Cat Sitters: Don't Overextend Yourself!
Manage Expectations
As discussed in a previous article, Tips To Become A Top-Notch Sitter - Part 1, many sitters find it helpful to be transparent with both potential cat parents and themselves when it comes to expectations. What does that mean? First and foremost, consider if you can give the cat everything it needs. Does the cat require medication, subcutaneous fluids, or injections? If so, you might consider whether you are comfortable with these tasks before accepting. For tips on administering meds, check out How to Give a Cat a Pill: 5 Easy Tips.
Additionally, managing your time is key. As you build a reputation, you may see an increase in reservation requests. Taking on more reservations requires strong time management skills, taking your service area into account, and setting realistic expectations. For example, a sitter in Los Angeles, specifically in Hollywood, might decide it is unrealistic to have a service radius beyond four to five miles. In areas with less traffic to contend with, it's not uncommon for sitters to have a radius of more than ten miles. If that same sitter were in upstate New York, they might choose a radius of ten miles because the commute time is much more predictable. In LA, Beverly Hills is fewer than five miles away, but it can often take 35+ minutes to get there.
Some sitters find it impractical to accept bookings outside of a five-mile radius, especially when managing multiple bookings in a day. During the holidays, some choose to reduce their radius to three miles to accommodate more cat parents within a reasonable timeframe. For more advice on managing busy seasons, read Thriving During the Holiday Rush. Anything outside of a comfortable radius might make the commute stressful. When you feel stressed from a commute or have a jam-packed schedule, it can impact your mood. Prioritizing mental health is important so you can provide the best experience possible.
Think About the Logistics
Continuing with the travel train of thought: if you are in a major city and rely on public transportation, it helps to be mindful of your travel distance, time, and the number of cat parents you take on. Many cities have excellent public transportation (Los Angeles is not always one of those places!). However, relying on the schedules of the metro transit system means you have less control over scheduling, delays, or weather-related issues. As someone who lived in New York City for years and relied on the train, the bus, a bike, or walking, I know it's tough to account for every delay. Additionally, if a cat parent requests a double drop-in but lives 45-60 minutes away, you might consider whether that fits your business model, as that could result in 90-120 minutes of commuting alone.
Don't Take On Everything That Comes Your Way
While many sitters try to accommodate requests when possible, if it's in the best interest of the kitty and cat parent, declining a request is a valid business decision.
Overextending yourself can have a domino effect. Not only can it make it harder to provide top-tier care, but it can also impact the cat parent experience. Maintaining a manageable schedule helps support every cat parent gets your best self, which is great for your reputation on the platform. It is often better to focus on quality over quantity.
Ultimately, keeping your kitty workload reasonable helps support you enjoy your work. After all, sitters should be able to enjoy their time with the kitties, too!
Ready to give cat sitting a try? Check your profile today!
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