Ready to travel again but not sure who to trust with your cats? In this episode of the Diary of a Cat Mom podcast, Dagmar shares how she's approaching the search for a trustworthy cat sitter — for both her indoor cats and the community cats she cares for.

She breaks down what actually matters beyond feeding and litter duty: a pet sitter who can spot when a cat is sick, injured, or acting "off," and who will actually tell you about it. Dagmar also unpacks the 4 factors that shape cat sitting rates, why an in-person trial meeting beats a phone call every time, the extra challenges of caring for community cats in unpredictable weather, and why vet assistants can make surprisingly great pet sitters — especially for cats on medication like her senior ragdoll cat Snow White.

If you've ever wondered how to vet a cat sitter, what affects pricing, or how to handle outdoor/community cat care while traveling, this cat podcast episode walks through the real questions to ask before you hire anyone.

What You'll Learn

• Why "just feeding and cleaning litter" isn't enough when choosing a cat sitter
• The 4 factors that determine how much a cat sitter costs
• Why an in-person trial meeting matters more than a phone interview
• What community cat caretakers need to look for in a sitter (weather, fear behaviors, feeding adjustments)
• Why vet assistants can be a hidden gem for finding a qualified pet sitter
• What to prioritize if you have senior cats or cats needing medication

Timestamps & Chapters

• 00:00 – Intro: Why I'm finally ready to find a cat sitter
• 00:33 – What I actually want in a cat sitter (beyond feeding & litter)
• 01:12 – What determines cat sitter rates (4 key factors)
• 02:00 – Why an in-person trial meeting matters
• 02:40 – Special considerations for community cat care
• 03:35 – Why vet assistants make great pet sitters
• 04:20 – Wrap-up: What's next in my search

Diary of a Cat Mom is a gentle, diary-style cat podcast about everyday life with cats—created especially for cat moms 35+ in multi‑cat homes who see their cats as family.

Resources for Cat Parents
Everything I use for my cats is here: https://diaryofacatmom.com/cat-care-resources/

About the Diary of a Cat Mom Podcast

Diary of a Cat Mom is a personal cat podcast created by Dagmar Gatell, sharing real moments from life with cats. Everything shared comes from lived experience as a cat mom, not intended as professional veterinary advice. Every cat is unique, and for health concerns, always consult your trusted veterinarian.

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