What Do Cat Sitters Do At Every Visit, Anyway?

Of all of the questions I am asked about what life is like as a professional pet sitter the one question that continually pops up is, "What do you do when you visit cats, anyway? It must be the easiest job ever!"

Well, yes, it is pretty easy to visit cats but some forget that cats are just as social as dogs are (if not more) and expect to get their needs met at each cat sitting visit. For example, Xlavia, my current 7 month old client, needs plenty of exercise so her purple feather toy keeps her moving for awhile until 

she decides she needs a peaceful form of exercise, yoga, and promptly starts her session in her favorite pose, the cobra. I daresay, she has that form down pat (pun intended), doesn't she?

And speaking of having forms down pat, Xlavia entertains herself by making sure I use the correct form as I change the litter box. Of all of the cat sitting tasks I perform, changing the litter box is not one of  my favorites but no matter how unpleasant it is, it needs to be done at each visit.

Of course, Xlavia and her 19 year old sister, Wiggy, needs to have their food and water bowls refreshed daily. Often pets are less enthusiastic about eating and drinking when their owners are away from them so it always warms my heart to see my clients eat when I'm nearby. 

And it always warms my heart when cats old cats like Wiggy stand on tiny arthritic paws to beg for more treats, more pets, and more kitty talk. 

But when cat clients refuse to let me leave by sitting on my gloves and cat sitting forms my heart is broken but I take comfort that I have fulfilled their needs for one day until I visit them again.