How to Choose a Cat Sitter: 8 Questions to Ask Before You Book

Pet sitting is an unregulated industry — anyone can print business cards and call themselves a cat sitter. Most are lovely, genuine people. But since you’re handing over your house keys and the welfare of a family member, it’s worth asking a few direct questions before you book. A professional will be glad you asked.

1. Are you insured — and for how much?

Public liability insurance protects you if something goes wrong in your home or with your cat. Ask for the actual figure and don’t be shy about asking to see the certificate. (For the record: we carry £5 million public liability cover and will happily show the paperwork.)

2. Are you DBS checked?

A DBS (police background) check is a sensible baseline for anyone holding keys to your home. Every member of our team holds a current certificate.

3. Is this your full-time job or a side gig?

There’s nothing wrong with part-time sitters — but visits squeezed around another job are the first thing to slip when life gets busy. A full-time professional builds their day around the visits, not the other way round. Cat sitting is our full-time career, which is also why we can offer morning, lunchtime and evening slots every day of the year.

4. What exactly does a visit include?

Get specific. Is play time included, or is it a five-minute feed-and-go? Are plants, post and bins extra? Is medication a surcharge? Our answer: every 30-minute visit includes feeding, fresh water, litter, play and cuddles, a health check, home security check, curtains and lights, plants and post, and medication if needed — with a photo update sent after every visit, all for one price.

5. Will you meet my cat before the booking?

A free, no-obligation meet and greet should be standard. It lets your cat meet the sitter on their own turf, lets you ask everything face to face, and lets the sitter learn your cat’s routine and quirks. Be wary of anyone who wants to skip straight to taking your keys and your money.

6. What happens in an emergency?

A professional should have a clear answer: contact you immediately, and get your cat to your registered vet if needed. They should ask for your vet’s details and an emergency contact before the booking — if they don’t ask, that’s a red flag.

7. Can you handle my cat’s specific needs?

Nervous rescue? Insulin injections twice a day? A senior who needs coaxing to eat? Ask directly about your situation and listen for real experience in the answer, not just “no problem”. Experience with shy and anxious cats is, frankly, where good sitters earn their money.

8. Can I see reviews from real clients?

Look for reviews on Google rather than only on the sitter’s own website, and look for detail — reviews that mention how a nervous cat came round, or how the sitter handled a problem, tell you far more than star counts.

The short version

Insured (with a number), DBS checked, meets you first, transparent about what’s included, clear emergency plan, and reviewed by real local clients. If you’re looking in Didsbury, Chorlton, Withington or the surrounding areas, we’d love to be measured against every question on this list — send an enquiry and we’ll arrange a free meet and greet.