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For reservations shorter than 7 days:

Reservation earnings will deposit into your sitter earnings balance 48 hours after the reservation ends.

For reservations longer than 7 days:

Reservation earnings will be pro-rated; earnings will be paid 2 days after the first 7-day increment, and the last earnings will be deposited on the last day of the booking. Please note that when reservations are modified, the earnings schedule is recalculated. The exact dates when earnings will be processed can be found on the reservation earnings schedule.

For reservations canceled within 48 hours of the start date:

Reservation earnings will be immediately deposited into your sitter earnings balance the moment a client cancels.

For reservations canceled within 24 hours of the start date:

Reservation earnings will be deposited 2 days after the reservation was scheduled to start.

Sitters can request a payout manually or set their account to Autopay, which is paid out on alternating Fridays once your Available to Payout balance exceeds $100. We currently offer Venmo or PayPal as our sitter payout methods.

The holiday surcharge applies to the 3 days prior to a federal holiday, on the day of the federal holiday, and 3 days after the federal holiday (for a full 7 days). To set your holiday price adjustment, go to Rates & Availability and click the drop down menu to select your preferred percentage increase for the federal holidays listed below.

You are allowed to change your Holiday Price Adjustment % at any time.

Federal Holiday date ranges for which the holiday surcharge applies in 2025:

1. January 1-4: New Year's 2025
2. January 17-23: MLK Day
3. February 14-20: President's Day
4. May 23-May 29: Memorial Day
5. June 16-22: Juneteenth
6. July 1-7: July 4th
7. August 29-September 4: Labor Day
8. November 8-14: Veteran's Day
9. November 24-30: Thanksgiving
10. December 22-28: Christmas
11. December 29-31: New Year's 2026

PLEASE NOTE:

You as the sitter have complete control over this price adjustment - this rate is never set or changed by Meowtel HQ.

Our standard sitter commissions do apply to your holiday surcharge.

For example, let's say a customer books you for December 25-26:

1. Your base rate is $25: $25 x 2 visits = $50
2. Your holiday surcharge is 20%: $50 x 20% = $10

The total price which will be subject to sitter commissions is $60.

Should you have any questions about the holiday surcharge, please email [email protected].

We have a 4-tiered approach to sitter commissions. Sitters who consistently provide excellent service and win over more repeat clients will benefit most.

For sitters in California, please see this article.

Our commission structure is based on your total reservation earnings with each client:

1. Tier 1: 30% commission for any client from whom you have earned $0-$299.
2. Tier 2: 25% commission for any client from whom you have earned between $300-$999.
3. Tier 3: 20% commission for any client from whom you have earned between $1,000-$2,999.
4. Tier 4: 15% commission for any client from whom you have earned over $3,000.

These commission tiers apply to a sitter's base rate and holiday surcharge. For example, if your 20-minute rate is $30 and your holiday surcharge is set at 30%, a 20-minute visit on December 25th with a brand new client will result in you taking home $27.30:

1. Base rate: $30.00
2. Holiday surcharge: 30% x $30 = $9.00
3. Total price: $39.00

Meowtel's commission @ Tier 1: 30%

Your Earnings: $39.00 - ($39.00 x 30%) = $39.00 - $11.70 = $27.30.

Tiers and commissions are calculated using earning data from all past/completed reservations. The moment a sitter accepts a reservation request, including any reservation modification requests, is when the tiers and earnings calculations take place for the new reservation. Any other reservation taking place with the same client before, during, or after this reservation does not impact the original calculation.

Here’s an example of what this could look like:

- On Dec 1st, client places Reservation #1 starting on Feb 1st, with planned earnings of $100 in Tier 1

- On Dec 20th, client places Reservation #2, starting on Jan 1st for 10 days, with planned earnings of $300 in Tier 1

- Reservation #2 is ending before Reservation #1 started and the sitter is now in Tier 2

- Reservation #1 will still be in Tier 1, as it was accepted on Dec 1st, when the sitter was in Tier 1

Tips are not counted towards client earning calculations since they are already commission-free. You can always check up on your commission tier progress with each client by taking the following steps:

1. Visit your Clients screen on Meowtel.com or in the mobile app

2. In the upper right corner, sort by Earnings or double click on the Earnings column to re-sort the table

3. Your clients will be sorted from highest to lowest earnings

Disclaimer: Meowtel is not a tax advising entity and therefore cannot provide any counseling regarding taxes or income reporting.

Sitters are independent contractors and are obligated by law to report any Meowtel earnings to the IRS. For tax reporting purposes, Meowtel will send sitters a Payouts Summary email by the end of January with details regarding payouts from the previous year. Additionally, sitters who meet the requirements will be issued a 1099-K form from either PayPal or Venmo depending on the service the sitter uses to receive payouts. Meowtel cannot issue 1099-K forms directly to sitters.

For the 2024 Tax Year:

-If you reach $5,000 in gross payouts, a 1099-K form will be issued to you by PayPal or Venmo. Even if you don't receive this form, you are still required to report your Meowtel earnings on your income tax.



Learn more about IRS Form 1099-K.

We want to keep pricing simple and transparent for clients, so we don’t recommend haggling or negotiating prices. Instead, your set rates should be all-inclusive for the average customer you serve, factoring in common expenses like transportation, parking, and any specialized care.

Since rates vary by location, cat care needs, and client expectations, here are some real-life examples to help you determine your pricing:

Example 1: Downtown Los Angeles – Special Needs Cats

1. Metered parking: $4.00/hour
2. Gas: $6.00/gallon (15-minute, 2-mile drive)
3. Visits typically 45 minutes, including medication administration (pills, injections, topicals)

Rate: $40 per 45-minute visit + $4 parking + $1.50 gas = $45.50 per visit

Example 2: Brooklyn – Healthy Cats, Public Transit

1. Subway fare: $2.75 one-way
2. Visits typically 20 minutes

Rate: $27 per 20-minute visit + $5.50 subway fare = $32.50 per visit

Example 3: Central Austin – 3+ Cats, Suburban Sitter

1. Metered parking: $2.00/hour
2. Gas: $4.00/gallon (20-minute drive without traffic, up to 50 minutes with traffic)
3. Visits typically 45 minutes

Rate: $35 per 45-minute visit + $2 parking + $1 gas + $10 commute premium = $48 per visit

If you want to service areas with a longer commute, you can add another service zone and set a different rate for certain ZIP codes. This allows you to offer your services without compromising on travel time and expenses.

We also recommend reviewing “Can I charge extra for each cat?” for guidance on visitation lengths and our all-inclusive pricing model.

On Meowtel, sitters set their rates based on visit duration, not the number of pets in the home. Our recommended visit durations based on the number of cats in a household are:

1. 1-2 cats: 20min, 45min, 60min, or Overnight
2. 3 cats: 20min (twice per day), 45min, 60min, or Overnight
3. 4-5 cats: 45min, 60min, or Overnight
4. 6 or more cats: 60min or Overnight

For reservations with three or more cats, at least 40 minutes per day is required at checkout—either as two 20-minute visits or a single 45-minute visit.

Every client’s situation is different. If medications are required, we strongly recommend a minimum 45-minute visit. If there are other pets in the home (such as fish, turtles, or rabbits), advising the client to book a 45-minute visit is a good idea—but keep in mind that The Meowtel Promise only covers cats.

If you need any guidance or have questions about discussing visit durations with clients, please call or text 1-844-MEOWTEL.

If a sitter attempts to charge extra per pet, please let us know—this should never be the case on Meowtel.

Please visit your Sitter Dashboard > Payout & Earnings. From there you will have the option to edit your payout method and account information, as well as choose whether or not to enroll in autopay.

The discount will apply to the entire reservation.

For more details on creating coupon and discount codes for clients, click here.

Absolutely! Every client can tip you right through the Meowtel App by visiting their completed reservations screen and clicking the Tip Sitter button which appears after the reservation ends. Meowtel sitters keep 100% of their tips, we do not take any commission on tips sent through Meowtel.

Clients can also get very creative with the types of tips or gifts of appreciation they give sitters. Our sitters have been known to be tipped in:

1. Cat accessories
2. Soap
3. Socks
4. Gift Cards
5. Wine
6. Cash
7. Flowers
8. Earrings

...the list goes on! You may always accept one of these non-traditional tips or even a cash tip, but all reservation payments from clients must go through Meowtel.

When a client tips you, you'll always receive an email notification and you may visit your Payouts & Earnings screen to view the details of each tip.

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 covered by Meowtel’s insurance.

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.

We take all customer concerns seriously and strive to review each situation fairly by gathering documentation from both parties. Our goal is to assess the situation objectively while ensuring trust and transparency for sitters and clients alike.

Here’s what to expect if a client submits a complaint:

1. You’ll receive an email outlining the situation, along with a request for any relevant documentation (e.g., photos, videos, SMS screenshots).
2. The Meowtel chat room will serve as the primary documentation source for reviewing the claim.
3. Your earnings for the reservation may be placed on hold while we complete the review and reach a resolution.
4. If adjustments are needed, we’ll communicate any necessary changes to earnings based on missed visits, visit updates, or other service-related concerns.
5. We appreciate your cooperation in responding promptly and professionally if a complaint is escalated. If we don’t receive the requested documentation, we may not be able to properly assess the situation, which could impact the resolution.

Best Practices for Preventing Complaints

To help ensure a smooth experience for both sitters and clients, here are some tips:

1. Prioritize clear communication – Keep clients updated, let them know if you’re running late, and provide detailed visit updates.
2. Be proactive with scheduling Meet & Greets – Offer a few date and time options for new clients to ensure a good fit.
3. Follow care instructions exactly – Take photos and videos to confirm you’re following the client’s requests.We highly recommend taking before and after photos of each task, as well as lots of photos of the kitties. For more on what a purrfect update looks like click here.
4. Keep kitties safely indoors – Keep cats inside, and pay extra attention when entering and exiting the home. Cats can get scared and run off unexpectedly.
5. Respect the client’s home – Leave it as clean (or cleaner) than you found it. A quick tidy-up on the final visit—like sweeping/vacuuming the litter area and taking out the trash—goes a long way.

For more sitter tips, check out our blog posts for sitters. Thanks for being part of the Meowtel community! 😺

Due to California's unique legal landscape, Meowtel does not take a sitter commission in California.

When setting your rates, you’ll notice a base rate and a display rate. The base rate is what you earn for each visit and the display rate is what is charged to the customer (and displayed on your listing), which includes our 30% service fee.

Sitters can change their rates and what they earn per visit at any time and to any amount.

Learn more about Customer Fees in California.

All payments for reservations are processed through the Meowtel platform. Earnings from reservations are deposited into your Meowtel account 48 hours after the final day of the reservation, while tips are deposited immediately.

For reservations longer than 7 days, deposits are pro-rated: earnings are deposited 2 days after each 7-day period, with the final earnings deposited 48 hours after the reservation ends.

Payout Options:

Payouts from your Meowtel account are made via PayPal or Venmo. You have two options for withdrawing funds:

1. Autopay: Automatically transfers your full balance every other Friday (minimum balance: $100).
2. Manual Payouts: Request a payout at any time. Only one manual payout can be processed at a time, so a new request can be made only after the previous one is completed. Transaction limits may apply ($1,000 per day or $3,000 per 7-day period).

Nope! Sitters don’t pay any fees directly to Meowtel. Instead, a Trust & Insurance Fee is included for every reservation, which is paid by Meowtel clients as part of their booked reservation. This fee helps keep Meowtel running smoothly—covering essential services like insurance, marketing, and community support, ensuring a safe and reliable experience for both sitters and cat parents.

Yes! We offer digital Meowtel gift cards in a variety of denominations! You can purchase one securely here, where you'll be asked to provide the recipient's name and email for delivery. It’s the purrfect gift for any cat parent!