What to Expect at Your First Meet and Greet with Portishead Cat Sitter
Handing over the keys to your home and trusting someone with your cat's wellbeing is a great responsibility. If you've never used an independent cat sitter before, it's completely natural to wonder how it all works before you commit. That's exactly what the first meet and greet is for.
Here's a look at what happens when we meet for the first time.
Why a Meet and Greet Matters
Some booking platforms skip this step entirely or treat it is an afterthought. I think this is a very important step and allows me to meet new clients and familiarise myself with the cat/s and their environment.
A face-to-face visit, in your own home, is how we both find out whether this is going to work for you, for me, and most importantly, for your cat.
It's also simply good practice as I need to see where your cat lives, not just read a description of it.
Before I Arrive
You don't need to do anything special to prepare. I'll usually ask a few questions in advance by email or WhatsApp, just to get a sense of your cat and your routine, so our time together is well spent rather than covering the basics from scratch.
During the Visit
A typical meet and greet covers:
1.Meeting your cat on their terms
Some cats appear straight away, whereas others take a little longer to come out and say hello. I always let them set the pace as this builds trust and positive relationships.
2.A walkthrough of your home
The location of the food, litter trays, and where any medication is kept.
Entry points and exits; anything that needs particular care (a nervous cat's hiding spots, an escape-prone door.
3.Talking through your cat's routine
Feeding times, play habits, any quirks or health needs I should know about before the cat sit begins. This is an opportunity to discuss your specific worries. A shy cat, a recent house move, or simply the fact you've never left them with anyone before are all important things to mention.
Logistics
We can discuss the handover of keys, alarm codes, parking, and how I will update you during your trip. This will usually involve sending photos and daily updates via WhatsApp.
There's no charge for this visit, and no obligation to go ahead with the booking. If it doesn't feel right for any reason, that's absolutely fine.
What I'm Looking For
I'm quietly assessing a few things too, not in a formal way, but as part of making sure I can offer the best service for your cat.
how they behave in their own space, any signs of stress or health issues worth flagging, and whether your home has anything I need to be particularly mindful of.
After the Meet-and-Greet
If we're both happy to proceed, I'll send over an invoice and contract, book the dates in my diary and that's it, you're all set. Hopefully after the meet and greet you will feel assured that your cat is in capable hands, and you can then relax and enjoy your time away.
If you're in Portishead and surrounding areas and would like to arrange a meet-and-greet, please do get in touch to discuss your requirements.
There's no obligation to go ahead with the booking and it is a chance for us both to see if it's a good fit.
Contact Rebecca
07557 022201
Portishead Cat Sitter
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