Frequently Asked Questions

• Always follow the client’s instructions precisely. 

• If you are unsure about anything, reach out to the client rather than guessing.

• Respond to office and client messages promptly.

• Make sure every service you are scheduled for is on your Time to Pet schedule so that you are paid. This includes schedule changes that you have discussed with the client but the office may not be aware of!

• All requests are voluntary. However, once you agree to a sitting assignment, please keep the commitment. We do not tolerate no shows or cancellations. 

• Never leave early from sittings (NON-NEGOTIABLE).

• Never say yes to a request you are not 100% certain you can commit to, especially since some sittings are booked out several weeks or months in advance and cancellations reflect very poorly on all of us. 

For most matters, including scheduling, pay, and urgent/emergency issues, please reach out to the TCK office through your Time to Pet messaging(Messages tab in the app menu). There is usually someone working in the office and can see and respond back to your message relatively soon. You an also email the office info@comfortedkitty.com Please do not send direct messages through Slack to Dan/Kristen/Marlene, text them, or call the main company phone number. 

Dan McPartlan (Owner/Founder)

Kristen Garfield (Office Assistant)

Marlene Sandajan (Office Assistant)

The following are a list of tips for accepting cat sitting requests through The Comforted Kitty. Although you are not required to follow them, they can be tremendously helpful based on our combined years of pet sitting experience: 

• Never say yes to a request you are not 100% certain you can commit to, especially since some sittings are booked out several weeks or months in advance and cancellations reflect very poorly on all of us. 

• Recognize your limitations. Determine how many pet-sitting visits you can comfortably handle in a day without jeopardizing your health or the care provided. Overbooking yourself is not only poor time management; it also puts you at an increased risk for making mistakes (like missing a visit) and increases your likelihood of experiencing burnout. Only you know your personal limits, so think about how many assignments you could reasonably perform while still having time to get plenty of food, water, rest, and leave time for personal needs, like doctor’s appointments or vehicle maintenance. 

• Be sure to give adequate thought to your geographic service area prior to accepting petsitting assignments as the area you select to service will determine your potential client base, your overhead costs and ultimately, your revenue potential. It may be tempting to drive beyond your desired service area, particularly when you are trying to build your clientele. But think about the impact driving longer distances will have on your schedule, ability to accept other assignments and your vehicle (wear on your vehicle, yearly mileage, gas costs). 

• Never take on assignments where you feel unsafe or ones that could jeopardize your health, such as extremely unclean homes. 

• Take time away from your business. You’ve got to have time to relax! There’s no question that small-business owners work long hours, but you have to take time for yourself. Schedule annual vacations or at least days off occasionally—and remember to take daily time for yourself. Find what helps you relax, whether it’s yoga, a nap 

• Use the Time to Pet calendar integration tool to sync your schedule to your personal calendar (see doc in your TTP account for how to do this). 

• We highly recommend reaching out to your scheduled clients a few days before their trip to confirm any changes to the care routine since you last met with them or pet sat for them. 

The following are guidelines on how cat sitting jobs are posted, accepted, and scheduled through The Comforted Kitty. 

1. A copy of the cat sitting job will either be posted to the Slack groupchat you are a member of sent to you directly through Time to Pet. 

2. Please review the request and respond as soon as you can whether you can take it or not. 

   1. If you have never helped the client: 

      1. The TCK office will then notify the client that you are available and ask them to respond back confirming whether or not they would like to move forward with booking. Do not reach out to the client yet. 

         1. If the office doesn’t hear from the client within 48 hours, we’ll follow up with them and wait another 48 hours before notifying you that we never heard back from the client. 

      2. If the client confirms the booking, our office will message the client in Time to Pet confirming the reservation and that you (the assigned sitter) will be in touch soon to schedule the meet and greet. You are CCd on this message in Time to Pet. 

      3. You the sitter reach out to the client in Time to Pet to schedule the meet and greet. 

      4. Once you have scheduled the meet and greet, message the office through Time to Pet so we can mark it in your TTP schedule so you are paid for the meeting. 

   2. If you have helped the client previously: 

      1. The TCK office will book the sittings in your Time to Pet schedule. Usually there is no need to schedule an additional meet and greet but you may need to pick up the client’s keys from them again beforehand. If you pickup from the client’s home, notify the office so you are paid. 

You can find all services booked for you in the Schedule tab of the Time to Pet app. We also highly encourage you to use the Time to Pet calendar integration tool to sync your schedule to your personal calendar (see doc in your TTP account for how to do this). 

Yes! If the sittings have been confirmed, we highly recommend reaching out to your scheduled clients a few days before their trip to confirm any changes to the care routine since you last met with them or pet sat for them.

The initial consultation meet and greet allows the cat owner and their cats to become more comfortable with their assigned sitter (you); it also allows you to get acquainted with the cats, their routines and the household layout; and it is a time for you to record important information about the cats and pet-sitting request. Think of it as a job interview.

You as the assigned sitter are responsible for reaching out to the client directly to schedule a date and time for the meet and greet. Once you have set a date and time, notify the office immediately so that it is marked in your schedule and you are paid.

We strongly recommend scheduling the meet and greet with the client as soon as possible to ensure it is a good fit. Once you have set a date and time, notify the office immediately so that it is marked in your schedule and you are paid.

Please use the Time to Pet app to message the client about scheduling the meet and greet. Once you have set a date and time, notify the office immediately so that it is marked in your schedule and you are paid.

We recommend calling them and leaving a voicemail. Text them as well. If you still don't hear back from them, notify the office so we can figure out the next steps.

The following are tips we recommend based on our years of experience with meet and greets. It is not required that you do any of these but they are great to consider: 

• Because you likely have a limited amount of time for the initial consultation, it’s important that you have a “game plan” in mind when you enter the client’s home. You do not want to rush, but you also want the meeting to be structured. And you do want to take time to meet the cats and allow them to become comfortable with you. This reflects your professionalism and also ensures that you have time (and remember) to share important information about your business and services. This is your only opportunity in person to clarify anything about the cat or home routine. 

• There is no set time limit for these meetings, although they usually only last about 20-30 minutes. 

• Call/text the client or knock on the front door rather than ringing the doorbell as it likely will scare the cat and you will have a harder time getting to meet them. 

• Before entering the client’s home, ask if they would like for you to remove your shoes. 

• Remember that first impressions are important. Even if you’ve had a long day of sits, it is important to be clean and presentable at these meetings. 

• The client will be watching to see how you interact and react to the cat(s). Give the cat time to get used to you. 

• On your initial visit to the client’s home, sit on the floor, if possible. You will seem less threatening to the cat. Explain to your client that you want the cat to feel more secure in your presence. Discourage the cat owner from going to find a cat that typically hides from strangers and forcing an introduction. 

• While you are seated and speaking quietly, curiosity will usually draw most felines out of hiding. Hold out your hand so the cat can sniff your fingers, but don’t be too quick to try to pet it. 

• Ask if the kitty has any special likes or dislikes; for example, some cats don’t like to be touched on the top of their lower backs in the dorsal gland area where the spine flows into the tail. Many cats do not respond well to loud or abrupt noises either. 

• Before you leave the client’s residence, ask for a quick tour through all of the areas the cat will have access to. It’s a good idea to suggest that the house be thoroughly pet-proofed, explaining that the cat may get into mischief or act in abnormal ways while its owner is away. Stress that the cat may not behave for you as it normally does for its owner. 

• Suggest they put two or more lights on timers to give their home a lived-in look. Inform them that lights left on outside will ward off potential burglars. Ask them to inform their neighbors that you will be taking care of their pets and give them a description of your vehicle, so they are not alarmed or will not call the police. 

• Ask the new clients for the name and number of a nearby trusted neighbor whom you could contact in the event of an emergency with their home. Always encourage the client to use their home alarm system and, if it is available in your area, ask them to request the police check their home regularly while they are away. 

• Discuss keys and how you will be receiving and returning them. The Comforted Kitty does NOT hold any client keys/fobs/gate-cards etc. on file and so lockboxes are highly preferred. The client can either provide one to you to use or they can purchase one from our office and we will ship it to them directly. 

  • If they do not want (or are not allowed) to use a lockbox, they can either give the keys to you at the meet and greet, drop them off to you, or have you pick them up ($20 trip fee). Discuss how they would prefer you to return the keys: you drop them off to them upon their return home ($20 trip fee), client pick up from you (free of charge), leave inside the home. 

• Discuss backup options should the keys become lost, stolen, or break. 

• Make sure to test out keys (or electronic locks), alarm systems, and other home security measures with the client before leaving. 

• If you will be administering medication to the cat, ask the client to go over this thoroughly with you so you have the best chance of successfully medicating the cat on your own during the sittings. 

• Discuss with the client what they would like you to do in the event of a cat health or home emergency, such as who they would like you to contact (friend, handyman, etc.) and where they would like you to take the cat (preferred ER vet office). Encourage the client to make arrangements with a local ER vet to put your name and their payment info on file to minimize delays in treatment of their cat. This is especially important if the client will not be reachable during their trip. 

• There is always the possibility of having to transport a sick or injured cat to receive veterinary care. Have your client leave a cat carrier where you can easily get it. You should also have emergency contact numbers and the owner’s permission to transport the cat to the veterinary clinic, if necessary. 

• Always ask your clients if anyone will have access to the home while they are away. If they indicate that someone will be there, ask for a name, description of the person and the person’s vehicle. 

• Request a travel itinerary of the clients trip so that you don’t arrive when they are still in the home. 

• If applicable, discuss reimbursement arrangements (have them reimburse you directly) for any paid parking fees you will be incurring. 

• If the client requests any changes to their reservation, ask them to make such requests through our portal so that the office is aware and can make these changes to your schedule. 

While it may be rare, it is possible you may go to an initial consultation and determine that you are not comfortable taking on a particular pet-sitting assignment. The cats may be aggressive, the home may be too unsafe or unsanitary or you may just simply have a gut feeling that this is not an assignment you should take. If you decide an assignment is not right for you, tell the client during the consultation if you feel comfortable doing that. It can be as simple as explaining that as a professional pet sitter you always want to ensure that you are the best fit for any pet-sitting assignment you take on, but feel that you are not the best match in this case. Or, if you prefer, complete the consultation visit and contact the clients and office once you leave to let them know that after careful consideration, you’ll be unable to offer services.

No. We offer clients the highest reliability they can trust. Missing a visit can happen for a variety of reasons—accidentally writing down the wrong dates, forgetting to write down the assignment at all, overbooking, or being involved in an accident or emergency situation. At the very least, missing a visit will shake your client’s trust in your reliability. At the worst, missing a visit could result in danger—and even death—for the pets. Make sure to acknowledge your schedule in Time to Pet each day you have a service scheduled so that the office is aware that you are aware of your schedule.

Acknowledging your schedule in Time to Pet app each day that you have a service scheduled ensures no sittings or meet and greets are ever missed. Not only are you aware of the day's schedule, when you acknowledge your schedule you are notifying the office that you are aware so there is a double layer of accountability. Acknowledging your schedule each day is easy to do and only takes a second to complete.

No. Clients are checking the times pet sitters arrive and depart by the tracking information provided by their home’s alarm system or by indoor or outdoor cameras. The Time to Pet app also tracks your visit time and gps coordinates while at the sitting. You should never shorten a visit. It’s unfair to the client and their pets. Clients who feel as if they‘ve been “cheated” will be quick to share this information with fellow pet owners—and your reputation will suffer.

No. Allowing anyone into a client’s home without their permission violates a client’s trust and could do definite damage to your company’s reputation. Your clients trust you with their most valuable possessions (and their pets!). Make sure you do not give them a reason to doubt your trustworthiness and criticize you to other local pet owners.

If client’s property is damaged, we strongly recommend: taking photos of damaged property; do what is necessary to prevent further damage to property; notify the client and office immediately so the office can file a claim with our liability insurance; keep all information, photos, receipts, etc., together, and have them available to provide to the claims adjuster upon request.

• When you arrive at your client’s home to perform the actual pet sits, you will want to park  your vehicle in a well-lit area with as few obstructions or hiding places as possible between you and the entry point of the house. Don’t be afraid to make some noise as you pull in, like tapping the horn quickly or slamming the car door. This will alert anyone inside the home to your presence. Burglars have a fight-or-flight mentality and will run if given the opportunity. By letting them know you have arrived, you will give them an opportunity to flee rather than surprising them in the middle of their crime, prompting a confrontation. 

• If you arrive at a client’s home and find a suspicious vehicle or person, it is not your  responsibility to determine if the person belongs there. If you see a vehicle in the driveway you do not recognize, use your cell phone to call into the house. You should always have your client’s contact numbers with you, so try calling the client regarding the vehicle. 

• If you arrive at a pet sit and find an unexpected person in the residence, it is best to return to your vehicle and try calling the client. If you cannot reach the client, call law enforcement to come and identify the person and let them determine if the person belongs in the home. 

• If you allow the unidentified person to remain in the home and it turns out he or she doesn’t belong there, you could end up on the wrong side of a lawsuit. Let the client or law enforcement assume the liability for allowing this person to remain. Never enter or remain in the house alone with an unexpected visitor. 

• If you become injured while at a pet sitting visit or on your way to one and it requires medical attention, seek it immediately. Notify the client and office as soon as you are able to.

• It is not unusual for a cat to do something for the first time that it has never done before when its owner is traveling, especially if the owner is away from home for a long time. Look for signs that a cat has urinated or defecated outside of the litter box or thrown up. Sometimes a  bored or restless cat knocks objects off a shelf or furniture for amusement. They may even turn on water faucets. Do a walk-through of the residence every time you visit to check for anything out of place or  any accidents. 

• A cat’s eyes dilate when it is upset, frightened, very interested in watching something (like  prey) or if it is in the dark. If its eyes dilate when you’re interacting with it, it is a warning sign  that the cat is aroused. Some cats have a high arousal factor—they can become  overstimulated very easily after a short amount of stroking or petting. If a cat’s eyes dilate  while you are petting it, immediately stop touching it. The cat is becoming overly aroused.

• You can also interpret a cat’s feelings through their tail (though this is difficult in bob tails). A relaxed cat will have a loose, relaxed tail. If the cat is intrigued by something or even  engaging in predatory behavior, you will likely see the tip of their tail twitch back and forth. If a  cat is stressed or scared, the tail will move in a more agitated and rapid back and forth flick. If a cat is under extreme duress and deeply frightened, the tail will fluff up and bristle

• All string toys should be stored away after playtime so the cat can’t get to them without supervision.

• Do not tax an older cat into strenuous physical play or exercise to the point of panting or  breathing hard.

• Don’t “share” cat toys among your various clients’ cats because you will transfer germs from one cat to another. 

• Alternate active play with less strenuous sessions. Cats enjoy just “hanging out” and having  your company.

• It is extremely important to monitor food intake. Cats that don’t consume enough calories are  susceptible to a disease state of idiopathic hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver disease). Lipidosis can develop in as little as two days of insufficient eating. Geriatric cats, lonely and depressed  cats, sick or stressed cats and extremely shy or frightened cats may quit eating or may not  eat enough. 

• If the cats are being fed wet or canned food and the food has been refrigerated or cold,  warming it in a microwave oven makes it more palatable and enhances the smell.

• If you should encounter a finicky cat that you need to entice to eat, try these foods: smelly canned cat food, such as tuna or fish flavors; human canned tuna or mackerel; canned  chicken with broth; deli-style meats, such as turkey; and pure baby food meat (without onion  powder flavoring). Cats don’t metabolize onion or garlic well. 

• In addition to monitoring food intake, you should also make sure that each cat is properly  hydrated. It is particularly important for cats being fed dry food only to drink enough water.  

• Even one cat should have at least two clean water sources at all times. Remember that an invisible scum forms on the bottom of an open water container within 24-36 hours and many cats won’t drink  water from scummy bowls. Plastic bowls get scummy more quickly than water bowls made  of glass, ceramic or stainless steel. Water dishes should be washed out with soap and water once daily to remove the scum. Rinse off the soap very thoroughly. Water bowls should be replenished with clean water at every visit. 

• Be sure to thoroughly scoop the box at every visit. If needed, use a paper towel with a small amount of soap or diluted vinegar on it to clean off the edges and sides of the litter box. Vinegar neutralizes urine and is nontoxic. Don’t use a cleanser with ammonia in it to clean up urine. Never use a Lysol or Pine-Sol-type of cleanser on any surface that a cat may come into contact with. Always rinse well and wipe dry any surface on which you have used any kind of cleaning agent.

• Sweep up loose litter around the litter box each time you scoop. If litter isn’t kept swept up, it  will be tracked all over the house. If there is a rug or litter catcher under the box, be sure to  shake the litter out of it every few visits. Never flush litter down a client’s toilet unless the client specifically instructs you to dispose of litter in this manner.

• Proper sanitation means maintaining a clean environment for the cat and his family, ensuring that the cat won’t repeat an offense because of poor cleaning  and ensuring that any potential virus or bacteria will not be passed on to a cat in the next home. 

• Whether the mess you clean was an accident or not, a pet can still be harboring an illness or  parasite that could be passed on to the next home if items aren’t disposed of properly. 

• Wash your hands with anti-bacterial soap after handling any pet messes.

• Carpets: If the pet owner gives permission for you to clean the stain—and you know very  little about the carpet—test the carpet before cleaning the entire stain to insure your products won’t affect the carpet dye. Certain types of carpets, like those with “solution-dyed yarns,” or those with Scotchgard, are more stain-resistant and are less likely to leave a shadow on the  carpet from spot cleaning. Furniture requires the same consideration. Some furniture has  Scotchgard applied too, making it easier to clean. 

• Walls: What if a cat sprays the wall? Gloss and semi-gloss paints and most wallpaper can be wiped clean with a damp sponge. To remove odor, spritz some vinegar and water (50/50  ratio) on the area then wipe clean. Do not wipe down flat paint; it will flake off, leaving specks  of bare drywall. (Pet owners will likely have to clean the stain themselves and then repaint the  wall.) If you are unsure about the type of paint, ask the owner.

• Floors: Wood floors need the urine immediately removed, as the wetness can seep into  the wood and damage the floor. If the urine has penetrated the floor, absorb as much as you  can with a paper towel and inform the client. (They may have to have the floor refinished.) This is generally not a concern with linoleum and tile flooring, which can be wiped clean using  warm soapy water, a spritz of vinegar and water (50/50 ratio) or a pet cleaner from a pet  store that is safe to use on floors. Do not leave the solution on the floor very long. Wipe clean again. 

Here is a suggested list of cleaning items to have on hand: 

• Plastic Gloves to prevent the spread of disease and ensure the accident is contained  to the home 

• Paper towels to blot up liquid or pick-up loose biological material 

• Baggies (various sizes) or plastic grocery bags to dispose of biological materials and  the materials used to clean up  

• Trash bags (small kitchen trash bags) are handy to keep in the car to dispose of the  smaller bags 

• Hand-held wet/dry vacuum to absorb liquid 

• Enzymatic cleaners (available at pet supply stores) - to eat away at the remaining  biological materials in the carpet, removing both stain and odors 

• Portable black light (available at pet supply stores) - to detect urine and other stains 

• Vinegar - a natural odor neutralizer. 

• Baking soda a natural odor neutralizer

• Solid-faced spatula to pick up solid waste, such as fecal matter or vomit 

• Pet rollers, pet hair magnets, electro-static dusting cloths to remove pet hair from your clothing and from the pet’s sleeping areas, as needed 

• Anti-bacterial soap to wash your hands before the next pet visit

• Being a professional pet sitter means that you are the pet’s lifeline when his family is away. You are his first chance of discovering something “not quite right” and getting it dealt with. Catching injury or illness at its onset and appropriately reacting can truly make a difference in any animal’s recovery.

• It is important for a pet sitter to be able to spot indications of illness or injury in cats. This is  not always easy to do because cats tend to be stoic animals. But knowing the signs of illness  and/or distress will help you identify problems early. The following list outlines signs and  symptoms to look for: 

  • A common symptom of illness is decreased appetite or not eating. A veterinarian must  be contacted if a cat does not eat for two days. 

  • “Hidey Cat” behavior is common in sick or injured cats. If a cat that previously  welcomed your attention begins hiding from you, it may be injured or not feeling well. 

  • Changes in litter box use can signal illness, but don’t rule out behavioral problems.  Urinating outside of the litter box could signal urinary tract infection. Normal adult  felines usually urinate two to four times per twenty-four hour time period. Occasionally cats will develop a medical condition which prevents them from urinating. When a cat  cannot urinate it is a life-threatening medical emergency! 

  • Chronic or acute vomiting can indicate any one of several medical problems, including  intestinal obstruction or poisoning. 

  • Congestion, runny nose and/or a discharge from the eyes may point to an upper  respiratory infection. 

  • Lethargy and fever, combined with a hard lump on a cat’s skin, may be symptoms of an abscess caused by a bite or scratch. These are often seen in multi-cat households. 

  • Limping may be a sign of a leg or back injury as well as arthritis or joint problems. 

  • Damp paws, panting and trembling are signs that a cat is frightened, extremely  stressed, ill or injured. 

  • Frequent urination may be due to kidney or urinary tract problems or diabetes. 

  • A peculiar, hunched-up position with heavy breathing or panting could indicate heart or lung problems. 

  • Felines have a third eyelid called the nictitating membrane, seen as a white covering in the interiors of a cat’s eyes on either side of the nose. When this membrane is constantly visible, the cat may have a chronic health condition or immune system problem. 

• The cat may go willingly into the carrier if its owner has acclimated it to being in the carrier, but if not, you may have to pick up the cat and place it inside. Put a towel or small blanket in the bottom of the carrier. If the cat is frightened or stressed, it may attempt to bite or scratch you. You can avoid injury by wrapping the cat in a towel to secure its paws or by wearing  thick gloves. 

• Once the carrier is in the car, you can secure the carrier with a seatbelt by extending the  strap across the side of the carrier and tightening it to hold it in place. There are belts  specifically used for carriers, but if you do not have these on hand, this method will keep the  carrier from sliding around in your vehicle. 

• The carrier should be placed in the back seat of the vehicle or in a seat with the airbag turned  off. Should the airbag deploy, it could destroy the carrier either injuring the cat or allowing it to escape.

Conditions Requiring Veterinary Care:  

• Anything that is not normal for that animal  

• Breathing difficult or breathing absent  

• Bloat (distended stomach)  

• Body temperature below 99.9°F or above 104°F  

• Broken bones  

• Burns  

• Dehydration (eyes sunken, letha rgic)  

• Head pressing (pressing head against wall or floor)  

• Poisoning (ingested, inhaled or topical)  

• Puncture wounds  

• Slow, rapid or absent heart rate/pulse 

• Slow CRT or gum color not pink  

• Blood in vomit, feces or urine  

• Seizures or uncoordinated movements  

• Severe bleeding, excessive blood loss, wound longer than 1” or deeper than the full  thickness of the skin  

• Shock (CRT 2 seconds or greater)

• If you suspect poisoning, call your veterinarian, ASPCA Poison Control Center  Hotline at (888) 426-4435 or Pet Poison Helpline at (800) 213-6680.

The wisest course is to always try to see each cat in the residence at every visit. It’s especially important to see each cat in a multi-cat home on your first visit to be sure none of the cats escaped when the owner left. 

It is better if you can see the cat physically moving around because then you can observe that it’s not injured. But if a cat is hiding under a bed or any place else in its territory, it is  hiding from you because it feels frightened. It only stresses it out more if you attempt to chase it out from its hiding place. Bring a flashlight.

Even if only the cat’s eyes are visible, it is usually possible to  judge the condition of the cat. Look for bright, clear eyes, with no discharge from the eyes, nose or mouth and an alert response. If food and water are disappearing and the litter box is being used, usually the cat is fine

We highly recommend recording instances of observed aggression and describe what was happening during that moment. Also mention to the client any instances of aggression towards you.

If you discover fleas on a client’s cat or in their home, we strongly recommend notifying the client and office immediately as this is a liability to your own pets as well as any other clients’ cats you are currently caring for.

• During the first few days of pet sitting for new clients, take pictures of every cat in the house, if you can, or have your clients provide you with current photos of their pets prior to their departure. It is important to have a current photo if the worst happens and a cat gets out  while you are pet sitting for it. 

• When you are  going into a home, anticipate that a cat could be waiting right by the door as you open it.  

• Notify your client about the situation, or contact the client’s designated emergency contact if you can’t get ahold of the client. You should keep looking for the cat every day. Sometimes the longer a cat stays outside, the more skittish it becomes. But even after being gone for a long time, many cats finally show up meowing at the door.

• If a cat somehow escapes and you do not know where it is, it is your responsibility to search for the cat. There is a good chance of finding a cat that has been outside for only a few days. The best time to look for a cat is early in the morning when it is hungry, and in the evening  just before it gets dark. Many cats will sleep and/or hide during the day. If you are searching during the day, look under bushes and in places around the property where an animal could hide. 

• Put a bowl of water outside, but do not put out food unless the cat has been missing for a few days. Once food is put outside for it, the cat has no incentive to want to come back inside the house. 

• If you cannot find the cat within a day, make flyers with the cat’s picture and description. Start  notifying neighbors and children in the area. Kids are very observant and can be helpful in locating a missing pet. Contact local veterinary clinics. Put up missing cat notices wherever  you are allowed to post them. If there is a regular neighborhood postal carrier, ask the post  person to be on the lookout for the cat on daily mail rounds. 

• Local animal shelters also should be called or visited by you in person to see if the cat has  been captured and taken to the shelter.

• While you should treat all of your client’s information as highly confidential, the items that require the most security would be alarms/access codes and keys. If your home/car were ever to be burglarized, the thief could potentially use the information there to gain entry to your client’s homes. It is vital that you take steps to prevent such a breach for the safety of your clients and your business.

• If you operate on your smartphone, tablet, or other mobile device, be sure that you have security software installed on your device and that it is up-to-date before accessing client information. All electronic devices that have client information stored on them should be password protected and you should lock them each time you have to leave the device unattended.

Please send all visit updates and client communication through the Time to Pet app. Their is a dedicated chat feed for sending messages to clients and Time to Pet also has a dedicated feature exclusively for sending visit updates to clients. It makes things very easy! When you send a visit update to the client through Time to Pet, they will receive it as a text, email, and push notification. So there is no need to text, email, whatsapp, etc. client's outside of the app.

• You are ultimately responsible for the client keys in your possession. Treat them with the utmost care and handling so that you avoid losing or mislabeling them. Make the handling of keys your first priority.

• The Comforted Kitty requires clients to use a lockbox. They can either provide a lockbox of their own or as a convenience purchase one from the TCK office via Amazon Prime (you will NOT be required to purchase any lockboxes).

  • If the client does not want to or is not allowed to use a lockbox at their current home, they can either pay you $20 each way to pick up the keys beforehand and return afterwards or drop them off and pick them up from you at your home free of charge.

  • We do NOT hold keys on file for future reservations. If you still have keys after the sittings have been completed, they must be returned to the client promptly. 

  • If you have any trouble with returning keys to a client after the sittings are over, reach out to the office and we will follow up with the client.

If you label keys, never put client names, addresses, or other easily identifiable information on the key tag.

Whenever the client requests you make a special trip to their location to either pickup or return their keys, notify the office so that we can mark this down in your schedule and invoice the client so that you are paid accordingly. 

No. We do not allow cat sitters to hold client keys with them for future reservations. Return all keys back to the client's lockbox. If the client isn't using a lockbox, return all keys/fobs/gate-cards etc. back to the client once they return from their trip. 

Before leaving the cat sitter position, you will be responsible for returning any client keys in your possession back to clients. Please coordinate this with the office prior to your departure.

The following are recommended tips for navigating pet or home emergencies based on our years of experience pet sitting. You are not required to do these but they can be very helpful: 

• If you encounter a cat or home related emergency at a cat sitting, we strongly recommend you call the client first to get their assistance and guidance on the situation. Make multiple efforts if necessary (call, text, voicemail, email, TTP message) 

• If a person or pet is injured, seek immediate medical attention for the injured person(s)/ pet(s). If client’s property is damaged, take photos of damaged property. Do what is necessary to prevent further damage to property. 

• At the meet and greet, discuss a plan of action with the client in preparation for a possible cat or home emergency while at the sittings. Ask about preferred ER vet, handyman, backup sitter, etc. 

We understand these situations can be stressful and so we at the office will attempt to help out as much as possible. However, ultimately, you are the contract pet sitter assigned to care for a client’s cat(s) and home and so it is primarily your responsibility to find a replacement pet sitter, explaining to them any necessary details about the cat sitting assignment, and exchanging client keys required to access their home, including compensating them for their time/gas/mileage to pick up said keys from you. 

The following are recommended guidelines for finding a replacement sitter. They are not required but very helpful in finding another self employed, trusted, background checked pet sitter who contracts with The Comforted Kitty: 

1. Immediately notify the client by any and all means (call/text/email/message in TTP) that you are unable to continue helping them out and are currently looking for a replacement sitter.

2. Notify the office (info@comfortedkitty.com or TTP messaging) that you are unable to attend your scheduled sittings.

3. Immediately post a message in your Slack area groupchat requesting that someone take over your sittings. Provide sufficient information (care routine, address, dates, time frames, etc.) about your sitting(s) so that another sitter can claim it. 

4. Exchange contact information with the replacement sitter so you can coordinate getting them any necessary client keys. If the sitter must pick up the keys from your location, compensate them for their time ($20 key exchange fee should be sufficient).

5. Notify the client and office you have found a replacement sitter so the sittings can be assigned to their schedule.

Contractors are paid on Friday via direct deposit for any services completed the previous Monday-Sunday. For example, if you completed 3 sittings and 1 meet and greet last Tuesday-Thursday (July 4-6), you will be paid on the following Friday (July 13).

Payments are made automatically and there is no action required on your end other than making sure every service you performed is on you Time to Pet schedule. *This is very important: if a completed service is not on your schedule, you will NOT be paid for it.* So please make sure to check your schedule weekly to ensure it is accurate and reach out to the TCK office immediately if you notice any errors.

Make sure every service you perform is on your Time to Pet schedule so that you are paid for it. This includes meet and greets and key exchanges.

Every contractor has agreed upon rates for each service they perform. You can find these rates in your contract as well as in your Time to Pet account under the Rates section (you must be logged into the desktop version of Time to Pet).

If you have any further questions, reach out to the TCK office via Time to Pet or email (info@comfortedkitty.com) and we will be glad to help explain your pay deposit in more detail to show you that you were paid correctly.

If you notice any issues with your pay, please contact the The Comforted Kitty office via Time to Pet messaging or email info@comfortedkitty.com.

We strongly prefer your client pay you gratuities directly. So if they ask, please tell them your preferred payment method (cash, Venmo, Zelle, Paypal, etc.)

We encourage you to leave a note of thanks for the client on the last visit as that can also help with getting a gratuity