The idea of someone breaking into your home is both jarring and heartbreaking. Now imagine it happens to your cat parent's home while you're providing cat sitting services. Scary, right? It's common for people not to know what to do after a break-in happens. That's why it is helpful to have resources to help keep yourself and the kitties safe should you ever find yourself in a situation like this.
As an independent contractor, how you handle emergencies is ultimately your decision, but here are some steps based on safety best practices that you might consider.
If you return to a cat parent's home and notice there has been a break-in, consider these steps to help prioritize safety:
1. Prioritize your safety first. Security experts typically advise leaving the house immediately because the burglar could still be in the home. Burglars don't want to be caught and situations can escalate quickly. It is generally recommended not to touch anything on the way out as there may be fingerprints left behind.
2. Go to a safe place and call 911. Stay there until the police arrive. For more general safety ideas, check out our guide on staying safe as a sitter.
3. Contact the cat parent. Inform them what has happened and let them know the police are on the way.
4. Coordinate with law enforcement. Once the police arrive, you might ask them to enter the home with you to locate the cat(s).
5. Document the scene. While in the house with the police, consider documenting anything broken or missing by taking photos and videos to send to the cat parent. Knowing when and what to document can be very helpful in these situations.
6. Inform the platform. Contact Meowtel Support to inform the Trust & Safety team about the break-in. Include any pertinent information such as photos/videos, the police report number, and the state of the cats.
- If the cats are missing, please inform Meowtel Support so the team is aware of the situation.
What if the cats escaped?
If the cat(s) is missing, you might start looking around the area and consider setting up a TNR trap if possible. If you don't have one, you could contact local TNR rescues to see if they can lend you one. In the trap, placing the cat's favorite blanket or bed as well as the cat's favorite food or treats can be effective. Some sitters keep the trap near the entrance of the home while they go out and search.
More often than not, cats tend to stay close when they escape. You might try thinking like the cat and checking within a block or two radius first. Remember that cats often like to be able to see everything while staying out of sight. You can check high (in trees and rafters) and low (under cars and porches). If the cat is found but frightened, you might find these tips on handling a scaredy cat useful.
Utilize digital tools. You might post info about the cat as well as your contact info to multiple sites like Facebook, Nextdoor, PawBoost, Twitter, and Instagram. Consider printing and posting flyers around the neighborhood with your cell number and a clear photo of the missing cat. You can also contact local shelters to see if they have any cats that fit the cat's description. If you are unsure of the shelters in the area, Michelson Found Animals Registry has an easy shelter finder to help. This may seem like a lot, but many find that the more awareness, the better.
The cat has been found!
Amazing! Once the cat has been found, alert the owner and then alert Meowtel Support.
We hope you never encounter a situation like this, but knowing what steps to take is crucial. Your ability to be proactive and calm during an emergency can help support your human and cat clients. Always remember, you're not in it alone! Meowtel is here to assist with platform support should the unexpected happen.
Ready to find the purrfect sitter for your feline friend? Find a cat sitter on Meowtel today!
Photo by Tucker Good via Unsplash
