The Pre-Holiday Checklist for Cat Owners (10 Things People Forget)

After years of cat sitting across South Manchester, we’ve seen every version of the pre-holiday scramble. The flights are booked, the cases are packed — and the cat’s arrangements are finished in the last twenty minutes. Here’s the checklist we wish every owner had, built from the things people genuinely forget.

1. Enough food for the whole trip (plus spare)

The classic. Count the days, add a couple extra for delayed flights, and remember that “the shop had run out of her usual food” is a real emergency for a fussy cat. If your cat eats a prescription or unusual diet, this one’s critical — order early.

2. Spare litter — more than you think

A litter tray cleaned daily gets through more litter than your normal routine. A full spare bag per week away is a good rule.

3. Written feeding instructions

You know it’s “half a pouch morning and night, biscuits topped up, but not the fish ones she’s gone off”. Your sitter doesn’t. Write it down — amounts, times, treats allowed, and any foods to avoid. A good sitter will go through all of this at the meet and greet, but having it on paper (or in a message) removes all doubt.

4. Your vet’s details — and a back-up contact

The single most important item on this list. Your sitter needs your vet’s name and number, and an emergency contact who can make decisions if you’re unreachable on a beach somewhere. We ask for both before every booking, without exception.

5. Medication, clearly labelled

If your cat takes anything — tablets, drops, insulin — leave it clearly labelled with dosage and timing, plus a bit extra in case your return is delayed. More detail in our guide to holiday care for cats on medication.

6. Check the microchip details are up to date

UK law requires cats to be microchipped — but a chip registered to your old address is nearly useless. Two minutes on your chip provider’s website before you travel could be the difference if your cat slips out.

7. Secure the escape routes

Walk the house like a burglar, but in reverse: window vents, the bathroom window you always forget, the loose fence panel. If your cat has a cat flap and normally goes out, agree the plan with your sitter — locked in, free access, or curfew.

8. Leave the little comforts out

Don’t wash every blanket and hide every toy before you leave. Familiar smells are reassuring — leave their favourite bed where it always is, and a worn t-shirt of yours in their sleeping spot works wonders for anxious cats.

9. Warn your sitter about the quirks

Hides under the bed for strangers? Bolts for the door? Yells at 7am for breakfast but doesn’t mean it? Sulks in the wardrobe? Tell your sitter everything — nothing is too odd, and it all helps. The shy ones especially benefit when we know to sit quietly and let them come to us.

10. Book the sitter before the flights, not after

Good sitters get booked up fast — school holidays, Easter and especially Christmas can fill months ahead (here’s why Christmas books up so early). Make the cat’s booking part of booking the holiday, not an afterthought.

Sorted the list?

If you’re in Didsbury, Chorlton, Withington or nearby, send us your dates and we’ll handle the rest — including a free meet and greet where we’ll go through every item above with you.