book trusted sitters who are trained in pet first aid, follow clear instructions, and handle your cat’s needs safely. 
Different Types of Cats
1. Age-Based Cat Sitting
Age-based cat sitting involves tailoring care services to meet the specific needs of cats at different life stages, particularly for kittens and senior cats, who require more frequent and specialized attention than average adult cats.
2. Cat Sitting for Kittens
Cat sitting for kittens requires extra care, frequent visits (multiple times daily for young ones), strict routine adherence, constant access to food/water, kitten-proofing the home to remove hazards, and ensuring cozy spaces
3. Cat Sitting for Adult Cats
Cat sitting for adult cats primarily involves providing personalized care in the familiar comfort of their own home to maintain routine and minimize stress. This is often preferred over traditional boarding, as adult cats are generally less adaptable to new environments.
4. Cat Sitting for Senior Cats
For senior cats, prioritize an in-home sitter for routine, as older cats dislike change, and ensure they’re comfortable with soft bedding, nightlights (for vision loss), and easy access to food/litter.
5. Special Care Cats
Special care cats are felines needing extra support due to disabilities (blind, deaf, mobility issues, cerebellar hypoplasia), chronic health conditions (diabetes, kidney disease, FIV), age-related problems (arthritis), or significant behavioral/emotional needs
6. Cats with Medical Conditions
Cats get various medical conditions, common ones including dental disease, kidney disease, diabetes, hyperthyroidism, obesity, parasites, and urinary tract issues (FLUTD), alongside infections like URIs, FeLV, FIV, and cancers like lymphoma, with symptoms like appetite changes, vomiting, lethargy, or increased thirst signaling a need for vet care.
7. Cats with Anxiety
Cat anxiety can cause bodily reactions and changes in your cat’s behavior. An anxious cat may have physical reactions such as increased heart and respiratory rates, panting, trembling, and salivation.
Yes, cat sitting is generally more suitable for shy cats than boarding, especially in-home cat sitting, because it keeps them in their familiar territory, reducing stress, but success hinges on finding an experienced, patient sitter who respects boundaries, uses slow movements, soft voices, and provides safe spaces.
Cat Sitting Cost?
Cat sitting costs vary widely, typically from $15-$30 for a 30-minute drop-in visit to $30-$75+ daily, depending on location, sitter experience, and services like overnight stays or medical care. Expect to pay more for extra cats, complex needs, or holidays, with professional services setting rates higher than friends, though fair pay for friends is often 40-50% of professional rates.
A live-in cat sitting in the UAE is less common than daily visits but ideal for longer trips or cats needing constant care. Rates for overnight stays are higher than standard drop-ins. For example, Rover sitters may offer overnight stays starting from approximately AED 250-350, depending on location and your cat’s needs.
Daily vs Hourly Pricing
Cat sitting services in Dubai are typically offered under hourly or daily pricing models, depending on the level of care required.
Hourly Pricing
With hourly pricing, clients pay only for the exact number of hours the sitter works. This option is ideal for short visits, emergency drop-ins, or simple care needs.
Daily Pricing
Daily pricing involves a fixed fee for a full day of care, regardless of the total hours worked. This model is commonly used for full-day care or multiple visits within a day.
Legal and Ethical Aspects of Cat Sitting
Cat sitters must follow animal welfare laws, maintain proper licenses if providing commercial services, and ensure feeding, hydration, hygiene, and veterinary care. Professional sitters often carry liability insurance, and clear service agreements outline responsibilities, fees, cancellations, emergency care, and liability limits. Ethically, sitters prioritize the cat’s well-being, providing safe, compassionate care, respecting routines, and following proper animal welfare standards at all times.
UAE-Specific Requirements
In the UAE, cat sitters providing commercial services must secure trade licenses and municipality approvals and adhere to local animal welfare regulations to avoid fines or legal issues.
Pawland’s Legal & Ethical Compliance
Pawland adheres to all applicable UAE regulations for pet care services, including commercial, municipality, and animal welfare requirements. By maintaining these standards, Pawland ensures lawful operations, protects pet parents, and delivers safe, trusted cat sitting services across the UAE.
Pet Sitting Companies
Top Pet Sitting Companies in the UAE
Here are some highly rated and trusted pet sitting services you can consider for cat care, drop‑ins, or live‑in sitting across the UAE:
1. Pawland
Pawland is an award-winning, top-rated pet sitting company in the UAE, boasting a 4.9/5 rating from 350+ verified reviews. All sitters are vetted and background-checked, ensuring safe, professional, and personalised care for your cat. Trusted, reliable, and highly recommended, Pawland stands out as the leading choice for in-home cat care.
2. Happy Walk Pet Care: Highly reviewed pet sitter in Dubai offering dependable in‑home visits and personalised attention.
3. Dubai Pet Care: Trusted pet sitting service with strong reviews, focusing on comfort, feeding, play, and well-being.
4. Happy Tails: Well‑rated sitter known for professional cat and pet care with regular updates for owners.
5. My Buddy Pet Care: Popular choice with excellent reviews, providing reliable drop‑in and in‑home care.
Pawland - Leading provider with Drop-In Visits, Live-In Cat Sitter, and In-Home Cat Sitting. All sitters are vetted, experienced, and highly rated, ensuring comfort and care for cats, including anxious or senior pets.
Benefits of Hiring a Top Pet Sitting Company
Hiring a top pet sitting company ensures your pet receives professional, reliable, and personalized care in the comfort of their own home. Here are the key benefits:
- Verified & Trained Sitters
Sitters are background-checked, experienced, and trained to handle different pet needs, including senior care and medication. - In-Home Comfort & Reduced Stress
Pets stay in a familiar environment, helping reduce anxiety and maintain their normal routine. - Flexible & Reliable Care
Options include daily visits, hourly care, overnight stays, and emergency drop-in services. - Regular Updates & Peace of Mind
You receive real-time photos, videos, and visit reports, so you always know how your pet is doing. - Health & Safety Focused
Professional sitters are trained to spot early signs of illness and respond quickly in emergencies. - Consistent Quality & Accountability
Established companies follow service standards, offer customer support, and ensure dependable care every visit.
Pawland is the No.1 pet sitting company in the UAE, widely recognized for excellence with award-winning, top-rated, and experienced professional sitters. With over 350+ 5-star reviews, Pawland provides trusted, personalized care for all pets.
Pawland: The leading cat sitting service in the UAE, Pawland offers in-home visits, overnight care, and regular updates to keep your cat happy, healthy, and stress-free while you’re away. Download here: Pawland App.
Other popular options include Pet Watch, PetBacker, and PetBae, all offering verified sitters, flexible scheduling, and regular updates while you’re away.
When is Cat Sitting the Best Option?
Cat sitting is the best option when you want your cat to stay safe, comfortable, and stress-free at home while you’re away. It is especially ideal in the following situations:
- When You’re Traveling: Your cat gets consistent care and attention while you’re away, ensuring they feel safe and comfortable in their own home.
- For Cats That Get Stressed Easily: Specialized attention and calm interactions help reduce anxiety and keep your cat relaxed.
- For Kittens, Senior, or Special-Needs Cats: Personalized care meets the unique needs of young kittens, elderly cats, or those requiring extra medical or emotional support.
- For Busy Work Schedules: Ensures your cat’s daily needs, feeding, litter, playtime are met even when your schedule is packed.
- During Emergencies or Last-Minute Plans: Trusted cat sitters are available on short notice, giving you peace of mind in unexpected situations.
- To Maintain Routine & Health: Keep your cat’s routine consistent, supporting proper nutrition, medication, exercise, and mental stimulation.
If you’re still unsure about which option is best for you, this guide can help you decide.
Sitters usually stay 30-60 minutes per visit, once or twice daily, adjusting for the cat’s age, personality, and needs, from quick check-ins for independent cats to longer stays for anxious or needy ones.
At least one visit daily, but two (morning and evening) are ideal for food, water, litter, play, and companionship. Kittens, seniors, or special-needs cats may need three or more visits.
Yes, overnight stays provide constant care, companionship, and security, ideal for anxious, elderly, or young cats, or those needing medication.
Yes, litter cleaning is standard, usually done daily during drop-in visits.
Yes, sitters feed, provide water, clean litter, play, offer companionship, and can administer medication or extra home care.
Sitters use calm, patient, non-threatening approaches, letting the cat initiate contact, respecting space, using soft voices, slow blinks, treats, routines, and interactive play to build positive associations.
How a Cat Spends a Day at a Cat Sitter’s Home
A cat’s day with a sitter involves routine care, personalized playtime, and quiet companionship, all while staying in their familiar environment, with the sitter monitoring health, administering meds, and providing updates, ensuring comfort and security through consistent, loving attention.
How Cats Handle Their Owner Being Away
Cats respond differently to an owner’s absence, from calm independence to mild anxiety shown through vocalizing or routine changes, though most cope well when their routine, familiar scents, and sitter visits are maintained.
A Cat’s Daily Routine With a Sitter
Daily care includes fresh food and water, clean litter, play or cuddles based on personality, medication if required, and home checks, while following the owner’s usual schedule and sending updates with photos.
Keeping Cats Happy and Calm
Cats stay happiest with consistent routines, interactive play, scratching areas, vertical spaces, and safe hiding spots that provide both stimulation and comfort.
How Sitters Reduce Cat Loneliness
Sitters ease loneliness through companionship, playtime, and routine care, helping reduce stress while the cat remains in its familiar home.
What Happens When Your Cat Misses You
Cats may show they miss you through extra affection, vocalizing, waiting by doors, or subtle behavior changes, reflecting their bond with you and attachment to your routine.
Yes, cats can feel sad, stressed, or anxious when left with a sitter due to changes in routine and separation from their primary caregiver. Though they express it differently than humans, they form strong bonds and can get confused or distressed by the absence, needing their needs met and familiar surroundings for comfort.
What should I do with my cat when I go on a holiday or Vacation?
When you go on holiday, the best option for your cat is usually to have them stay at home in their familiar environment with regular visits from a trusted pet sitter for feeding, litter cleaning, and playtime, alternatively, use a reputable boarding cattery, especially if your cat needs medication or struggles with change, but always prepare your home, leave detailed instructions, and consider a pet camera for peace of mind.
If you’re planning to book a pet sitter for the holidays, it’s a good idea to first know what needs to be prepared and what information you should share. Check out our full guide here for all the details.
A cat sitting in the UAE during summer is safe, provided essential precautions are strictly followed to protect the cat from the extreme heat and the potentially fatal risks of heatstroke and dehydration. This requires a highly attentive approach from the pet sitter.
In Dubai, you can trust Pawland for your cat’s care while you’re away. Their professional sitters provide in-home visits or live-in care, ensuring your cat has food, fresh water, a clean litter box, playtime, and companionship, all in the comfort of their familiar home environment.
For overnight care in Dubai, you can trust Pawland’s professional sitters. They offer a live-in cat sitting at your home, ensuring your cat has food, fresh water, a clean litter box, playtime, and companionship throughout the night.
Cats are not inherently stressed by the act of sitting, a content cat often lounges in relaxed, at-ease positions. However, a hunched, stiff sitting posture can be a key indicator of underlying stress, anxiety, or pain.
Preparing for Cat Sitting
Preparing for a cat sitter involves a “Before, During, and After” approach, focusing on clear instructions, stocked supplies (food, litter, meds), comfort items (your scent, toys), cat-proofing the house (securing hazards, blocking escape routes), and establishing emergency contacts (vet, backup person) to ensure smooth care, maintain routine, and reduce your cat’s stress. A pre-visit “meet-and-greet” is crucial for the sitter to learn the cat’s habits and for the cat to get used to them.
Preparing Your Cat
To ensure the best care for your cat, provide your sitter with:
- Daily Routine & Feeding Schedule: Detailed timings for meals and snacks to maintain consistency.
- Care Instruction Sheet: Instructions for grooming, playtime, and any special routines.
- Medication & Special Needs: Clear guidance on medicines, doses, and health requirements.
- Behavior Notes & Triggers: Tips on how to handle shy, anxious, or sensitive behaviors.
- Comfort Items: Favorite toys, blankets, and litter to make your cat feel safe and at home.
Providing these ensures your cat stays happy, healthy, and stress-free while you’re away.
Preparing Your Home
To ensure a smooth stay for your cat and sitter, prepare your home with the following:
- Food & Supplies Setup: Keep enough food, treats, and fresh water accessible.
- Litter Box Arrangement: Clean and place litter boxes in quiet, convenient areas.
- Safe Areas & Restricted Zones: Designate spaces your cat can explore and areas to avoid.
- Cleaning & Hygiene Prep: Tidy the home to reduce hazards and maintain cleanliness.
- Temperature & Ventilation Setup: Ensure a comfortable climate with proper airflow.
Proper preparation helps your cat feel secure and allows the sitter to provide the best care.
Preparing the Owner
Before your cat sitter arrives, it’s important to prepare yourself to ensure smooth care:
- Travel Duration Planning: Clearly define how long you’ll be away and share the schedule with the sitter.
- Backup Emergency Plan: Provide contacts for emergencies and instructions in case of unexpected situations.
- Communication Expectations: Set how often you’d like updates, photos, or messages from the sitter.
- Pet Insurance & Documents: Keep vaccination records, medical history, and insurance details handy for the sitter.
Being prepared ensures both you and your cat have peace of mind while you’re away.
Preparing the Cat Sitter
Ensure your cat sitter can provide safe and effective care by preparing them in advance:
- Key Access & Security Instructions: Provide keys, alarm codes, and guidance for entering your home safely.
- Emergency Contacts & Vet Info: Share your contact info, local vet details, and any medical instructions.
- Daily Visit Checklist: Outline feeding, litter cleaning, playtime, and any other daily tasks.
- House Rules & Boundaries: Explain restricted areas, furniture rules, and any special home considerations.
Proper preparation helps the sitter provide smooth, stress-free care for your cat.
While not legally required, reputable cat sitting services like Pawland conduct thorough background checks on all sitters. This ensures your cat is cared for by licensed, experienced, and trustworthy professionals, giving you peace of mind while you’re away.
Preparing for Emergencies
Ensure your cat’s safety by planning for emergencies
- Emergency Vet Access: Keep contact info for local veterinarians handy.
- Power / Water Backup Plan: Make provisions for food storage, heating, or cooling if utilities fail.
- Health Warning Signs to Watch: Inform your sitter about symptoms that need immediate attention.
- After-Hours Contact Plan: Provide instructions for reaching you or a backup contact outside normal hours.
Proper emergency preparation keeps your cat safe and gives both you and your sitter peace of mind.
Common Cat Sitting Mistakes
Both cat owners and sitters can make mistakes that affect a cat’s comfort and safety:
Mistakes by Cat Owners:
- Poor Instructions: Not providing clear feeding, medication, or routine guidelines.
- Skipping Meet-and-Greet: Failing to introduce the cat to the sitter beforehand can increase anxiety.
Mistakes by Cat Sitters:
- Ignoring Cat Behavior: Overlooking signs of stress, discomfort, or illness.
- Lack of Communication: Not updating the owner with reports or photos, leaving them worried.
Avoiding these mistakes ensures a smoother, stress-free experience for both cats and their owners.
Key considerations when hiring a cat sitter
When choosing a cat sitter, consider these essential factors to keep your cat safe and happy:
- Experience and Qualifications: Look for trained, licensed, or certified sitters with proven cat care experience.
- Insurance and Bonding: Ensure the sitter is insured and bonded to protect against accidents or emergencies.
- References and Reviews: Check testimonials and ratings from previous clients to gauge reliability.
- Availability and Flexibility: Confirm the sitter can accommodate your schedule, including last-minute or extended stays.
- Ensuring Your Cat’s Safety: Verify that the sitter follows proper safety protocols, observes your cat’s behavior, and handles emergencies effectively.
Every Pawland cat sitter has real experience caring for cats, is insured and bonded, and knows how to keep your furry friend safe and happy. They’re flexible with your schedule, trusted by other pet owners, and make sure your cat feels comfortable while you’re away.
How to Choose the Right Cat Sitter
To choose the right cat sitter, prioritize experience with cats, verify they are insured & bonded, check glowing reviews & references, ensure patient & observant behavior, conduct a meet-and-greet with your cat present, and discuss emergency plans and their backup sitter to build trust for your feline’s well-being.
- Checking Experience and Reviews
Look for sitters with proven experience, certifications, or licenses. Read client reviews to ensure reliability and quality of care. - Asking the Right Interview Questions
Ask about their daily routines, handling emergencies, and how they interact with cats to gauge professionalism and compatibility. - Trial Visits Before Final Booking
Arrange a short meet-and-greet or trial visit so your cat can get comfortable with the sitter before committing to long-term care.
To trust a cat sitter, start with recommendations, vet their experience, ensure they do a "meet-and-greet" to see how they interact with your cat, check for background checks via professional networks, and demand clear communication with photo updates
To find a reliable cat sitter, check online platforms and look for insured, experienced professionals with excellent reviews. Always do a meet-and-greet, ask about emergency plans, and ensure they understand your cat’s needs and routine.
Yes, you can book a cat sitter online in the UAE. Platforms and services like Pawland let you find, select, and book trusted cat sitters through their website with secure online booking and payment options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Pawland offers flexible in-home cat sitting options that include short visits or hourly care, perfect if you only need someone for a couple of hours while you’re out or at work. These drop-in visits typically cover feeding, litter care, and playtime, and you can schedule them for as short as a single visit per day, depending on your cat’s needs and their availability.
Yes, flexibility is usually available. Pawland’s services are designed to be customizable on a case-by-case basis. While specific policies vary, most professional cat sitters in Dubai allow you to:
- Extend daily visits (e.g., add extra time on the same day)
- Add more visits/days if you’re delayed
- Arrange overnight care instead of just short visits
You should contact Pawland directly as soon as your plans change so they can confirm sitter availability and update your booking accordingly.
No, cat sitting and cat boarding are not the same. Cat sitting means a caregiver comes to your home to care for the cat in its familiar environment, while cat boarding involves taking your cat to a separate facility (like a cattery or hotel) for their stay, both offering different levels of routine and stress for the cat. Cat sitting keeps your cat happy at home, following its usual routine, whereas boarding moves the cat to an unfamiliar setting, which can be stressful for many felines.
For most cats, sitting at home is better because they thrive on familiar surroundings, scents, and routines, reducing stress; however, a cattery can be superior for cats with complex medical needs or high socialization requirements, as staff are trained for medication and constant supervision, offering controlled care. The best choice depends on your cat's personality and needs, balancing the comfort of home with professional care.
You can use cat sitting services for a few days to a couple of weeks, with daily visits (once or twice) for food, water, and litter, but longer periods (over 10-14 days) risk stress, kittens, seniors, or sick cats need more frequent visits (even overnight or longer stays) due to their specific needs for food, medication, or monitoring.
