How many cat sitter visits a day?

[Barbeasty]

We adopted 2 rescue cats on Saturday, and need to sort arrangements for when we go on holiday at the end of August.

We've decided that a sitter will be far less stressful for the cats than packing them off to a cattery just as they feel secure and settled, but don't know whether to go for 1 or 2 visits a day.

We'll keep them as indoor cats until we get back and they'll be used to having the house to themselves all day as we are all out at work/ school.
In terms of feeding we're still on trial and error as to when they will eat wet food, and how much. They'll happily top up on dry food.

[lutjanus]

1 should be fine just to top up dry and wet food and water and clean litter box and a quick cuddle.

Remember they sleep 22 hrs a day ;)

[lutjanus]

Oh we need photos

[CherryBlossom23]

If it was me I'd spend a few hours there cuddling them . But yes, one visit is probably fine. Maybe two for the first day or two to make sure they're okay in the beginning? When my OH minds his parents cat he visits once in the evening.

[dementedpixie]

We went for 2 visits per day so that the wet food was not sitting out all day plus it meant they got more interactive time. It's a long time to be on their own otherwise. I did also leave a key with the neighbour as our cats go out and we just got our first cat flap that they hadn't properly learned how to use. They also let the cats in if required at night if they hadn't been there when the cat sitter visited. The cat sitter also shut and opened the front blinds so it looked as if someone was going in and out. She also put bins out for us although we did wheel them all to the front of the house so it was just a case of putting them on the pavement on the right day

[Barbeasty]

Here they are, on the day they came to us.

Thanks for all the responses.

[lutjanus]

oh they're beatiful. Are they siblings?

[YesItsMeIDontCare]

My boy is an indoor cat and has 2 visits a day, mainly for litter tray cleaning purposes! Wet food is going to go crappy very quickly so unless they're used to just one wet meal a day I'd have 2 visits for that reason as well.

You're definitely making the right decision about the cattery- could you imagine if they thought they were being sent back to a rescue 😢.

[Barbeasty]

They're sisters, 11 months old.

We're still trying to work out exactly what they need to eat when. We started giving a pouch each am and pm, and they ate about half. So we tried putting half a pouch each, and 1 cat promptly ate both bowls of food.

So we went back to a whole pouch, and now they eat the jelly and then wonder back occasionally to pick at the chunks, but leaving half behind. And they pick at the dry food too.
Next plan is to give a pouch once a day and let them eat dry food and see if they are happy with that.

Obviously if we end up giving wet food twice a day it will have to be 2 visits. But we need to book something soon....

[PinkSparklyPussyCat]

Harry has two visits a day and when we're away for 3 weeks next year I'm going to book a few days with 3 visits.

[YesItsMeIDontCare]

They eat normally then 😂.

[TroubledLichen]

So cute! 2 visits a day here too (for indoor cats).

[Toddlerteaplease]

Mine have one. My cat sitter lives to far away to come twice. As one of them needs a lot of medication they have to go to the cattery if I'm away longer than 24 hours.

[EachandEveryone]

Please try and get one recommended or look at cat in a flat sitters you just put your postcode in. Do you have anyone in mind? Ive been her when mines been and she really doesn’t do much just the basics and it takes 20 minutes. Try and find someone that’s going to play with them. 10 months is still young. I don’t know if they sleep 22 hours a day mine certainly don’t!

[dementedpixie]

Mine was a family friend so I knew her already. My 2 also don't sleep 22 hours a day!

[Barbeasty]

We've gone for 1 visit a day, using someone who also volunteers at the rescue centre the cats came from.
We live outside her normal area, making 1 visit easier, but she comes highly recommended.

[EmmaC78]

1 visit will be fine.

[Lynne1Cat]

I've always had cats, and always had cat-sitters. I have someone to call in twice a day. I only have people I have met before, who have a DBS, and who like cats. It costs me about £9 per visit.

[EachandEveryone]

Its not cheap i pay £10 but i think its £15 for two visits so to be thats better value.

[SneakyGremlins]

Oh I'd love to be a cat sitter