Cat Sitter Checklist: What to Leave Behind (Free Template)

Cats are famously independent, but a cat sitter who does not know your cat's feeding schedule, hiding spots, behavioral quirks, and vet contact is one missed litter change or one unnoticed symptom away from a problem. This is the complete checklist and free template for cat sitter instructions.

Free cat sitter instruction template

CAT SITTER INSTRUCTIONS — [Cat's Name]
Dates: _______________ Age/Weight: _______________ Indoor / Outdoor: _______________
FEEDING
Food type: Wet / Dry / Both
Brand and flavor: ___________________________
Amount per meal: _______________ Times: _______________ Location: _______________
Water: Refill frequency _______________ — Type: Tap / Filtered / Fountain _______________
Treats: Yes / No — Type: _______________ Frequency: _______________
Foods NOT allowed: ___________________________
LITTER BOX
Number of boxes: _______________ Locations: ___________________________
Litter type and brand: ___________________________
Cleaning frequency: _______________ How to dispose: _______________
Supplies location: ___________________________
MEDICATIONS / SUPPLEMENTS
Medication 1: _______________ Dose: _______________ When: _______________ How to give: _______________
Supplement: _______________ Amount: _______________ With food: Yes / No
Location: ___________________________
HEALTH CONDITIONS / ALLERGIES
Condition: ___________________________
What to watch for: ___________________________
What to do: ___________________________
Known allergies: ___________________________
BEHAVIORAL NOTES
Typical hiding spots if scared: ___________________________
Signs of stress to watch for: ___________________________
Good with strangers: Yes / No — Notes: _______________
Do NOT do: ___________________________
Enrichment favorites (toys, perches, routines): ___________________________
EMERGENCY CONTACTS
Owner (name): _______________ Cell: _______________
Backup contact: _______________ Cell: _______________
Vet name: _______________ Phone: _______________
Emergency vet (24-hour): _______________ Address: _______________
HOUSE / LOGISTICS
Indoor only: Yes / No — If outdoor, return by: _______________
Areas off-limits: ___________________________
Microchip: Yes / No — Number: _______________
WiFi: _______________ Alarm: _______________
Supplies location: ___________________________

Feeding: why the specifics matter for cats

Cats can be surprisingly particular about food — and dietary changes or missed meals can cause real health problems:

Specific brand and flavor — cats often refuse food that is the "wrong" brand or flavor. Provide enough of the regular food for the entire stay, plus a backup option in case.
Wet food timing — wet food left out more than an hour can spoil and cause stomach upset. If the cat does not finish a wet food meal, write down whether to leave it or discard it.
Cats who are free-fed versus cats with meal schedules — free-fed cats can have their dry food bowl topped up; meal-fed cats need specific amounts at specific times. Specify clearly.
Toxic foods for cats — onions, garlic, grapes, raisins, chocolate, caffeine, xylitol, alcohol, raw fish or meat in excess, and many houseplants. If the sitter is cooking, they need to know not to leave these accessible.
Multi-cat households — if you have more than one cat, specify whether they share food or eat separately, and whether one cat tends to steal the other's meals.

Litter box: the most overlooked section

A dirty litter box is not just unpleasant — it causes cats to avoid the box and choose other locations. Tell the sitter:

How often to scoop (daily at minimum; twice daily for multiple cats)
Your cat's preferences — some cats will refuse a box that has been used even once without scooping
Whether the box is covered or uncovered (do not switch; cats can refuse a box that looks different)
Where to dispose of waste
Whether to add fresh litter if the level drops, and how much

Behavioral notes: what your sitter does not know

Cat behavior is often misread by people who are not used to your specific cat:

Hiding behavior — cats often hide when there is a new person in the house. This is normal. Tell the sitter not to pursue or force interaction. Describe where the cat usually hides so the sitter can confirm the cat is present without causing more stress.
Signs of distress specific to your cat — some cats stop eating when stressed; others become more vocal, hide more, or over-groom. Tell the sitter what your cat's stress signals look like.
How much human interaction the cat expects — some cats want company every hour; others are fine with a daily check-in. Set the sitter's expectations correctly.
Biting or scratching tendencies — if your cat has a threshold for petting or play, describe it clearly. "She will let you pet her for about two minutes and then she gets overstimulated — you will see her tail flicking. Stop before she bites."
Favorite toys and enrichment — interactive playtime matters for indoor cats. Tell the sitter what the cat likes and for how long.

Medical symptoms that require a vet call

Tell the sitter what to watch for — and specifically what warrants an emergency call versus a call to you first:

Call you first — vomiting once or twice, sneezing, minor lethargy, eating less than usual
Call the vet or emergency vet — straining to urinate or crying in the litter box (especially urgent in male cats — can be life-threatening within hours), not eating for more than 24 hours, breathing with mouth open, sudden severe lethargy, blood in urine or stool, suspected ingestion of something toxic

Write these thresholds down. A cat sitter who does not know the difference between "vomiting once is often normal" and "not urinating in 12 hours is an emergency" cannot make the right call without guidance.

The complete cat sitter checklist

Food brand, amount, and feeding schedule
Toxic foods and substances to avoid
Water source and frequency
Litter box: how often to scoop, litter type, disposal method
Medications: name, dose, timing, how to give
Health conditions and what to monitor
Hiding spots during stress
Signs of distress specific to your cat
Interaction preferences: how much, how to approach
Biting or scratching thresholds
Favorite toys and enrichment
Indoor/outdoor rules and return time if outdoor
Areas off-limits
Owner cell and backup contact
Regular vet name and phone
24-hour emergency vet name, address, and phone
Microchip number
Symptoms that require emergency care vs. a call to you

Baton Pass stores pet care information — feeding schedules, medications, health conditions, and vet contacts — in a shareable link your cat sitter can open from any phone. No printing, no reprinting when things change.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long can a cat be left alone between sitter visits?

Most adult cats can be left alone for 8-12 hours between visits. Kittens, elderly cats, and cats with health conditions need more frequent check-ins. For any cat during a multi-day owner absence, a minimum of once-daily visits is required for feeding, litter, and welfare checks. Twice daily is better for social cats or cats with medical needs.

Should I board my cat or have a sitter come to the house?

Most cats do better with an in-home sitter than at a boarding facility. Cats are territorial and tend to experience boarding environments as stressful, which can suppress immune function and cause behavioral changes. An in-home sitter allows the cat to stay in their familiar environment with their familiar smells, routines, and hiding spots.

What should I tell the cat sitter if my cat is on a special diet?

Provide the specific food (do not ask the sitter to purchase it) and the exact feeding instructions. If the diet matters for a health condition (kidney disease, diabetes, hyperthyroidism), explain what happens if the cat eats the wrong food — this gives the sitter the understanding to take it seriously rather than thinking one deviation is harmless.

What if the cat is hiding and the sitter cannot find them?

Include the cat's three or four most common hiding spots on the instruction sheet. Tell the sitter that a hiding cat during a new person's visit is normal — the goal is to confirm the cat is present, not to coax them out. If the cat has not been seen in more than 24 hours and the food has not been touched, that is worth a call to you.