Cats, kittens & shy hiders
Cat sitting in Fort Collins
Cats are quietly terrible at travel. Boarding means a carrier, a car ride, unfamiliar smells and a stranger's schedule — for an animal whose whole sense of safety is built on things staying the same.
In-home cat sitting skips all of it. Your cat keeps her window, her box, her hiding spot under the bed, and I come to her. I've cared for barn cats who took three days to appear, diabetic seniors on twice-daily insulin, and kittens who thought my shoelaces were prey.
What each cat visit includes
- Measured food — wet, dry, prescription, or a rotation of picky-cat options
- Fresh water; fountains rinsed and refilled
- Litter boxes scooped every visit, fully changed on longer trips
- Medications: pills, pill pockets, transdermal ear gels, eye drops, subcutaneous fluids and insulin injections
- Play and brushing for cats who want it — quiet company for cats who don't
- A quick health check: appetite, litter output, eyes, breathing, anything that looks off
- Photos every visit, even if it's just a tail behind the couch
How often should a cat be visited?
One visit a day is the common answer, and for a healthy, easygoing adult cat it's usually enough. But 'usually enough' isn't the same as best, and some cats genuinely need more.
| Situation | Recommended |
|---|---|
| One healthy adult cat, dry food available | Once daily |
| Multiple cats, or wet-food feeding | Once or twice daily |
| Kittens under six months | Twice daily |
| Diabetic or medicated cats | Twice daily, on schedule |
| Senior cats or known health issues | Twice daily |
| Cat with a history of urinary blockages | Twice daily, litter monitored closely |
Shy cats and hiders
A cat who hides from me isn't a failure, and I don't drag anyone out from under a bed to prove I showed up. I sit on the floor, talk quietly, leave a treat, and let her decide. Most cats appear by the third visit. Some watch me the whole week from behind the dryer, eat well, and use the box — which is all the information I actually need.
What I do watch for is the difference between hiding and being unwell. Untouched food, no litter output, hunched posture or labored breathing gets a text to you right away, and a vet call if you've authorized one.
Indoor-outdoor and catio cats
If your cat goes outside, tell me the rules: whether she's let out at all while you're gone, when she's usually back, what to do if she doesn't show. Many owners prefer cats stay in during a trip, and I'll follow that. Catios get checked for latches, water and shade.
Frequently asked questions
Can you give my cat insulin?
Yes. Insulin injections, subcutaneous fluids, oral meds and ear gels are all routine for me, following your or your vet's written instructions.
My cat is fine alone for a weekend — do I really need a sitter?
Cats hide illness well, and a blocked bladder or a knocked-over water bowl becomes an emergency in under 48 hours. A single daily visit is cheap insurance against the thing you didn't plan for.
Will you send photos even if my cat hides?
Always. Sometimes it's a great portrait, sometimes it's one eye behind the couch, plus a note on what she ate and what the box looked like.
Do you sit for multi-cat households?
Often. Tell me who eats where, who bullies whom, and which one bolts for the door, and I'll keep the peace.
Let's get your dates on the calendar
Call or text with your travel dates and I'll usually reply the same day with an honest quote — no apps, no accounts, no booking fees.
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