Written by High Park Pet Care · Reviewed by Chris Baillie
Published August 2026 · Last reviewed August 2026
Based on our experience providing professional pet care in Toronto since 2014.
Choosing someone to care for your cat while you’re away involves quite a bit of trust.
You’re not only asking someone to feed your cat and clean the litter box. You’re giving that person access to your home and trusting them to notice when something isn’t right, respond appropriately if a problem occurs, and provide your cat with dependable care while you’re away.
A good cat sitter should make you feel comfortable asking questions before you book.
Here are 10 worth asking.
Cats are amazing, magical creatures!
Their behaviours, body language and needs can vary greatly – even among cats in the same household – and someone who is comfortable around animals isn’t necessarily experienced in caring for cats.
Ask how long the sitter has been providing cat care and whether cat sitting is something they do regularly.
Consistency matters.
Having the same sitter visit each day allows that person to become familiar with your cat’s normal behaviour, eating habits, litter box use and personality.
It’s also usually easier on the cat. Even very social cats may need some time to become comfortable with a new person, while shy cats may take considerably longer.
And let’s face it: you also want to know who is coming into your home—your sanctuary—while you’re away.
Ask who will actually be entering your home and caring for your cat while you’re away.
A Meet & Greet can accomplish a lot. (See Preparing for the Meet & Greet: How to Get the Most Out of It.)
You get to meet, in person, the individual you’ll be entrusting with the care of your cat and your home. You can show your potential sitter where the essentials are—food, bowls, cleaning supplies, extra litter and anything else they’ll need—and share details about your cat’s routine, personality and any particular behaviours to look out for.
A successful Meet & Greet should leave you feeling more confident that your cat and home will be in reliable, trustworthy hands.
Some companies charge for a Meet & Greet while others provide one at no cost, so be sure to ask in advance.
A 30-minute visit might break down something like this: an experienced and efficient cat sitter can check that everything is as it should be in your home, provide fresh food and water, and scoop and tidy the litter boxes within the first 15 minutes. That leaves roughly 15 minutes for giving your cat—or cats—the attention, affection or play they deserve.
A quality cat-sitting service may also include some basic house care, such as watering indoor plants, bringing in the mail and alternating lights while you’re away. If you have a large collection of plants, multiple cats, or cats that would benefit from more companionship, a 45-minute or even hour-long visit may be a better choice.
5. What happens during each visit?
Ask the sitter to walk you through a typical visit.
Depending on your cat, that might include:
A professional sitter should be able to explain clearly what their visits include.
You shouldn’t have to wonder whether your sitter arrived or how your cat is doing.
Ask whether you’ll receive an update following each visit and whether photographs are included.
A simple message and a few pictures can provide enormous peace of mind when you are hours away from home.
This is one of the most important questions to ask.
A sitter should know whom to contact, where your cat normally receives veterinary care and what to do if you can’t immediately be reached.
It’s also worth discussing what constitutes an emergency before you leave.
Professional pet care isn’t just about performing the routine when everything goes according to plan. It’s also about having a plan for when it doesn’t.
People get sick. Cars break down. Emergencies happen.
If you’re hiring an individual sitter, ask what happens if that person suddenly can’t complete a scheduled visit.
If you’re hiring a pet-care company, ask whether another qualified sitter can step in and how that transition would be handled.
The important thing is that your cat’s care shouldn’t depend entirely upon everything going perfectly for one individual.
Discuss keys, condominium access, alarm systems, lockboxes and any other access requirements before the booking begins.
You should understand who will have access to your key, where it will be kept and how access information is protected.
Ask how keys, lockbox codes and other access information is recorded and protected.
This is also a good reason to arrange a meet & greet before your first booking rather than trying to sort everything out on departure day.
Ask.
A professional pet sitter or pet-care company should be able to explain what insurance they carry and answer reasonable questions about how their business operates.
Insurance alone doesn’t tell you whether someone will be a wonderful cat sitter, but it is one of several signs that you’re dealing with someone who treats pet care as a professional responsibility.
This one isn’t really about credentials.
It’s about trust.
Pay attention to how the sitter communicates with you. Do they listen? Do they ask questions about your cat? Do they seem interested in routines, behaviour, health and personality—or primarily in getting the booking confirmed?
And pay attention to how they interact with your cat.
A good meet & greet should leave you feeling considerably more comfortable about going away, not less.
Price and availability matter, but they shouldn’t be the only things you consider when choosing a cat sitter.
You’re trusting someone with an animal you love and with access to your home.
Look for experience, reliability, clear communication, sensible procedures and someone who genuinely seems interested in getting to know your cat.
When those pieces are in place, travelling becomes a lot easier.
If you’re planning care for your cat, you may also find these guides useful: