On romanticising cat-sitting

We were having a chat earlier today between colleagues about how we need to stop romanticising cat-sitting.

It may seem like we spend our days cuddling and playing with kitties—and that’s true, there’s a lot of that—but those moments come hand in hand with others. Like when a kitty doesn’t want to eat or take medicine from you. When you open a litter box you wouldn’t wish on your worst enemy, let alone the cat you care for and love. When a cat is sick, their parents are far away on hols, and you spend sleepless nights over it. When you don’t feel well yourself and still have to work—because who else will do the job? When things happen in the home: a smoke alarm going off, doors left wide open... When clients don’t understand the urgency of symptoms you sometimes see, just because you’ve developed an eye for these things—but you’re “just” a cat sitter, so why would they listen? When a cat doesn’t want you in their home, for whatever reason, but you still have to care for them (like Oli here). Long days for little money. No celebrations on holidays. Scarce human contact. Summers you don’t really enjoy. Those forever goodbyes... I can go on. Some days are hard—yes—and there are no weekends to stop and regroup. You pick up and go every single day.

What we do is wonderful, but it’s also tough on both body and soul. That’s the main reason I thought about creating a community: a place where we can say how our day has been and find support. Where we ask questions, share advice, stand next to one another when we can’t figure it out, or just vent a little 'cause sometimes that helps enough.

Truth of the matter is I don’t know what else I’d rather be doing, so I try to make it a smooth a ride as I can. And with good training of the mind, you learn to find something refreshing even in hardship. There’s beauty, too, in a cat telling you to stay away—and you knowing how to handle that, respect it, and learn.

There’s no moral to this story. Anyone who’s done this job will tell you it’s both beautiful and awful. The best thing they’ve done—and the worst. We get things done with love and dignity, and we go on.

Hug your sitter today, though ❤