Cats don't need walking, so it's tempting to think a cat sitter needs less handover than a dog sitter does. In some ways that's true. In the ways that matter — routine, hiding, medication, litter — cats are just as particular, they just show it differently.
The short answer
Cover feeding and litter specifics, where they'll likely hide, medical and emergency authorisation, and what's actually normal versus what's worth a call. Most cat-sitting problems aren't emergencies — they're a sitter panicking over completely normal cat behaviour because nobody mentioned it in advance.
1. Feeding
- What food, how much, and how often — cats can be surprisingly particular about both brand and bowl
- Any feeding quirks (some cats need a specific spot, some need food refreshed rather than topped up)
- Fresh water — where the bowl or fountain lives, and whether it needs cleaning
- Treats — how many, and any that are off-limits
2. Litter
This is the one people underexplain. Leave specifics: type of litter (cats can refuse to use a box with unfamiliar litter), how often it needs scooping, and where spare litter and bags are kept. A cat that stops using the box is usually telling you something — stress, a dirty box, or occasionally a medical issue — so it's worth flagging as something to mention, not ignore.
3. Where they'll probably hide
Plenty of cats disappear when a stranger arrives and don't reappear for hours. That's normal, not an emergency — but only if the sitter's been told to expect it. Mention your cat's usual hiding spots and roughly how long they take to warm up, so a sitter doesn't spend day one convinced something's wrong.
4. Medical and emergency
- Your vet's name, clinic, and phone number
- Medication — what, how much, when, and how you actually get it into a cat that has opinions about that
- Written authorisation for emergency treatment, plus a spending limit — sitters who aren't the owner are often asked for exactly this at the clinic counter
- A backup contact if you can't be reached
5. Indoor safety
- Whether your cat is strictly indoor and what that means for the sitter (windows, doors, screens)
- Any known escape attempts or risk areas
- What to do if your cat does get out
6. House logistics
- Spare key location, and who else has one
- Alarm code, if there is one
- Any rooms or areas that are off-limits
The part that's easy to leave out
Most of this only matters once — right before you leave — and by the next sit, half of it's changed. New litter brand, new medication dose, a vet you've since switched to. A note from six months ago is worse than no note, because it reads as current when it isn't.
Quirks & All keeps all of this on one link that updates the moment anything changes, so whoever's looking after your cat — even someone who's never met them — isn't working from information that used to be true.
Sources referenced for accuracy: guidance from veterinary and professional pet-sitting resources on emergency authorisation, litter-related stress signals, and typical cat hiding behaviour. Worth a second look from your own vet before publishing, since none of this is medical advice.