Many cat parents think that their cats can go days at home alone while they travel. We’re here to tell you that leaving your pet alone for days on end is not ideal, nor is it kind. Cats, while independent, fascinating creatures, have needs beyond a full bowl of kibble and water. They not only crave interaction with their humans, they require at least once-daily checks to ensure their health and wellbeing. Following is our top list of five benefits of hiring a cat sitter.
Health Monitoring
A fellow pro pet sitter once told me a story about a cat named King Thomas that was healthy one day and had to be euthanized the next. The cat had thrown a clot after she left her pet sitting visit on a Tuesday and was in dire condition the next day, only 24-hours later.
She knew something was immediately wrong when she walked in for her visit on Wednesday because she could hear a cat meowing in what sounded like agonizing pain. Once she found him, King Thomas was immobile at the foot of his owner’s bed. He was paralyzed. My friend rushed him to the emergency vet. Unfortunately, the only humane option for King Thomas was euthanasia. The clot had caused his muscles to atrophy. He was experiencing what the vet described as “significant suffering.”
Had King Thomas not had daily cat sitting visits scheduled, he would have eventually died a miserable death and experienced horrific pain in the process. Sometimes while the prognosis is devastating, it’s a blessing to have the ability to gently and lovingly put our pets out of their misery. My pet sitter friend was grateful she found him when she did but often questions herself on when the clot happened and how long after she left the day prior it occurred. As animal lovers, the thought of a pet in agony is heartbreaking.
At Shoreline Happy Paws, we require at least one daily visit for cats for their health and wellness. We count noses to ensure that we have eyes on all cats and prevent them from accidentally becoming trapped around your home.
Fresh Food & Water
Cats have high standards. They, like most animals, enjoy fresh food. Cats are partial to clean water over stale, stagnant water. They often refuse to eat and eliminate in spaces that are not up to par.
Additionally, many automatic feeders and water fountains fail. They often fail when you least expect it. For this reason, having a cat sitter visit once or twice daily during a trip is the ideal way to get your cat fresh food, water, and prevent or address technical failures of their accessories. The last thing any cat parent wants to come home to after a memorable vacation is mildew, mold, or spills in and around their cat’s feeders and fountains.
Litter Scooping
As stated above, cats have high standards. Felines are very clean animals. For this reason, a cat may refuse to use a dirty, stinky litter box. They may even feel like they have no choice but to urinate and defecate outside the litter box to avoid stepping foot in a dirty box.
Think a robotic litter box is the solution? Think again. As with feeding and water equipment, we’ve seen litter robots fail at the worst times. Plus, litter areas can get pretty nasty when neglected. We will use your broom, pan, and cleaning supplies to ensure that your cat’s litter area gets the attention it needs during visits.
Damage Prevention
As if the possibility of improper elimination around your house weren’t enough, a stressed cat can cause additional damage to your home. From peeing on beds and carpets, to scratching up sofas, cats are infamous for making their displeasure known. Unfortunately, stress can really take a toll on cats. Cats can become a nuisance when their needs are not adequately met.
Instead of setting your pet up to fail, schedule at least one daily visit during the duration of your trip. A pro will ensure that your cat’s mental, physical, and emotional needs are met and furniture will thank you!
Peace of Mind
In-home cat sitting has endless benefits for cats; they get to stay home in a familiar environment, maintain their routines, etc. But, the benefits are not just for them. Humans too can enjoy peace of mind knowing that an insured, bonded, and highly trained professional is caring for their cat when they cannot.
Knowing that a cat lover has eyes on your pet while you’re far away is the best way to ensure that you can enjoy your travels to the fullest. Hiring someone to care for your pet at home and in the case of an emergency takes a layer of responsibility off of you as a pet parent. It allows you to live in the moment, whether on work travel, vacation, visiting family, etc.
Because peace of mind will enhance your travel experience, we recommend budgeting for cat care when planning travel. We also recommend choosing a professional pet sitter that is equipped to properly handle emergencies, trained to clean up kitty areas and use kitty equipment, and knows how to respect a cat’s boundaries and engage them in play. friend or neighbor may have the best of intentions but they may not know what they don’t know about cat care.
At Shoreline Happy Paws, we’ve made pet care our profession. You can be sure our team of professionals along with our highly dedicated managers will do everything in our power to ensure your cat gets the best care while you’re away.
We specialize in dog walking, dog hiking adventures, and pet sitting services in the following areas:
- Old Saybrook
- Essex, Ivoryton & Centerbrook
- Deep River
- Chester
- Westbrook
- Clinton
- Old Lyme
- East Lyme
- Niantic
Certain Parts and Certain Service Hours in:
- Lyme and Madison
- Waterford, New London, Groton
- Uncasville, Gales Ferry, Mystic, Noank
Please contact us by phone or text at 860-964-0464 or via email at info@cthappypaws.com to learn more.
