A healthy young cat can often handle a short trip with simple daily visits. A senior cat, or a cat who needs pills, insulin, or other care on a schedule, is a different situation. These cats are more sensitive to changes in routine, and a missed dose or an unnoticed change in appetite can matter a lot more.
If you are planning holiday travel with an older or medicated cat at home, here is how in-home sitting helps and how to prepare.
When Is a Cat Considered “Senior”?
Under the 2021 feline life stage guidelines from the American Animal Hospital Association and the American Association of Feline Practitioners, cats are considered senior after age 10. Those guidelines recommend vet visits at least every six months for senior cats, and more often for cats with chronic conditions. Veterinarians also watch closely for kidney disease in mature and senior cats.
In other words, many cats who still act like kittens are, medically speaking, seniors who need closer monitoring.
Why Home Is Usually the Better Choice
Cats rely heavily on routine and familiar surroundings. A new environment, new sounds, and unfamiliar animals can be stressful for any cat, and older cats often have less capacity to bounce back.
Stress can also affect appetite, and in cats, not eating is cause for concern. A cat that stops eating can develop a serious liver condition called hepatic lipidosis. Any illness, environmental change, or stressful situation that causes a cat to eat less can set it off.
Keeping your cat at home, with their own food, litter box, and hiding spots, removes a major source of stress. Our post on the benefits of in-home cat sitting vs. boarding covers this in more detail.
Why Daily Visits Are a Must
Veterinarians recommend that cats be visited at least once every 24 hours. That is why our policies require every cat to receive a minimum of one visit every day you are away.
For cats with medical needs, such as medication or a chronic condition, we recommend twice-daily visits. Our guide on how often someone should check on your cat explains why. We may also require more than the minimum for a particular pet if we feel it is necessary for their well-being.
Planning for Medication
If your cat needs medication while you are away, here is what to know:
- Book the right visit type. Our quickest cat visits, called Express Visits, do not include medication. Cats who need medication should be scheduled for our longer vacation pet sitting visits.
- Ask your vet about timing. Find out how much flexibility there is for each dose, especially for medications like insulin, so visits can be scheduled around it.
- Insulin-dependent cats get scheduling priority. When we schedule morning visits, preference is given to dogs and insulin-dependent cats.
- Discuss hands-on care at your consultation. If your cat needs injections, fluids, or another procedure, talk with us about what is involved before you book.
- Leave clear written instructions. Include the medication name, dose, timing, and how your cat takes it best, such as in a treat, a pill pocket, or with food.
- Leave extra. Stock enough medication for the whole trip plus a few extra days in case of travel delays.
One of our longtime clients with a diabetic cat has shared that knowing her medication would be given on time is what lets them travel with peace of mind.
What a Sitter Watches For
For an older cat, the most important part of a visit is often noticing small changes early. Each cat visit includes:
- feeding according to your instructions
- scooping or changing litter
- time with your cat
- locating your cat to make sure they are well
For shy cats who hide from visitors, a video camera can be added for additional peace of mind.
Tell your sitter what “normal” looks like for your cat, so they can spot changes in:
- how much your cat eats and drinks
- litter box output (the number and size of urine clumps, and stool)
- vomiting, hairballs, or hiding more than usual
- mobility, such as trouble jumping or using stairs
You will get frequent check-ins and a summary of each visit, so you can loop in your vet quickly if something looks off.
A Quick Prep Checklist
- Medications, a written schedule, and an extra supply
- Your vet’s name and phone number, plus the nearest emergency clinic
- Food, portions, and feeding times
- Notes on your cat’s normal appetite, litter habits, and hiding spots
- Any recent changes your vet has asked you to monitor
Book Early for Holiday Travel
Because our services are personalized and time-intensive, we book weeks, sometimes months, in advance, especially around the holidays. New requests must be made at least seven days before your start date, and all reservations are first come, first served. Every new client starts with a free in-home consultation, where we go over your cat’s routine and medical needs.
Request services here, or call us at 919-740-7481 to talk through a care plan for your senior cat!
Annika Hugosson is a writer and marketing specialist with professional experience writing across various industries including sports, tattooing, veterinary medicine, and animal welfare. She has worked in soccer media, animal sheltering, and emergency veterinary medicine and presently manages a Durham tattoo shop, Ethereal Tattoo Gallery. Annika holds a Master of Science in anthrozoology (human–animal studies) and has completed additional graduate-level research focused on the human–animal bond. Her master’s research examined hyenas and the ways their portrayal in popular and scientific media shapes public perception and conservation outcomes. She has been published in academic journals and has presented at conferences on topics including pit bulls and gender, the usage of snakes’ skins in fashion, animal ethics in Harry Potter, and related issues at the intersection of culture, animals, and society. Outside of her professional work, Annika is interested in R+ dog training and has completed extensive group class training with her dog, Hawthorn, whom she adopted from the APS of Durham.
