Most sitters respond within minutes, yet please be patient, as all sitters on Meowtel are independent service providers and have a variety of schedules. Some provide cat sitting services full-time, while others may have an office job during the day, and take care of beloved kitty clients during their personal time.

Every sitter has 24 hours to either accept or decline a reservation request once it is received. If they do not take action within that time span or if they decline your request, your reservation request will be canceled, and the temporary pending charge on your credit card will be released. You're then welcome to submit a new reservation request to a different sitter.

Many sitters happily offer a free Meet & Greet to cat parents upon receiving your reservation request on Meowtel.

Submitting a reservation request first helps with the following:

Sitter Safety: Sitters want to know who they are meeting, especially when they are going to a stranger's home. Having a complete profile on Meowtel with your cat's information will increase the likelihood that they will accept your request.
Intent: Submitting a reservation request helps sitters confirm that cat parents are serious about booking services.
Meowtel Promise: If the reservation is eligible for the Meowtel Promise and you're not satisfied with your sitter after the Meet & Greet or during the reservation, please call 1-844-636-9835 so we can help you re-book with a different sitter or issue a refund.

Keeping notes on your clients helps you stay organized and provide attentive care. These notes are private and only visible to you. When adding details, many sitters find it helpful to keep them professional and focused on care instructions, rather than personal opinions.

Here are some helpful details to jot down:

Cat Parent Preferences

Do they prefer you to remove your shoes in their home?
What is their preference for key return?

Kitty Care Routine

Feeding schedule and amounts
Dietary requirements and treats
Water bowl locations
Litter box location and cleaning instructions
How does the cat parent handle the disposal of waste (used litter, cat food cans, etc.)?

Behavior & Special Needs

Any behavioral quirks?
Any medical needs or medications?
Any kitties prone to bathroom accidents or hairballs?
Which rooms do the cats have access to?
Any toys that should be put away when unsupervised?

Household Notes

Are there any alarms or security systems to be aware of?
Where are cleaning supplies (paper towels, vacuum, broom) for tidying up?
Should mail or packages be brought inside?
Are there other pets to feed or plants to water?
Any household quirks to be aware of? (e.g., a tricky lock, a drafty window, steep stairs)

Accepting payments outside of Meowtel (e.g., cash, check, Venmo) for cat sitting services goes against our Terms of Service. Reservations made outside of the platform are not eligible for the Meowtel Promise.

One of the most common ways this happens is when a client wants to add extra visits to an existing reservation. In these cases, they will need to either modify the existing reservation or book a new one. You can find more details on modifying a reservation here.

Tips given outside the Meowtel platform are allowed. Only tips sent through Meowtel's payment system will be reported in your annual earnings summary. More information on tipping can be found here.

If we identify that a sitter and client have arranged payment outside of Meowtel, their accounts may be suspended or removed from the platform. You will always receive an email notification regarding any changes to your account status.

If a client requests to pay outside of Meowtel, please let us know by emailing [email protected] or calling/texting 1-844-MEOWTEL.

Yes!

If you know a friend (or a few friends) who you think would make purrfect sitter on Meowtel, you can invite them by sharing this link: sign up to become a sitter on Meowtel!

You'll earn a $50 bonus which will be deposited into your payouts and earnings on the platform whenever one of your referred friends successfully completes their first Meowtel reservation as a sitter with a client who is not the original referrer.

Simply let your referred friend know to share your name with us when they register, and your referral will be activated!

The Vet Release Form is an optional but highly recommended section of your account to complete before you travel. This form authorizes your sitter to take your cat(s) to your designated vet in the event of an emergency. Without this completed form, your cat sitter may be unable to authorize treatment at an emergency hospital or vet clinic.

If you haven't yet established care with a primary vet, we suggest doing a quick Google search to identify a local vet clinic where your sitter can take your cat(s) in case of an emergency. This step can save valuable time in a life-threatening situation - it's always best to be prepared as a cat parent!

In the event of an emergency, when cat(s) need to be taken to the vet, many cat parents choose to pay their cat sitter for the additional time spent.