The sitter knows where the food is, but not which bowl belongs to which cat or what an unfinished meal usually means. A useful handover describes the ordinary routine clearly enough that a change can be noticed.
Walk through one visit together
Show the sitter feeding, fresh water, litter care and the places the cat normally uses. Explain safe entry and exit so the cat cannot slip through a door unexpectedly. Check that keys and access arrangements work before departure.
Cats Protection’s holiday guidance recommends leaving daily care instructions and relevant practical details. Agree care appropriate to your particular cat, including any health needs, rather than assuming one brief visit suits every situation.
Write quantities and exceptions plainly
Identify the exact food and the agreed amounts using a clear measure. Label supplies where helpful. If medication is involved, obtain instructions from the veterinary team and ensure the sitter is willing and competent to follow them. Do not leave them to infer a dose from an old packet.
Include normal hiding places, usual appetite and any behaviour worth reporting. A note that says “often rests under the spare bed” can prevent an unnecessary search; it should not encourage ignoring a genuinely missing or unwell cat.
Agree the response to a problem
Provide the vet’s verified contact details, your contact, an alternative responsible person and the carrier’s location. Arrange any necessary veterinary authorisation and payment process in advance. Explain when the sitter should seek professional advice rather than waiting for a reply from you.
Decide how routine updates will work. A brief record of visits, food and observations is often more useful than a photograph with no context. Keep the instructions private because they may reveal when the home is empty.
When you return, ask which part of the handover was unclear. Update it while the experience is fresh. Good cat care during an absence depends less on a long document than on a routine another person can carry out and a clear response when the routine changes.