Question for cat sitters

[Medusa]

I've decided to start a cat sitting service; I'm currently working on my contract, fliers, etc. I've chosen the name That Cat Lady because when people plan a trip and then say "Ok, now who can we call to watch the cats?", invariably someone will say "Hey, call that cat lady, what's 'er name."

Anyhow, my question is: do any of you offer the service of administering meds? I can easily pill my cats, give subQ fluid treatments and injections but they're my cats. We know and love each other and I know their personalities enough that I feel confident that nothing will go wrong. Plus the liability makes me very nervous. I'm having my insurance agent look into bonding and insurance but my vet feels that under no circumstances should I administer meds. I will be offering many other services besides feeding, watering, cleaning litter boxes, etc. but inevitably I'm going to get an interested party w/cats that need medication. My vet said that I should tell them to board their cats w/an accessible vet. It makes good sense to me. What say you?

[wolflady]

That's a real good question. At first I was going to say "yes" if it's a paid service, because people with cats on meds go away too, but after you mentioned liability, I got to thinking. Would that mean you'd have to turn down families with cats on meds? Or, perhaps you could have a meeting session with the cat you were to sit to have the owner show you the ins and outs of medicating, and if it didn't look like the cat would be able to work with you, then the owners would have time to find other alternatives.

Or, perhaps you could put a disclaimer in your notice regarding meds?

**hugs**

[wolflady]

I forgot to mention in my last post that it would probably also be a good idea to look and see if there are similar services in the area or on the internet. Maybe those would offer some ideas as well in terms of what is expected/offered for a cat sitting service.

[Medusa]

I forgot to mention in my last post that it would probably also be a good idea to look and see if there are similar services in the area or on the internet. Maybe those would offer some ideas as well in terms of what is expected/offered for a cat sitting service.

I definitely will have a clause holding me harmless, etc. but you know how that goes: "Fluffy was fine until she gave her the meds", etc. even though I've done it hundreds of times w/my own cats.

There are only two services w/in a 20 mile radius and they are pet sitters, i.e., they'll sit for dogs, hamsters, reptiles, birds, etc. I am specializing in just cats. I would hate to turn down business because so many of us have cats on meds; every one of mine is on meds and I would have to put my Pidge in hospital because of her subQ treatments if I need to go out of town. It just seems so natural to be able to say "No worries. I can give meds. Just be sure to measure them out for me w/a schedule." My vet really got me to thinking, though.

[phesina]

Dear Mary, I'm so sorry I hadn't yet replied to your e-mail asking me about this. I'm way behind with all my e-mail. Let me try and give an answer here.

I haven't had to give pills to cats I've sat for. I have had a couple of diabetic cats who needed insulin twice a day roughly 12 hours apart, but they were no trouble. I've also given cats sub-Q fluids, but these have all been cats who have been easy to handle.

I think I would want to do this on a case-by-case basis. Before I would say I'd give medications or fluids to a cat, I'd want to give it a try with the owner present or otherwise have some kind of guaranteed reassurance that this is not going to be traumatic for either the cat or me. It is very important to have specifics stated very clearly in your contract in those cases. I would look very closely into legal ramifications and liabilities.

In vets' offices they have very heavy gloves to wear and specially trained technicians, usually more than one person available at a time, to deal with cats who do not accept medication gladly.

Best wishes! Please let us know what you decide to do.

[Medusa]

Oh no worries, Pat, really. We're all so busy and I completely understand. I, too, thought about doing it on a case-by-case basis but my vet put the fear of litigation into me. Until I'm firm on what I decide, I won't do it. Just by word of mouth, someone has already emailed me for a week in June so I need to get cracking on this. I would like to know, though, if you're licensed. I need to do some investigating to find out if a license is necessary if I don't board anyone's cats. I will not be bringing any home; I'll be going to their homes instead.

[Moesha]

I take care of a diabetic kitty who also needs insulin twice a day. I was specifically asked because I used to give Morgan shots. I won't board Morgan because stress causing the sugar levels to rise, and being away from home would be such a traumatic experience for him. When he was still taking the shots, I made sure that anyone that I may need to ask to come to my home to watch him was familiar with administering his shots. For my diabetic kitty, boarding is not an option. Especially since he is now regulated with food, I don't want to disrupt his routine in anyway and risk getting back into the shot giving. Just another side of the equation to think about. I would personally be much more comfortable with an experienced person like yourself coming to give my cat medications while I was gone than Joe Blow petsitter. Who is to say that something doesn't happen to one of the cats you are watching even if they aren't on medication. What would the difference be?

[Medusa]

Who is to say that something doesn't happen to one of the cats you are watching even if they aren't on medication. What would the difference be?

You raise a good point, Moesha, and that's why I want to be insured and bonded. I just don't want to increase my odds of ever having to use my insurance, I guess. I was fine w/dispensing meds and the person who wants me to cat sit next month knows that I know how to do subQ's treatments and subQ injections; that's why they specificially asked for me. I guess I let my vet scare me but I think so highly of him and I respect his opinion and I did ask him for it, he didn't offer it. What you said makes perfect sense, though.

[Randi]

I think you could do it, BUT, it depends very much on the cat. I'm pretty sure you would not be able to give Fister a pill, or give him any kind of injections. It would take two of you.

However, the cat I'm catsiting now, is easier to handle than Fister was a few years ago. So far, I've been able to clip 6 of his nails - one more day to go.

Whatever you decide to do, I would make sure to have some kind of insurance if anything happened (not only concerning medicine), and to give the cat medicine a few times with the owner present.

Good luck!

[Medusa]

However, the cat I'm catsiting now, is easier to handle than Fister was a few years ago. So far, I've been able to clip 6 of his nails - one more day to go.

Nail clipping is another story. I can't clip my Yodie's nails but a few at a time. I've never done her hind claws so I have my vet do it. It takes one to hold her, one to clip claws. I usually manage 3 before I get bitten and/or smacked. LOL Everyone else is cooperative.

[Randi]

Mary, we surely won't be expected to clip the cats' nails, since people are normally away for only a few weeks. In this case, I just thought I'd give it a try, since they have three children, the smallest is about 3. Dali's nails have probably never been clipped before, they were certainly long and sharp!!

[catmandu]

You would definitley have to be insured and bonded and have a disclaimer about Cats who have preexisting conditions, that you are not responsible if suddenly they take a turn for the worse, through no fault of yours.
Otherwise you could face a hysterical grieving Guardian when its not your fault.
There are sadly people who will sue at the drop of a hat, and you have to be careful who you accept as clients.

[phesina]

Oh no worries, Pat, really. We're all so busy and I completely understand. I, too, thought about doing it on a case-by-case basis but my vet put the fear of litigation into me. Until I'm firm on what I decide, I won't do it. Just by word of mouth, someone has already emailed me for a week in June so I need to get cracking on this. I would like to know, though, if you're licensed. I need to do some investigating to find out if a license is necessary if I don't board anyone's cats. I will not be bringing any home; I'll be going to their homes instead.

Mary, I'm not licensed, as I've done it on a rather informal basis so far, for people I know and people who know people I know. I have not heard anything about licensing of home-visiting petsitters, at least not in Michigan. That might be different in Ohio. Check with the state licensing board and other state agencies as to what is required.

Some petsitters take vet-tech or other training courses that provide them with certifications and registrations saying they are legally qualified to give medications or perform various medical procedures. I believe the American Red Cross also offers pet first-aid courses giving certificates.

You do want to be insured and bonded. That protects not only you but also the clients and the cats. If you have or know a good attorney, it probably would be a good idea to run through all this with her or him.

Another thing to consider: backup. What do you do, whom can you call upon, if for some reason you can NOT get to your scheduled cat care? YOU become deathly ill, get in a car accident, have a family emergency, for instance. Also, where nearby is there a key in case you misplace yours? (I once accidentally locked the key inside the house and wound up having to break a window to get in.) All the people I sit for now, I ALWAYS make sure I know where there's a spare key and a nearby friend or neighbor who will fill in in case I can't make it.

Something else to keep in mind: this is a job with NO holidays, NO sick days, NO weekends off! Be sure you are up for making that commitment. And you have to spend the time it takes on each visit to do it properly for that animal, no matter how many other visits you have later that day.

I just finished one last week in which one of the two cats wouldn't eat. Since he's diabetic and needed his insulin and some food before getting it, I wound up going to the supermarket to buy things I thought might appeal, then when nothing did, taking him to his vet the next morning, then later that day taking him to the emergency vet for all-night care and monitoring.. and visiting him in the hospital..

I talked with the owner many times during all this. She was really touched and said I went way beyond what she would have expected and had ever gotten from others who cared for her pets. I replied, they DEPEND on me! This is another aspect of petsitting, and you shouldn't go into it if you aren't willing to do what's needed when needed. I said, I would do the same for my own cats.. in fact, I just DID the same for my Bob and Poppy the weekend before!, (see http://petoftheday.com/talk/showthre...ht=bobby+poppy), which I had told her about.

Well, there I go, and I can go on and on about petsitting once I get started, so I guess I'll stop for now. Anything else helpful I can tell you about, please let me know.

Sounds like you are doing everything right, Mary, keeping all the important considerations in mind. All the best with it, That Cat Lady!

[Medusa]

Mary, I'm not licensed, as I've done it on a rather informal basis so far, for people I know and people who know people I know. I have not heard anything about licensing of home-visiting petsitters, at least not in Michigan. That might be different in Ohio. Check with the state licensing board and other state agencies as to what is required.

Some petsitters take vet-tech or other training courses that provide them with certifications and registrations saying they are legally qualified to give medications or perform various medical procedures. I believe the American Red Cross also offers pet first-aid courses giving certificates.

You do want to be insured and bonded. That protects not only you but also the clients and the cats. If you have or know a good attorney, it probably would be a good idea to run through all this with her or him.

Another thing to consider: backup. What do you do, whom can you call upon, if for some reason you can NOT get to your scheduled cat care? YOU become deathly ill, get in a car accident, have a family emergency, for instance. Also, where nearby is there a key in case you misplace yours? (I once accidentally locked the key inside the house and wound up having to break a window to get in.) All the people I sit for now, I ALWAYS make sure I know where there's a spare key and a nearby friend or neighbor who will fill in in case I can't make it.

Something else to keep in mind: this is a job with NO holidays, NO sick days, NO weekends off! Be sure you are up for making that commitment. And you have to spend the time it takes on each visit to do it properly for that animal, no matter how many other visits you have later that day.

I just finished one last week in which one of the two cats wouldn't eat. Since he's diabetic and needed his insulin and some food before getting it, I wound up going to the supermarket to buy things I thought might appeal, then when nothing did, taking him to his vet the next morning, then later that day taking him to the emergency vet for all-night care and monitoring.. and visiting him in the hospital..

I talked with the owner many times during all this. She was really touched and said I went way beyond what she would have expected and had ever gotten from others who cared for her pets. I replied, they DEPEND on me! This is another aspect of petsitting, and you shouldn't go into it if you aren't willing to do what's needed when needed. I said, I would do the same for my own cats.. in fact, I just DID the same for my Bob and Poppy the weekend before!, (see http://petoftheday.com/talk/showthre...ht=bobby+poppy), which I had told her about.

Well, there I go, and I can go on and on about petsitting once I get started, so I guess I'll stop for now. Anything else helpful I can tell you about, please let me know.

Sounds like you are doing everything right, Mary, keeping all the important considerations in mind. All the best with it, That Cat Lady!

Thanx a million, Pat. I've done some research on being bonded and insured and I'm just not convinced that I need to do it, especially since I'm only going to do cat sitting part time and probably more by word of mouth than anything. A bond for a sole proprietorship that has no employees or independent contractors is worthless because it protects the employer from dishonest acts done by employees or IC's. I'm not going to do anything dishonest or illegal. A bond isn't an ins. policy and it isn't paid out like one. To my knowledge, the client would not file a claim w/the bonding co. I would have to do that and I would have to be arrested, tried, convicted and sentenced before the bond would be paid. Then the bonding co. would have to come after me. IMO, it's money foolishly spent. If I had employees, that would be different.

Insurance is another matter. The premiums average around $325.00/year and you have to be a member of Petsitters International or one of the other pet sitter organizations. That means I would have to pay their dues, as well. If I don't join, I can't get pet sitter ins. I'm not a joiner, never have been. PT is just about the only thing I've ever joined. LOL The homeowner's ins. would cover me but I would have to pay the deductible.

I am taking a first aid/CPR course for pets next Saturday, which I should've done years ago. Shoot, I haven't even taken a first aid/CPR course for humans. Talk about doing things bass ackwards. LOL

Everything that you did for your client's diabetic cat, I would most definitely do for my clients, too. I wouldn't even dream of being any other way. I would hope that my cat sitter would do the same for my cats. Someone here on PT suggested that if a client would want me to administer meds to her cat, I might do it w/the client present first and that's a great idea. The only thing that I'm really leery of is sitting for an indoor/outdoor cat. If the cat leaves and doesn't come back or something worse, well, I don't even want to contemplate that. As for holidays, etc., I'll play that one by ear. As I said, I'll only be doing it part time for extra cash and I have friends in the rescue business here who are chomping at the bit for a good cat sitter, so I think I should be ok in that aspect. I already have 2 persons for back up and I most definitely will get a spare key or ask to be shown where one is kept.

I appreciate all your advice and if you think of anything else, keep it comin'. I'm never too old to learn and never too proud to say that I'm wrong. I'm waiting for a call from my ins. agent just to see if there is anything that I may not have thought of but I don't want to complicate things to the point where I give up the idea entirely. I still haven't found out if licensing is required yet but I don't think that it is. I seem to recall reading somewhere that there is no license for this service but, of course, I wasn't interested in doing pet sitting then and didn't make note of it.

Again, thank you, Pat and everyone who has replied to my question. I'm going to print all your replies and keep them handy. I love my PT family.

ETA: There is no license required for pet sitting. If you have an actual business, you may need a business license which I already have and any money that I make will be done under that business name but no separate or special license is required for pet sitting.

[moosmom]

My pet sitting business, "Fur-Nanny 911" has been up and running for about a month and so far I've gotten 3 gigs. I don't have any insurance nor am I bonded.

Good luck in your new business venture!!!