Why should a pet owner use a cat sitter?

Veterinarians and feline professionals agree that cats do best when they remain in their own home.  

In-home cat sitting helps reduce stress, keeps routines consistent, and allows cats to eat, rest, and use their litter boxes in familiar surroundings. Cats also benefit from personalized attention and daily wellness checks, while avoiding exposure to illness and stress from boarding facilities or transportation. 

 

What kinds of pets do you care for?

I specialize exclusively in caring for cats. Each cat is unique, and I tailor my care to meet their individual needs, personalities, and routines.

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Why do I not offer every other day service for cats?

Cats require daily care and monitoring, even when they appear independent. Daily visits allow me to ensure your cat has access to food, water, and a clean litter box, and that they are safe and healthy. 

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Cats can become trapped in rooms, experience health issues, ingest unsafe items, or be affected by environmental concerns such as extreme heat or an AC malfunction. Daily visits allow concerns to be identified and addressed promptly, helping prevent emergencies and unnecessary stress.

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For these reasons, Desert Whiskers Cat Sitting requires daily visits for all cat-sitting services. 

This policy is in place to prioritize your cat's safety and well-being at all times

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What services do you provide? What are your Service Hours?

I specialize in providing daily care visits exclusively for cats.

I typically make 1-2 visits per day, depending on your cat's needs.  For full-service details, please refer to my policies page.

Service Hours:

8am to 6pm.

Office Hours (calls, scheduling, non-urgent messages):

Monday-Friday 10am - 4pm.

Office Closed:

Saturday & Sunday

 

Do you Administer Medication?

Yes, I am experienced and equipped to administer a variety of medication for cats, including insulin injections, transdermal medication, pills, and liquids. Many of my clients have diabetic cats or cats requiring medication every 12 hours, and I am comfortable providing this level of care. 

 

Please note: During our initial meet and greet, clients with cats requiring medication are asked to demonstrate their preferred method of administration. This helps ensure consistency, reduces stress for your cat, and allows me to provide the best care possible.

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Do you have references?

Yes.  If you’re a new client, I’m happy to provide references upon request. You can also find testimonials and reviews about my services on my website and other trusted platforms.

 

Are you Bonded & Insured?

Yes. I am fully bonded and insured through Pet Care Insurance.

 

What does it mean to be bonded and insured?

Bonding and liability insurance provide an added layer of protection and peace of mind for my clients while I am caring for their pets and home. Liability insurance covers accidental damage or injury related to pet sitting services, and bonding is part of maintaining professional standards and accountability.​​​​​​​

 

Education, Training & Professional Experience 

​While my practice is cat - focused, my professional training and experience span multiple species, allows me to provide informed, comprehensive care when needed.

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• Pet First Aid & CPR

• Feline health, behavior, and daily care 

• Administration of medications (including insulin and specialty meds)

• Care of senior. special needs, and medically complex cats

• Small animal and limited exotic care (rabbits, guinea pigs, etc.)

Previous professional experience also includes dog care and handling

 

I am a member of:

•  PSI (Pet Sitters International) - CPPS Certified

• Fear Free Certified 

 

What does Fear Free Certified mean?

Fear Free certification means I focus on minimizing fear, anxiety, and stress during every visit by using gentle handling, respecting each cat's comfort level, and adjusting to their individual needs. 

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What is Pet Sitters International (PSI) and what does CPPS Certified mean?

Pet Sitters International (PSI) is the leading professional organization for pet sitters worldwide and has established global standards for safety, ethnics, and pet care. As a CPPS Certified Professional Pet Sitter, I have completed PSI's certification program, which verifies my knowledge in areas such as animal behavior, health and safety, emergency preparedness, client communication, and ethical business practices.

CPPS certification means I follow recognized industry standards, carry proper insurance, use professional contracts and procedures, and prioritize safe, responsible, and reliable care for your cats and your home.  

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Is it OK to have you share sitting duties with our friends or neighbors?

No. For liability and insurance reasons, I do not accommodate shared care arrangements. My insurance and service agreement require that I be the sole caregiver providing pet-sitting services while you are away.  Shared care refers to situations where a family member, friend, neighbor or other individual also enters the home to care for your pets during your scheduled service period. In these situations, I cannot be held responsible for pet care, home access, or any issues that may arise.

For the safety of your pets and to maintain full accountability, if you hire a professional pet sitter, they must be the only person providing pet care in your home during your time away. 

 

What happens if my cat gets ill or injured?

At Desert Whiskers Cat Sitting, your cat's health and safety are my top priority.

 

If your cat becomes ill or injured while your away, I will notify you immediately. in the event of an emergency, including outside of normal office hours, I will transport your cat to your designated veterinary or emergency clinic. 

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All medical and emergency care instructions are discussed in advance during the meet & greet, allowing me to act quickly and in your cat's best interest if a situation arises. 

 

What happens if I can’t return on the date I’m supposed to?

I understand that plans can change unexpectedly. In these situations, Desert Whiskers Cat Sitting will continue providing care for your cats until you notify me of your return.

 

I do request as much notice as possible so I can adjust my schedule accordingly.

 

Please note: This policy applies only to current clients who have provided a key or access to their home.

 

What if I need your services at the last minute?

Once we have completed a meet & greet, I will do my best to accommodate last-minute or emergency requests, based on availability. 

It is much easier to honor short-notice requests when I already have your key or access code on file. 

 

How much advance notice do you require before service?

At Desert Whiskers Cat Sitting, advance planning is strongly encouraged to ensure availability and allow time for proper planning. 

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• Current clients:  Please submit service requests as soon as your travel dates are known. Short-notice requests may be possible but are not guaranteed. 

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• New clients:  A minimum of 3-4 weeks' notice is required to allow time to review your information, complete your client profile, and schedule a required meet & greet before any services can be confirmed.  

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• Holiday and peak travel periods: Dates fill quickly. Early booking is strongly encouraged. 

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What is the best way to reach Desert Whiskers Cat Sitting?

For new clients, the best way to get started is by completing the Contact Us, or New Client form on my website. This ensures I have the information needed to determine availability and next steps. 

Current clients may contact me through the time to pet portal.

Phone calls are reserved for emergencies only.

 

Do I need to give you a key to my house?

Yes. A physical key is required. At the meet and greet, I will request a house key and any applicable garage or door codes.  

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A physical key is necessary in case of power outages, keypad failures, or battery issues with keyless entry systems.  Clients may request to have their key securely retained on file for future services. If you prefer the key to be returned after service, a key pickup or drop-off fee applies each time.

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Can I come to your house to drop off & pick up the key?

No. For privacy and security reasons, I do not allow clients to visit my personal residence for key drop-off or pick up. Desert Whiskers Cat Sitting does not operate from a storefront, and all key handling is arranged directly at the client's home or during the meet & greet. 

 

We will be staying in a local hotel. Can you visit our pet(s) there?

No. Desert Whiskers Cat Sitting provides in-home pet care only. For insurance, safety, and liability reasons, I do not offer pet-sitting services at hotels, motels, or other temporary lodging locations.  

 

Can I drop my cat off at your house?

No. Desert Whiskers Cat Sitting is a cat-only, in-home pet sitting service. I do not offer boarding or kenneling in my home. My services are designed to keep cats comfortable and stress-free by caring for them in their own home environment. 

 

Do you have a referral program?

Yes, Desert Whiskers Cat Sitting offers a referral program.

Current Clients: 

Receive 20% off one booking of up to 7 consecutive days when a referred new client completes their first booking.

New Clients:

Receive 10% off one booking of up to 7 consecutive days on their first completed booking.

 

Referral credits are applied one time only after the referred new client completes their first booking. Discounts are not transferable and are not combined with other offers. 

 

​​Rescue and Shelter referrals:

Desert Whiskers Cat Sitting is proud to support local rescues and shelters. When a rescue or shelter refers a new client, a donation will be made in appreciation of the referral. Donations may be made via direct payment, applied toward a veterinary bill, or fulfilled through an approved wish list.

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This is my way of saying thank you and giving back to the community. 

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If you have a question that isn't answered above, you're always welcome to reach out by email. This FAQ is based on the questions I look for when choosing a professional pet sitter for my own pets and you don’t see it above, please send me an email & I will answer your question. I try to base all of my questions off what I look for in a pet sitter.

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