How do you interview a pet sitting service?

One of the best things to do is to interview the petsitters in person, ideally the same person who will be coming to your house. It's always better to do it this way, because you get to see how the sitter interacts with your cats and vice versa. Not to mention you want to meet the person who's going to have the keys to your house!

Some basic questions that come to mind are:

How long have you been in business? (preferably,you want someone with experience)

Which vets are you familiar with in the area? (it's usually a good sign if a vet recommends a petsitting service - petsitting businesses that have been operating awhile will be familiar with at least a few local vets. Also, you should tell your vet that the sitter has permission to bring your cats in for medical treatment if necessary, in your absence. Leave a carrier, in case).

How many other clients will you have at the time you'll be sitting for my cats? (if they have lots of clients, they'll be spread pretty thin. They may not have much time to spend with your cats which leads to the next question...)

Approximately how much time will you spend with my cats? (you want someone who is going to do more than rush in the door, throw down some food and leave. They should take a good look at each cat, even if they're under the bed, to make sure they seem ok. If possible, they should have at least 15-20 minutes of playtime, too).

Do they have any medical background with animals, for example, were they a vet tech at one time? You don't have to rule out someone who doesn't have medical experience, but they should be familiar with potential signs of illness in cats.

Ask about their own animals - they should have some and speak as lovingly about them as you would about yours!

References: Ask for them and don't settle for one name. Get the names of at least 3 satisfied clients.

BTW, I know you mentioned having the sitter come every other day, but I would urge you to have them come at least once each day (mine comes twice - I worry a lot!). They should turn lights on and off as needed, and leave a radio playing soft music.

A lot can happen in 24 hours - they could get sick, hurt, the pipes could burst, the heat go off, you get the idea. Once a day is the minimum you want your babies checked on.

Don't forget to leave a contact # where you can be easily reached. Also request a phone# for the sitter and set up at least 2 times when you will call to see how the cats are doing.

When I was researching for this article I interviewed over a dozen pet sitters. Very few would even allow a future client to come into their home, preferring instead to go to theirs.

Here is the article, you should find tips inside to help you

http://www.thecatsite.com/content/view/58/28/

Thanks, KTLynn. I knew there would be a few things I wouldn't think of.

Mary Ann, the article was right on the money. Thank you very much for leading me to it.

I know I can count on you, Lacey! It was a great help just to know you were on stand-by while we were gone. I really didn't worry about the cats at all.

And, of course, the same goes for me if you ever need help with Juicy or Destin or Noodles. I've never met a ferret, but I'd certainly do whatever I could.

Also ask about play time..

I did pet sitting as a kid ( age 9-16) and still do for freinds...

I usually went three times a day ...