On how I prepare for emergencies as a solo cat sitter

The human in the photo with two of my lovely kitty clients is my partner. From time to time he may come with me on visits, and there’s a good reason for that. Because I’m a solo cat sitter, clients sometimes ask a very reasonable question: what happens if something unexpected prevents me from doing my job?

Emergencies are rare, but when you care for animals professionally, you need to have a plan. Your cat should never be left without care, even if something unusual happens. Here’s how I handle it.

On my partner’s role

My partner is my emergency backup. He isn’t a cat sitter, but he’s involved in the city’s animal ambulance services and is a full-time cat dad. If something serious ever happened and I suddenly couldn’t continue visits (think illness, accident, or another genuine emergency), his role would simply be to step in temporarily to make sure your cat isn’t left without basic care. That means feeding, refreshing water, cleaning the litter box, and checking that your cat is okay — just the essentials, and only for a short period of time. He can’t replace the full cat-sitting service, especially during busy seasons when I may be caring for many cats across the city. His main priority would be to contact you immediately so you can activate your backup carer, who can then continue visits until you return.

In short, he keeps things stable while we sort things out.

That’s also why he may occasionally come with me on visits, sometimes without prior notice, so he can meet the cats I care for. If he ever needs to step in briefly, your cat won’t be meeting a completely unfamiliar person. If anyone else ever needs to accompany me, I will always inform you in advance.

On your emergency backup contact

Before each booking, I ask all clients to provide a backup contact in their intake form — someone local who could step in if needed. Usually a neighbour, friend, or family member. This is an important part of how I work and helps ensure peace of mind for both of us, knowing your cat will always be taken care of if something unexpected happens. Over the years I’ve learned that having this simple safety net in place makes all the difference if plans suddenly change.

Even if you’ve given me a backup contact before, it’s important to confirm or update it for every booking. The person you used last time might be unavailable, busy, or even travelling with you. Please check with them that they can actually help during that specific period.

Ideally, your backup person lives close by. If bad weather or another disruption makes access difficult, it’s much easier for someone nearby to reach your cat quickly.

On keys and access

Your keys are handled carefully and stored securely. Access is limited to me and — strictly for emergency purposes — my partner. However, while I’m out doing visits, your keys are usually with me as I travel between homes. If I were to have an accident while working, they could temporarily become unavailable. That’s why your backup person must have their own working key.

If needed, my partner may contact them to obtain access so care can continue. He will reach out to you first and also has access to your contact details for this purpose, so please make sure the information in your intake form is always up to date.

On your cat needing medical assistance

During visits, I always keep an eye on your cat’s health and behaviour. If I notice anything concerning, I’ll contact you right away so we can decide together what to do. If veterinary care is needed, I can help take your cat to the vet and assist with medication or extra care if required.

On bad weather and other unexpected situations

We don’t often experience extreme weather in the Netherlands, but storms, heavy winds, snow, or icy roads can sometimes make travel more difficult. I always do my best to continue visits safely. This might mean adjusting timing or planning routes differently.

If something truly exceptional happens — for example Code Orange or Code Red weather warnings — I may need to pause visits until it is safe for me to go out again. In those situations, your backup person can also step in if needed.

On my cat-sitting network

Even though I work solo, I’m not completely on my own. I created a professional cat-sitting network called Cat Sitters of Amsterdam, where trusted colleagues in the city support each other when needed. It’s a small community of sitters who care deeply about cats and about maintaining high standards in our work.

If an unusual situation ever requires extra support, we may be able to ask a nearby sitter for help. This doesn’t replace your backup person, but it does add an extra layer of support.

On your plans changing while you're away

Travel doesn’t always go as planned. Flights get cancelled, trains are delayed, and sometimes returning home on the agreed date isn’t possible. Those things seem to be happening more often lately.

If that happens, please give me a heads up as soon as you can. I may be able to add extra visits, and the Cat Sitters of Amsterdam community could potentially help here as well. The same applies if your cat becomes sick while you’re away — visits can be adjusted if extra care is needed.

Always remember: when you’re away, your cat is my cat. I’ll make sure they are cared for until you return home safely.

We’ll figure it out together.

In the picture: My partner helping entertain Mici and Norge during a visit.