{"id":2098,"date":"2026-07-03T09:50:38","date_gmt":"2026-07-03T09:50:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fluv.com\/jp\/ja\/blog\/?p=2098"},"modified":"2026-08-13T03:47:56","modified_gmt":"2026-08-13T03:47:56","slug":"cat-sitter-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fluv.com\/jp\/en\/blog\/cat-sitter-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"7 things to know before using a cat sitter for the first time"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 100%;height: auto\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fluv.com\/jp\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/07\/g48a0014a72a235b6d2f980d26017e5e6eff289220ce1ecfd6904afd64f8ddfeaafc68390c0b8537e36a8d28f0f2058f4b63bb03f9911d51a8e43cced06e495e1_1280.jpg\" alt=\"A thorough guide covering the basics of cat pet sitters, services offered, typical pricing, and tips for choosing the right one.\" width=\"1280\" height=\"853\" \/><\/figure>\n<div style=\"background-color: #fdfdfd;border: 1px solid #e0e0e0;padding: 20px;border-radius: 8px;margin-bottom: 30px\">\n<h2 style=\"margin-top: 0\">Table of contents<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#section1\">What does a cat sitter do?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#section2\">How do you become a pet sitter?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#section3\">What kind of person makes a good pet sitter?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#section4\">What are the different ways to work as a pet sitter?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#section5\">Pet sitter income guide<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#section6\">Good to know: How is a pet sitter different from a pet hotel?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#section7\">Good to know: What are the benefits of using a pet sitter?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p>Whether it&#8217;s a vacation, a business trip, or an unexpected hospital stay, there are times when pet owners suddenly need to be away from home. Unlike dogs, cats are very sensitive to changes in their environment. Many cats become stressed and even fall ill when placed in a pet hotel. That&#8217;s where a cat-specialist <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fluv.com\/jp\/ja\/service\/dropin\">pet sitter<\/a> \u2014 commonly known as a cat sitter \u2014 comes in. This service, where a professional visits your home to take care of feeding and litter box duties in your cat&#8217;s familiar surroundings, has been growing in demand in recent years. In this article, we&#8217;ll walk you through everything from the basics of cat <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fluv.com\/jp\/ja\/service\/dropin\">pet sitters<\/a>, services offered, typical pricing, and tips for choosing the right one. It&#8217;s written to be easy to follow even if you&#8217;re considering a cat sitter service for the very first time, so read on!<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2 id=\"section1\">What does a cat sitter do?<\/h2>\n<hr \/>\n<p>Cat sitters offer a wide range of services. Here&#8217;s an overview of the basic care they provide:<\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 100%;border-collapse: collapse;margin: 15px 0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"background: #f8f8f8\">\n<th style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc;padding: 10px\">Category<\/th>\n<th style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc;padding: 10px\">Details<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc;padding: 10px\">Meals &#038; hygiene<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc;padding: 10px\">Meal preparation, dish washing, fresh water refill, litter box cleaning, waste monitoring<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc;padding: 10px\">Health &#038; grooming<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc;padding: 10px\">Health checks (appetite, vomiting, etc.), coat care such as brushing<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc;padding: 10px\">Interaction<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc;padding: 10px\">Playtime with toys, photo report updates<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>In addition, some sitters will take your cat to the animal hospital on your behalf in the event of a sudden health emergency, following procedures agreed upon in advance.<\/p>\n<figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 100%;height: auto\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fluv.com\/jp\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/07\/g2f81787600ef919ed00b2e04ed830514d524294d8f0fccdc3f56ec94b00d77ca8b04388555940b41fc1d70acc2e52889c48825be704445bd5839b0471af8a10b_1280.jpg\" alt=\"Cat sitters offer a wide range of services. Here's an overview of the basic care they provide.\" width=\"1280\" height=\"853\" \/><\/figure>\n<div class=\"cta-button-wrapper\" style=\"text-align: center;margin: 2rem 0\"><a class=\"cta-button\" style=\"padding: 16px 36px;background-color: #79c7ce;color: white;text-decoration: none;border-radius: 30px;font-weight: bold;font-size: 18px\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fluv.com\/jp\/ja\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Find a trusted sitter<\/a><\/div>\n<hr \/>\n<h2 id=\"section2\">How do you become a pet sitter?<\/h2>\n<hr \/>\n<p>To work as a cat sitter, you first need to register as an animal handling business. Beyond self-study, earning professional certifications such as <a href=\"https:\/\/haec.athuman.com\/shop\/g\/g1245T031\/\">Cat Care Specialist<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jpc.or.jp\/kanrishi\/\">Companion Animal Care Manager<\/a> can significantly boost trust from pet owners. Gaining hands-on experience at an animal hospital or pet salon also helps develop your cat-handling skills and ability to make quick decisions in emergencies. The fastest route is to learn the fundamentals at a specialized school and then hone your practical skills through hands-on training.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2 id=\"section3\">What kind of person makes a good pet sitter?<\/h2>\n<hr \/>\n<p>The most important qualities for a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fluv.com\/jp\/ja\/service\/dropin\">pet sitter<\/a> are, of course, a deep love for animals, but also a strong sense of responsibility and composure. Since sitters enter the private space of the owner&#8217;s home while they are away, high ethical standards and a commitment to confidentiality are essential. Cats are also delicate and cautious by nature, so people who have the <strong>patience<\/strong> to respect a cat&#8217;s pace without forcing closeness and the <strong>attentiveness<\/strong> to notice subtle changes in health are especially well-suited for this role.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2 id=\"section4\">What are the different ways to work as a pet sitter?<\/h2>\n<hr \/>\n<p>Today there are many ways to work as a pet sitter. Some choose to start their own business as a sole proprietor, building strong trust with local pet owners in their community. Others register on matching platforms like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fluv.com\/jp\/ja\">Fluv<\/a> and make the most of their free time on their own schedule. Using a platform lets you skip the hassle of marketing and administrative tasks so you can focus on what matters most \u2014 <strong>spending quality time with cats<\/strong> \u2014 making it a highly efficient option for those working as a side job or freelancer.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2 id=\"section5\">Pet sitter income guide<\/h2>\n<hr \/>\n<p>Rates vary depending on location, experience, and number of pets.<\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 100%;border-collapse: collapse;margin: 15px 0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc;padding: 10px;background: #f8f8f8\">Category<\/th>\n<th style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc;padding: 10px;background: #f8f8f8\">Details<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc;padding: 10px\">Standard rate<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc;padding: 10px\">\u00a53,000\u2013\u00a55,000 per visit (approx. 30 minutes)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc;padding: 10px\">Price factors<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc;padding: 10px\">Additional fees for extra pets, peak season surcharges, transportation costs, consultation fees<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<hr \/>\n<h2 id=\"section6\">Good to know: How is a pet sitter different from a pet hotel?<\/h2>\n<hr \/>\n<h3 style=\"color: #79c7ce\">Cat sitter vs. pet hotel<\/h3>\n<table style=\"width: 100%;border-collapse: collapse;margin: 15px 0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc;padding: 10px;background: #f8f8f8\">Category<\/th>\n<th style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc;padding: 10px;background: #f8f8f8\">Cat sitter<\/th>\n<th style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc;padding: 10px;background: #f8f8f8\">Pet hotel<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc;padding: 10px\">Location<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc;padding: 10px\">Your home (familiar environment)<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc;padding: 10px\">Facility (change of environment)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc;padding: 10px\">Stress on the cat<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc;padding: 10px\">Minimal<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc;padding: 10px\">Relatively high<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<hr \/>\n<h2 id=\"section7\">Good to know: What are the benefits of using a pet sitter?<\/h2>\n<hr \/>\n<table style=\"width: 100%;border-collapse: collapse;margin: 15px 0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"background: #f8f8f8\">\n<th style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc;padding: 10px\">Situation<\/th>\n<th style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc;padding: 10px\">Benefit<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc;padding: 10px\">Vacation or visiting family<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc;padding: 10px\">Your cat can stay home in their familiar environment<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc;padding: 10px\">Business trips or long work hours<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc;padding: 10px\">Consistent, routine care is maintained<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc;padding: 10px\">Hospitalization or illness<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc;padding: 10px\">Peace of mind while the owner is away<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc;padding: 10px\">Senior cats or multi-pet households<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc;padding: 10px\">Professional, individualized care and reduced burden<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 100%;height: auto\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fluv.com\/jp\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/07\/g3f8b13ed401fc5d03c6f30ff99e183f775e4038a1c4773387d4eaf7b4d102d95c960bbe8c5ffa0ca83f8fe7a041ccffb64160aedf03e32513d388ce303c01e8f_1280.jpg\" alt=\"What are the benefits of using a cat sitter?\" width=\"1280\" height=\"1204\" \/><\/figure>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>How to choose the right cat sitter<\/h2>\n<hr \/>\n<p>Be sure to verify their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hokeniryo.metro.tokyo.lg.jp\/shisetsu\/jigyosyo\/douso\/dt_gyou\/dt_gyou\">animal handling business registration<\/a>, check their certifications, and have a thorough pre-visit consultation.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>What to expect when using a cat sitter for the first time<\/h2>\n<hr \/>\n<table style=\"width: 100%;border-collapse: collapse;margin: 15px 0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc;padding: 10px;background: #f8f8f8\">Step<\/th>\n<th style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc;padding: 10px;background: #f8f8f8\">Details<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc;padding: 10px\">1. Book<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc;padding: 10px\">Share your schedule and cat&#8217;s details to get a quote<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc;padding: 10px\">2. Consultation<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc;padding: 10px\">Meet the sitter in person 1\u20132 weeks beforehand to go over details<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc;padding: 10px\">3. Prepare<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc;padding: 10px\">Get food, vet clinic card, and spare key ready<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc;padding: 10px\">4. Pet sitting<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc;padding: 10px\">Care visits and report updates<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc;padding: 10px\">5. Done<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc;padding: 10px\">Key return<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n<hr \/>\n<h3 style=\"color: #79c7ce\">Q: What is a cat sitter?<\/h3>\n<p>A: A cat sitter is a professional service where a specialist visits your home to care for your cat while you&#8217;re away.<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"color: #79c7ce\">Q: How do I find a cat sitter?<\/h3>\n<p>A: Check that they have an animal handling business registration number, and use reviews and matching platforms to find the right fit.<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"color: #79c7ce\">Q: Which is better \u2014 a cat sitter or a pet hotel?<\/h3>\n<p>A: It depends on your cat&#8217;s personality. Cats that are sensitive to environmental changes tend to do better with a cat sitter.<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"color: #79c7ce\">Q: How much does a cat sitter cost?<\/h3>\n<p>A: The typical rate is \u00a53,000\u2013\u00a55,000 per visit, though prices vary depending on conditions.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>\ud83d\udc3e Want a more affordable and worry-free pet sitter experience?<\/h2>\n<hr \/>\n<p>Pets can&#8217;t speak for themselves, so the care you choose as their owner is everything.<br \/>\nThat&#8217;s why your beloved family member deserves a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fluv.com\/jp\/ja\/service\/dropin\">pet sitter<\/a> you can trust.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full\" style=\"max-width: 100%;height: auto;margin-bottom: 20px\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fluv.com\/jp\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/07\/2026-07-07-51fc5e3e-fdcf-4568-bf11-b0e9a0b8805a.jpg\" alt=\"New users get 20% OFF their first booking\" \/>\ud83c\udf81 <strong>Fluv is running an exclusive &#8220;Summer Sale&#8221; for new users!<\/strong><br \/>\nMake the most of Fluv for your summer pet care needs! \uff3cSave up to \u00a52,200!\uff0f<br \/>\n\u2705 Get <strong>20% OFF<\/strong> your first drop-in sitter booking!<br \/>\n\u2705 Plus, your <strong>pre-visit consultation is free<\/strong> (worth \u00a51,000)!<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full\" style=\"max-width: 100%;height: auto;margin-bottom: 20px\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fluv.com\/jp\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/07\/2026-06-11-eb05e950-12e9-425d-b423-3dc5c0af18b0.png\" alt=\"First-time users only: Free pre-visit consultation\" \/>&#8220;<strong>I&#8217;m nervous about using a sitter for the first time\u2026<\/strong>&#8221; \u2014 don&#8217;t worry!<br \/>\n\ud83d\udc3e With Fluv, you can meet the sitter at your home beforehand, so you can make sure your pet is comfortable with them before leaving them in their care.<br \/>\n\ud83d\udcc5 <strong>Summer campaign period:<\/strong> July 1 \u2013 July 31!<br \/>\n\ud83c\udf9f <strong>Best-value exclusive coupon code: \u3010 #SUMMER20 \u3011<\/strong><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 0.9em;color: #666\">(* Enter the code above to get both &#8220;20% OFF&#8221; and &#8220;Free pre-visit consultation&#8221; applied!)<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"cta-button-wrapper\" style=\"text-align: center;margin: 2rem 0\"><a class=\"cta-button\" style=\"padding: 16px 36px;background-color: #79c7ce;color: white;text-decoration: none;border-radius: 30px;font-weight: bold;font-size: 18px\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fluv.com\/jp\/ja\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Download the Fluv app<\/a><\/div>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>\ud83d\udc3e Follow Fluv on social media!<\/h2>\n<hr \/>\n<h3 style=\"color: #79c7ce\">Instagram<\/h3>\n<p>\u27a1 Follow us here: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/fluv.jp\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/fluv.jp\/<\/a><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"color: #79c7ce\">Threads<\/h3>\n<p>\u27a1 Follow us here: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.threads.com\/@fluv.jp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.threads.com\/@fluv.jp<\/a><\/p>\n<h3 style=\"color: #79c7ce\">LINE<\/h3>\n<p>\u27a1 Follow us here: <a href=\"https:\/\/line.me\/R\/ti\/p\/@236fcisy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/line.me\/R\/ti\/p\/@236fcisy<\/a><\/p>\n<h4>Related articles:<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/news.nicovideo.jp\/watch\/nw16978447\">Fluv launches in Japan! Bringing peace of mind to urban pet owners traveling during the New Year holidays<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fluv.com\/jp\/ja\/blog\/dog-petsitter-comparison\/\">How long can you leave a dog home alone? Age-based guidelines and 6 safety tips<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fluv.com\/jp\/ja\/blog\/cat-litter-box-problems\/\">5 tips to prevent cat litter box problems | Care tips from a pet sitter<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What is a cat sitter? Learn how to choose one, typical pricing, and booking steps. Find the right pet sitter to care for your cat while you travel or work.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":2099,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2098","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-owner-care-guide"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fluv.com\/jp\/en\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2098","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fluv.com\/jp\/en\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fluv.com\/jp\/en\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluv.com\/jp\/en\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluv.com\/jp\/en\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2098"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluv.com\/jp\/en\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2098\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2275,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluv.com\/jp\/en\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2098\/revisions\/2275"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluv.com\/jp\/en\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2099"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fluv.com\/jp\/en\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2098"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluv.com\/jp\/en\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2098"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluv.com\/jp\/en\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2098"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}