A Day in the Life of Portishead Cat Sitter
People sometimes ask what a typical day actually looks like for me. It's a fair question and cat sitting isn't always visible work, and most of it happens quietly, behind other people's front doors.
Here's an honest look at how a day usually goes.
Early Morning: Planning the Route
Most days start with a look at the visit list and who needs feeding, who's on medication, whose litter tray needs a proper clean rather than just a scoop, and roughly what time each household expects me. Portishead isn’t a huge area, but I still like to plan the route so nobody's waiting longer than they should for their breakfast. Being as efficient and timely as possible are very important to me to playing to my strengths.
First Visit: Settling In
Every visit starts the same way and is obviously dependent on the cat that I am visiting.
Sometimes it is a quiet moment at the door, letting them come to me rather than the other way round. Some cats are waiting right there when the key turns. Others watch from the top of the stairs for a minute before deciding whether I'm worth bothering with.
I like to greet each cat individually when I arrive, spending a few minutes giving them a bit of fuss and attention.
Next, is the practical bits, fresh food and water in clean bowls, a clean litter tray, any medication given exactly as instructed, and a proper look around to make sure nothing's amiss, such as a knocked-over plant, an open window that shouldn't be, anything out of the ordinary.
The Part That Isn't in the Job Description
Here's the bit that surprises people:
A lot of the visit isn't about food and litter at all. It's sitting on the floor for ten minutes with a cat who just wants company. It's working out that one particular cat who only plays with the feather toy, never the mouse. It's remembering that another one likes the blinds left exactly half-open, no more, no less.
None of this is written on a checklist anywhere or relayed to me, it is just learnt by visiting and getting to know the cats individually.
The logistics
In between visits there's usually a fair bit of driving, many photos sent to the owner, and sometimes a message back and forth about something small. This can sometimes be a cat who seemed a bit quieter, or one who's been extra vocal. Owners worry, understandably, and a quick update usually puts their mind at ease.
Late Afternoon/ Evening Visits
Depending on how many households I'm covering, the afternoon and evenings can look similar to the morning. With familiar tasks being ticked off my checklist such as cleaning bowls and topping up the food, fresh water and litter box maintenance.
Sometimes this might include administering medication, a bit of play or fuss, a final check that doors and windows are secure before I lock up and head to the next one.
Some days are quiet, with only one or two visits and home by early evening and others, especially around half-term or Christmas, are considerably busier. This will take a lot more planning of my route and earlier starts to ensure the cats are fed at a reasonable time. I usually offer 30 minute visits to each house but I also offer 1 hour visits should you cat require extra time spent with them.
Why I Do It?
It's not a particularly glamorous job and cats need feeding on Christmas morning just as much as any other day. But there's something genuinely satisfying about being trusted with someone's home and their cat, and I enjoy watching a nervous cat slowly decide, visit by visit, that you're alright after all. That, more than anything, is what keeps me doing it and give me an enormous sense of pride in what I do.
Thinking of Booking?
If you're in Portishead and surrounding areas and would like to know more about how visits work, please do get in touch to discuss things further and always check out my website.
With love Rebecca
07557 022201
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