How to Pick a Professional Cat Sitter

• The sitter is bonded and insured.
• The sitter provides references.
• The sitter has experience in caring for pets and is clearly mindful of their safety and well-being.
• The sitter provides written literature describing services and stating fees.
• The sitter visits the client's home before the first pet sitting assignment to meet the pets and get detailed information about their care.
• The sitter shows a positive attitude during the initial meeting and seems comfortable and competent dealing with animals.
• The sitter wants to learn as much as possible about the animals in his or her care.
• The sitter provides a service contract which specifies services and fees.
• The sitter is courteous, interested and well informed.
• The sitter takes precautions to make sure a client's absence from home is not detected because of any careless actions or disclosures by the sitter.
• The sitter conducts business with honesty and integrity and observes all federal, state and local laws pertaining to business operations and animal care.
• The sitter has a contingency plan for pet care in case of inclement weather or personal illness.
• The sitter participates in ongoing training.
• The sitter calls to confirm or has the client call to confirm the client has returned home as scheduled.
• The sitter refrains from criticizing competitors.
• The sitter exhibits courtesy and professionalism in all dealings with customers and industry colleagues so as to present the pet sitter and the pet sitting industry favorably and positively.
• The sitter keeps regular office hours and answers clients inquiries and complaints promptly.