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Meowtel offers two types of in-home services:

1. Drop-in Visits: The sitter will visit your home once, twice, or up to three times per day. These visits can be booked in 20-minute, 45-minute, or 60-minute increments.
2. Overnight Stays: The sitter will stay overnight in your home for at least 12 hours. The total duration may vary depending on your sitter’s schedule and what you both agree upon. Overnight stays include dinner and breakfast feedings, and you're welcome to discuss any additional preferences or expectations directly with your sitter. *Please note that necessities for your sitter’s comfort and privacy are expected, such as a bed, clean linens, heat/AC, an internet connection, and a usable bathroom.

Every visit, regardless of the service type, will include:

1. Feeding and refreshing water
2. Cleaning the litter box
3. Playtime and cuddles
4. Administering medication (if applicable)
5. Photo or video updates from your sitter

Sitters will also take care of some light household duties such as bringing in the mail or watering a few plants. However, please note that we do not vet our sitters for their ability to care for houseplants or other pets beyond cats.

We do not offer nor do we vet our sitters for:

1. Cat boarding or kenneling, where the cats stay in the sitter's home
2. Cat grooming
3. House sitting (long-term or 24/7)
4. Dog walking

If these types of arrangements are made through Meowtel, both parties will be completely uninsured, and the sitter's listing may be suspended for violating our service offerings.

Prices start at $20 for 20 minutes of in-home cat sitting that is backed by the Meowtel Promise, which includes insurance coverage and speedy support.

Rates may vary from sitter to sitter, as Meowtel cat sitters set their own rates. Due to the cost of living in select cities, some areas will have different average rates than others.

Holiday surcharge rates also vary by sitter. You will always have the opportunity to review pricing before requesting your reservation.

Start your search here to find a sitter that fits your budget and needs.

Yes! Every reservation comes with a free Meet & Greet.

After you put in a reservation request, you may start setting up your free Meet & Greet by clicking the Chat with Sitter button on your request confirmation screen. You can also initiate a message to your sitter via the Meowtel Inbox, or by clicking the Chat button in your Reservations screen.

We recommend proposing two to three Meet & Greet times that will work best for you, so your sitter can quickly cross-check their schedule.

The Meet & Greet is a 15-30 minute meeting with your sitter to help you, your cats, and your sitter get acquainted with each other. It is the best way to make sure your sitter will be the purrfect fit and establish trust between both parties before the reservation takes place.

At the Meet & Greet, please provide your sitter with a copy of your key(s) so they do not have to make another trip to your home to pick it up.

Yes! All sitters are thoroughly vetted and we are highly selective in who we allow to sit on Meowtel.

Less than 10% of submitted profiles pass our screening and selection process which includes:

1. Completing an in-depth questionnaire
2. Creating a sitter listing with details about sitting experience and intentions
3. Two or more professional reference checks which require detailed feedback in a timely manner
4. A background check which covers criminal and traffic offenses in local, state, and federal jurisdictions
5. A final 20 - 30 minute video interview with a Meowtel team member

Every reservation booked and paid for on Meowtel at a rate of $20 or more per visit, inclusive of sitter discounts and holiday surcharges, qualifies for the benefits of our Meowtel Promise, which includes Insurance Coverage.

1. Kittens: Drop-in twice per day or overnight stays
2. Seniors: Drop-in twice per day or overnight stays
3. Healthy, self-sufficient: Drop-in once per day or every other day
4. Healthy, likes attention: Drop-in twice per day or overnight stays
5. Special/Wet food diets: Drop-in twice per day
6. Medication requirements: Can vary by type of medication and administration schedule
7. Diabetic: Drop-in twice per day or overnight stays
8. Special needs: Drop-in twice per day or overnight stays

Still not sure which service type your cat will need? Email [email protected] or call/text us at 1-844-MEOWTEL.

Yes. After each visit, your sitter will send you a message update, along with at least one photo or video. Many sitters will provide multiple photos or videos! If you’d like specific updates, such as before-and-after photos of food bowls, water dispensers, or litter box(es), feel free to request this from your sitter at your Meet & Greet!

Meowtel is a cat-centric platform, and we only guarantee that our sitters are qualified to care for cats. As a result, we do not provide services for animals other than cats.

If you have other pets in addition to cats, sitter availability depends on their comfort level. Before booking, discuss your other pet care needs with the sitter to ensure they’re comfortable.

Please note that only the cats listed on your reservation are covered by our insurance and not any other pets.

To learn how to contact a sitter before booking, click here.

*Only eligible reservations qualify for the Meowtel Promise.

As you prepare to have your Meowtel sitter care for your kitties while you’re away, here are a few important things to review during a Meet & Greet and to keep in mind:

1. Ensure you have completed the Vet Release Form for emergencies, and share your emergency contact(s) with your sitter.
2. Ensure you have stocked up on enough supplies for the duration of your reservation: food, treats, litter, litter disposal bags, cat toys, and medication if required.
3. Complete your cat(s) profile(s) to include all care instructions.
4. If your kitty requires medication(s), please share with your sitter specific instructions, tips, and best practices for administering their meds.
5. Provide your sitter with whatever they need to safely and smoothly access your home, such as a key that has been tested recently, accurate key pad or lockbox codes, etc. If possible, it’s also a good idea to have a spare key available or leave a backup key with a trusted neighbor or property manager.
6. Provide your sitter with any additional important information, such as additional emergency contacts, where additional supplies are stored, if there’s any particular places your cat(s) like to hide, or if there’s a sticky lock or any other household quirks they should be aware of.
7. If you’ve booked a sitter for Overnight Stays, please ensure they have access to basic accommodations, such as a bed, clean linens, heat/AC, an internet connection, and a usable bathroom with privacy.

Please also review and ensure your home meets our Fit for Service Home Environments policy prior to your sitter’s arrival.

Your sitter will contact you right away and ask if there is a spare key, alternate access point, or a property manager with a backup key. Sitters are also asked to immediately notify Meowtel in these situations.

If there are no spare keys or alternate entry options, your sitter will contact a locksmith to get a new key made and/or have the lock replaced.

Sitters are 100% responsible for contacting and paying for a locksmith or a replacement key if they lose, misplace, damage a client's key, or accidentally lock themselves out (e.g., leaving the key inside the home). This includes any situation related to theft or an unexplained loss of a client's key.

If the entry issue is due to a faulty key or faulty lock, or if you do not provide a correct entry code to your building or home, nor provide a key for your sitter, you will be responsible for resolving the issue, as well as any applicable costs.

We highly recommend completing the Vet Release Form before the start of your reservation.

If your kitty becomes sick or injured during your reservation, and the symptoms appear to be life-threatening, your sitter will immediately take your cat to the vet listed on your Vet Release Form. 

If the Vet Release Form has not been completed, the sitter and/or Meowtel will call the cat parent immediately for guidance on where to take the cat.* 

Note: Sitters are not legally authorized to transport a cat to a veterinary clinic or animal hospital without a completed Vet Release Form. Additionally, many vet clinics will not begin treatment without the cat parent’s written consent.

Should your cat(s) require veterinary care during a reservation, we recommend that clients compensate their sitter as follows:

For emergency vet visits that are between 30-60 mins, sitters should be compensated for a visit at their 60 min rate.

For emergency vet visits that are longer than an hour, sitters should be compensated using their 20 min rate multiplied by each 20 min increment of time spent on the emergency vet visit. For example, if a sitter spends 2 hours (120 minutes) on an emergency vet visit and their 20 min rate is $25, fair compensation would be (120 minutes / 20 min) = 6 x $25 = $150.

*Only eligible reservations qualify for the Meowtel Promise.

Cats love having small spaces to hide, as it helps them to feel calm and secure. Please share your cats' possible hiding spots (closets, under beds, in basements, laundry rooms, etc), and your sitter will do their best to locate your kitty.

We suggest sharing these possible hiding spots during the Meet & Greet so your sitter can take note of them before the reservation starts.

If you feel uncomfortable with your sitter at any point, or if you don’t think they’re a purrfect fit for your cat(s), please call 844-MEOWTEL (1-844-636-9835) as soon as possible so we can cancel the reservation, help you rebook with another sitter, and provide support.*

*Only eligible reservations qualify for the Meowtel Promise.

Yes! If your Meowtel cat sitter services your friend’s area, we’re sure they would appreciate the referral. (And if they don’t service your friend’s area, we might have other sitter options for them!) 

As a reminder, please be sure to keep all referrals on the Meowtel platform, and never share your sitter’s personal contact information directly with anyone. Meowtel customer support and insurance is only valid for reservations placed on our platform.*

*Only eligible reservations qualify for the Meowtel Promise.

Aside from The Meowtel Promise, which will give you peace of mind while you're away, Meowtel sitters are cat people, just like you! Since our sitters specialize in cats and cats only, you can rest assured that your kitty will be in the care of someone who understands and appreciates their quirks. Additionally, all of the cat sitters in our network have been fully vetted, including a criminal background check and video call with our team of sitter specialists. If you aren't 100% satisfied with the sitter you've selected after your free Meet & Greet, our support staff will assist you with our 100% satisfaction guarantee.

Cats are creatures of habit, and are happiest when in their home environment. Booking a Meowtel cat sitter ensures that your cats remain safe and comfortable in their familiar surroundings, minimizing stress and disruption. Your Meowtel cat sitter will provide updates with each visit, letting you know that your cat is receiving the absolute best care possible. Plus, you'll likely come home to extremely happy kitties!

During each visit, your Meowtel cat sitter will serve your cat fresh food and water (per your directions during the Meet & Greet), clean the litter box, give your cat playtime (and cuddles, if allowed!), administer any requested medications, and send you a message update, along with at least one photo or video.

For the safety of your cat(s) and our sitters, Meowtel does not allow any cat to go outside during a reservation. This includes, but is not limited to:

1. Patios
2. Hallways
3. Balconies
4. Backyards or gardens
5. Garages
6. Rooftop decks

All cats booked through Meowtel must remain fully indoors for the duration of the reservation, even if they normally go outside when you are home. This policy helps prevent accidents, escapes, and other safety concerns that can arise when cats have outdoor access.

Exception: Fully enclosed catios that are securely attached to the home and allow your cat to access the space without ever being exposed to the outdoors are allowed. The catio must be completely secure, escape-proof, and structurally enclosed so your sitter never has to open an exterior door or let your cat into an unprotected outdoor area.

It is okay for sitters to provide care to outdoor or feral cats that you normally care for; however, please note that Meowtel Protection Plan coverage will be completely void on any reservation that includes indoor/outdoor cats, outdoor cats, or feral cats. Meowtel is also unable to guarantee the safety or well-being of any cat that is allowed outside the home.

Yes – your sitter can provide care for indoor/outdoor cats, outdoor-only cats, or feral cats that you regularly care for. However, it’s important to understand how this affects your reservation.

Cats who spend time outdoors face a significantly higher risk of injury, illness, escape, or unexpected emergencies. Because of these inherent risks, Meowtel Protection Plan coverage is completely void on any reservation that includes indoor/outdoor cats, outdoor cats, or feral cats.

Meowtel is also unable to guarantee the safety or well-being of any cat that is allowed outside the home, even if this is part of their usual routine.

If your household includes a mix of indoor cats and outdoor/feral cats, your sitter can still care for all of them; just keep in mind that the reservation will not be eligible for Protection Plan coverage.

Every sitter on Meowtel operates as an independent contractor and runs their own cat-sitting business. While each sitter manages their own workflow, Meowtel’s best practice is to provide clear, consistent updates with photos or videos. Your sitter should send a visit update for each completed visit that includes a message about how your cat(s) are doing along with photos or videos and any important notes from the visit.

If you prefer to receive updates at specific times, such as when your sitter arrives and when they leave, you are welcome to request this in the chat or during your free Meet & Greet. Sitters are expected to be consistent with their updates and responsive through the Meowtel chat throughout the reservation.

Some clients choose to use home security cameras such as Ring or similar devices that show entry and exit activity. This is completely optional and not required.

If you ever have concerns about visit timing or sitter communication, our support team is here to help.