Cat sitter pre-departure conversation script
Before you leave, walk through the cat’s routine with the sitter and leave a private written copy. Take the time needed to answer questions and check access.
THE DRIYU JOURNAL
Emergency & Safety
In this reading
Quick answer: cover feeding, water, litter, any veterinarian-prescribed care, usual behavior and contacts. Share household access, hiding places and travel details privately. Confirm what the sitter can view or edit in Driyu.
The pre-departure conversation
- Show feeding routine in real time.
- Show litter setup.
- Review the veterinarian’s current written instructions for any prescribed medication.
- Show usual hiding places privately and explain the agreed approach to checking on the cat.
- Agree what observations to record at each visit, including food, water and litter use; these observations alone do not prove the cat is well.
- If the cat stops eating, seek veterinary advice promptly rather than waiting for a fixed 24-hour threshold. Cornell’s appetite-loss guidance explains why this needs attention.
- Share emergency contacts: you, alternate contact, vet, ER clinic.
- Privately confirm how to reach you during the trip; do not publish the itinerary in pet notes.
- Walk through locks and escape precautions in person; share access details privately.
- Leave a copy of the agreed brief where the sitter can find it.
How Driyu fits
Use Family Sync for caregiver access when available on your account. View Only is for reading pet information; Guardian can edit pet information and toggle lost mode. Medical Records has limited Free capacity; Pro expands it. Access also depends on your role and account availability. Adding an emergency contact is a separate step and does not invite someone into your account.
The public tag page is not a private sitter notebook. Saved temperament and behavior notes can appear publicly. Share door codes, household hiding places and travel plans directly and privately with the caregiver; keep them out of public notes and photos. Review the public profile boundary.
When the stay ends, review and remove Family Sync membership you no longer want; do not assume access ends when you return.
Related reads from Driyu
- The cat sitter handoff: a calm checklist for shy-cat households
- The pet sitter handoff: what to leave with whoever watches your pet
- Shared pet care in Driyu: for families and roommates
Sources and further reading
Frequently asked questions
How much time should I allow?
Use the checklist, not a timer. Leave room for questions, demonstrations and any veterinary care instructions. A written copy helps the sitter check the plan later.
Should the sitter take photos?
Agree which photos would be useful and send them privately. Avoid exposing access details or personal documents. Photos alone do not establish that the cat is well.
What if my cat will not show up during the visit?
Explain the cat’s usual behavior and agree how the sitter will check on them. Do not assume every cat follows a fixed schedule for becoming comfortable with a new person.
What if I forget something?
Agree on a way to reach you and a backup person. Send any correction through that private channel and update the written brief.