French Property News – August 2019

http://www.completefrance.com August 2019 French Property News 69

If you decide to leave your cat at home, it’s

still important to find someone who is reliable

and trustworthy to pop in and feed them. You

will also probably want someone who is happy

to spend a bit of time with your furry friend,

giving them some love and attention while

you’re not there to provide it.

If you need more support than you can

expect from friends, you could try a reputable

company such as Cat in a Flat. Just enter your

postcode and they’ll match you to insured cat

sitters and house sitters in your area. You can

then read through their profiles and reviews,

and contact your favourites, no strings

attached. Finding a professional sitter means

you don’t have to call in favours, and you can

be clear about what’s expected of the sitter.

Step 3: Daily routine

Once you’ve found a cat sitter you like, invite

them around for a cuppa. This is a great way to

get to know them and see how they interact

with your cat. A good cat sitter should want to

know every little detail, from what your cat is

allowed to eat, to his favourite hiding place and

where he doesn’t like to be tickled. Kitties are

creatures of habit and happiest when their

daily routine is followed.

Kathrin Burckhardt and Julie Barnes are

co-founders of Cat in a Flat, a cat-sitting

community which helps cats stay in the comfort

of their own homes by connecting owners with

trusted, insured, local, cat-loving sitters.

catinaflat.com

facebook.com/catinaflat/

instagram.com/catinaflat/

twitter.com/catinaflat

EXPERT ADVICE

Step 4: Final checklist

Before hopping on the ferry or Eurostar, make

sure you have everything ready and prepared

for your cat minder. For ease, we find this

checklist useful:

1. Make sure you’ve left very clear
   instructions to avoid misunderstandings.


2. Ensure your cat sitter has the correct
   code for your alarm and your kitty won’t
   set it off by mistake.


3. Put everything your cat sitter needs in
   one place; this includes their food, cat
   litter and cleaning products.


4. Make sure your cat sitter knows who to
   contact in case of an emergency. Do they
   know who your vet is and where to find
   the cat carrier?


5. Double check your cats are wearing their
   ID collars and that their microchip
   information is up to date.


6. If you’ve hired a house sitter, provide
   them with fresh bedding, a towel and
   the wifi password.


7. Let your neighbours know you’ll be
   away. And, if possible, leave a spare key
   with them in case of any unforeseen
   problems or emergencies.


8. Lock windows and doors and adjust the
   thermostat to a desired temperature
   suitable for your kitty.


9. Leave some old clothes like an unwashed
   jumper near your cat’s favourite sleeping
   spot, so they can snuggle up and not
   miss you too much.


10. Consider getting a few new cat-safe toys
    to keep boredom at bay.


11. If your cat is nervous, why not install a
    feline pheromone diffuser to create a
    calming environment.


12. Lastly, don’t forget to clear your fridge
    and empty the bin!

Getting ready for your cat sitter does take a

little bit of effort. But if done correctly

everything should run smoothly and you can sit

back and relax in the knowledge that your cat is

as content as you are.

One last little tip: why not ask your cat sitter

to send you pictures and videos of your furry

friend, so you don’t miss them too much? 

 With someone popping

over to your home there is

no stress for kitty and no

guilt for you 

wwcomp