Cat sitting questions

I know some of you know I got my first client recently, for whom I'll be cat sitting in August. I'd really like to make something out of this, but looking to see if anyone else has a bit more experience in cat sitting or pet sitting in general.

Is there licensing required to pet sit, or is that something that varies by state? Do you need to incorporate yourself? And at what point do you need to consider Uncle Sam? I'm guessing if someone does it once they won't think twice about not reporting it, but if I do more then I want to make sure I'm doing this the right way.

Anyway, any experience and thoughts on the matter would be helpful. Also, did you buy your own domain name or just use that of a generic website?

And yes, I'd like to make it about the cat, and not just about cat-sitting. My goal will be to make the cat feel as comfortable as possible while their owners are gone. Thankfully, it seems most people in my area consider their pets to be part of the family.


Edit: OH! And do you ask the client to sign a contract? If so, do you normally put together something formal (not by a lawyer, but something that spells everything out that is expected of you and the owner)?

If you are hoping to do this as a job then a visit to a lawyer might be your best option - one who deals with small businesses. He/She could answer the regulation and tax questions for your state as well as draw up a contract for you. As for a contract I think it would be wise so things are spelled out plainly.  The website is a good idea. Truthfully I used a free site for mine, but if you have the capital you can invest in one done professionally. They do tend to look much better.

Our pet sitter is insured and she is bonded. She took some classes on caring for animals and she's trained in animal CPR. For her first-time clients, she goes to their house to meet the kids, pick up the house key, they can sign the contract (it lists what she can and cannot do), find out where the food is kept, all that good stuff. She comes in as often as we want her to.....I feel better when she comes twice a day, but some of her other clients are happy with once-daily. 

She and I don't do contracts, largely because we graduated from high school together and I've known her forever. I feel comfortable having her and her husband come in the house when we're not there. She keeps our house key, so that if we're going to leave on the spur of the moment, I don't have to worry about trying to get the key to her; she already has it. I know that I can call her every night while we're gone, if need be, and she'll let me know how the kids are doing, how they ate (or didn't eat, in Amber's case), and what's going on. In the summer, she'll run the pool pump for us. She picks up the mail. If I tell her to look for a package coming, she'll let me know when it gets here. They scoop boxes regularly. They understand how we feel about the kids and know that the cats do not get tap water, only spring water from our fridge. When a cat needs his/her meds, they give what's needed.

They always give us a "report card" on how things went while we were gone. Sometimes when I call her to tell her we're home, she might tell me that Amber didn't eat or that BooBoo seems a little funky or that Mollipop threw up in the hallway. 

And what do I do to make it easier for them? I keep a list of all phone numbers for easy access: my cell, Rick's cell, the motels or B &Bs we'll be at during our vacation, my sister's phone number, the vet's phone number. They know that they can call our vet, if necessary, and we will pay the vet bill as soon as we get home. Our vet knows that, too. There has never been a problem when one of our cats needed vet care. She did what she needed to do and we took care of the bill when we got home. 

I put all the food out on the kitchen counter, along with silverware, all the cats' plates. The plastic bags, the litter-scooper, and the broom are on the bathroom floor. I have a two-page list of instructions for her (the spring water only thing, Boo is on special meds, how to feed, who gets what snacks, all that stuff). Not only is it important for her to do her job well, what I do to prepare helps her to do her job. That's why I'm mentioning it here.....it may help you when you're talking to your clients.

A web site would be really nice to help you get the word out. Check on getting a license, if needed. Check on getting bonded, on getting insured. All that good stuff. Make sure you know CPR....when I was in college, I took a class on CPR and it included animal CPR, too. I think everybody should know CPR to be honest, and anybody who has pets should learn animal CPR, too. (Sorry, kind of off-topic there  )

There's probably a ton of stuff that I've forgotten about. And I'm sure that others will have some great ideas for you. Good luck!

Here's an article on what we suggest people look for in pet sitters -

http://www.thecatsite.com/a/a-pet-owners-guide-to-pet-sitters

Thank you - all such great advice! And I will look into that link when I get home from work for sure, AbbysMom .

A lot of the sitter sites ask if you know animal CPR, so it does seem like a good thing to learn (plus, just common sense anyway). I never learned human CPR either to be honest though. I plan on getting insured and bonded before I actually start this job, which will be in August.

My biggest fears with this particular one (which are spurring a lot of other questions for me in general):

1) the house is HUGE. I've been in big houses, but I don't think I've ever been in a house that was as big as this one. There's a part of me that will feel obligated to look for pee (since this kitty has had cystits flare-ups in the past) and puke, and she pretty much has free run of the house, with only a few exceptions. Plus the one very specific request I got was make sure I actually see her at least once a day. Meaning, don't just fill up the food and water and clean the litter, but make sure I see her with my own eyes. I am guessing some folks in the past didn't do that, of course that will be a given to me on every visit!

2) They are new to the area. They have actually moved several times and hoping this will be it for them, but they don't even have a vet yet. I've already been given the go-ahead to take her to my vet if she doesn't have one lined up by the time. I've never taken someone else's pet to a vet though, so wondering if I need to get something signed in the event I need to take her to the vet? Maybe the contract would be good for that.

3)The family will be in Iceland, so calling won't really be an option necessarily as they are not even sure if their phones will work. We'll be communicating via email, but that's not necessarily going to be an instant communication.

(I'm currently a quality assurance analyst, and a former business analyst, and really think I'm one at heart, so my brain just works this way - try to think of all the crazy scenarios that can happen!)


On a more general note, when I say I want to make it about the cat, I mean that 100%. That means if the owner brushes their teeth, guess what I'll be doing? Brushing their teeth. And yes, I asked that question, mainly because if there is a schedule they follow, I didn't want that schedule screwed up. I also asked what kind of water they give her. They have a fountain with a filter that they put tap water in Basically, I want to be the kind of cat sitter that I'd want for my cats. Not just someone that makes sure the bare necessities are taken care of.

As far as small business lawyers, not sure I know of any, but might know some folks that do. I did see a site where someone recommended an accountant.

Thanks so much

The beauty of social media... I posted yesterday that I was looking to get into cat sitting, and two friends said they would be my new clients also! Yeah, I'll probably have to charge less (depending on what people they currently use charge) but it would be worth it if it means potential referrals

Too bad you are so far away from me I could use a 2nd cat-sitter for the cruise I am going on in September. I am going to have to ask one of my friends if he can alternate days with another friend that takes care of my cats. My cat-sitter has a demanding full-time job and takes care of her elderly mother. There is no way I can expect her to come over every day for 9 days.

catlover73 said:

Too bad you are so far away from me I could use a 2nd cat-sitter for the cruise I am going on in September. I am going to have to ask one of my friends if he can alternate days with another friend that takes care of my cats. My cat-sitter has a demanding full-time job and takes care of her elderly mother. There is no way I can expect her to come over every day for 9 days.

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Sent you a PM!

I think you should consider getting LLC or INC status for your cat sitting business.  That way if something happens and you get sued, they can't take your house or belongs.  I don't think you would do anything to get sued but if something happens you can never predict how someone will react.

You should have a signed consent for to take the cat to a vet.  That's what we did on scout trips for the kids.