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Free handover tool

Cat sitter instructions template

Build a visit-by-visit handover for feeding, fresh water, litter, access rules, hiding places, handling, carrier and escape risks.

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Cat sitter instructions details

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A calm handover for the details cats cannot explain

What to include in cat sitter instructions

A cat may stay out of sight while still following a familiar routine. Write each visit in the order the sitter should follow it, then add what normal looks like and when you want an update. That gives a quiet cat space without leaving food, litter or safety checks ambiguous.

What this cat care template covers

The generator turns the cat's established routine into a repeatable visit plan.

  • Visit timing, meals, treats, fresh water and the usual daily rhythm
  • Litter trays, scooping, disposal and spare supplies
  • Indoor, outdoor or supervised-access rules
  • Expected hiding or behaviour and when the sitter should update you
  • Carrier location, escape risks, medication and emergency contacts

What to prepare before you start

Keep the cat's normal products and current instructions close to hand.

  • The number and approximate timing of the visits you have agreed
  • Food portions, litter type and the routine the cat already follows
  • The carrier in a place the sitter can reach without searching
  • Current medication labels and your regular vet's contact details
  • Likely hiding places, doors or windows needing care and a local backup contact

Details cat owners commonly forget

These notes help a sitter complete each visit and know when to contact you.

  • What the sitter should do if they cannot find the cat when that is unusual
  • Which changes in food, water, litter or behaviour should prompt an update
  • How litter waste should be bagged and disposed of
  • Which rooms, windows and external doors must stay closed
  • How the cat signals that it wants space or attention
Fictional example

Milo's evening visit: a clear order

This fictional example records observable checks and the owner's contact plan rather than prescribing care for another cat.

Arrival
Open the porch door first, then close it before opening the inner door. Milo is indoor only.
Food and water
Serve one labelled pouch in the kitchen, wash and refill the blue water bowl, and note if the breakfast food is untouched.
Litter
Scoop the tray in the utility room and place the tied bag in the outside grey bin.
Quiet check
Milo often sleeps behind the bedroom curtain. Check quietly, but do not pull him out. If he is not in any of the three hiding places listed in the brief, contact the owner, then the backup contact if there is no reply.
Before leaving
Check the utility-room window and both porch doors are closed, then send the agreed food, litter and wellbeing update.

From answers to a usable handover

How to copy, print or share your brief

  1. 1

    Check the preview

    Resolve important missing-detail prompts and make sure each instruction is attached to the right pet or household task.

  2. 2

    Copy or print

    Copy the plain-language brief, print a paper copy or use the browser's print screen to save a PDF.

  3. 3

    Share only when ready

    Use the finished copy directly, or choose the invited-owner flow to review an import before anything is uploaded.

Use the preview to check names, litter, access and emergency details. Copy the finished instructions, print them or save them as a PDF from the browser. Creating an expiring live brief requires an invited owner to review and explicitly import the local draft.

Ready-made printable templates

Download an A4 or US Letter PDF

Choose the warm SitSorted version or a black-and-white layout for economical printing. The completed example is fictional.

Warm A4Blank printable PDFBlack & white A4Blank printable PDFWarm US LetterBlank printable PDFBlack & white US LetterBlank printable PDFCompleted exampleFictional A4 PDF

Helpful answers

Frequently asked questions

What information does a cat sitter need?

Include the agreed visit times, feeding and litter routines, access rules, likely hiding places, handling preferences, escape risks, carrier location, current medication instructions, emergency contacts and when you want an update.

What should a cat sitter check at each visit?

Record the order that suits your cat: safe entry, the cat or its expected hiding routine, food and fresh water, litter, any current medication instructions, play or quiet company, and a final door and window check. Add the update you want after each visit.

Should I include indoor or outdoor rules?

Yes. State the rule explicitly, including any doors, windows or cat flaps that need particular care. Do not assume a sitter knows the household routine.

Can I print these cat sitter instructions?

Yes. The preview is designed to copy or print cleanly, and the browser's print option can also save it as a PDF.

What should I write about medication?

Copy only the current instructions supplied by your vet or shown on the medication label. Contact your vet if anything is unclear; SitSorted does not provide medical advice.

Is my cat's information uploaded?

Not while you use the free generator. The draft stays in this browser unless an invited owner signs in, reviews it and explicitly confirms an import.

More free handover tools

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Need one focused page?

Pet feeding schedule templateTurn meal times, portions, fresh water and treat rules into one scan-friendly schedule your chosen sitter can follow.
Pet medication schedule templateCopy the current veterinary or product-label instructions into one careful schedule without inventing doses or medical advice.
Emergency pet care cardPut the names and numbers a sitter may need urgently onto one compact card, without storing keys, alarm codes or a precise address.