A sitter caring for a Domestic Shorthair needs information about the individual cat in front of them, not a breed stereotype. Domestic Shorthairs are a varied group rather than a single breed, so one may be a confident lap cat while another is a shy former stray who watches from behind the sofa. Your handover should describe this cat's feeding pattern, confidence, favourite places, and limits clearly enough that a sitter can behave the way the cat expects from the first visit.
Temperament and handling for this particular Domestic Shorthair
Start with how this Domestic Shorthair relates to people. Say whether it greets visitors, tolerates being picked up, prefers stroking on its own terms, or should simply be talked to and left to approach. Note signals the sitter should respect, such as a twitching tail, flattened ears, or walking away mid-stroke, and explain that a cat who hides at first is not necessarily ill if it is eating and using the litter box overnight. Include whether children or other household pets will be present during visits, and any rooms where the cat feels safest. That honesty protects a less confident shorthair from well-meant handling that feels like pursuit, and helps a friendly one get the company it actually wants.
Feeding, water, litter, and scratching in the cat's own routine
Write the Domestic Shorthair's meal times, food type, and serving style exactly as you do them, including whether food is weighed, served in a puzzle feeder, or split across the day to prevent gulping. Say where water bowls sit and how often you refresh them. For litter, give the number and position of boxes, how often you scoop and top up, and what is normal for this cat, because a sudden change in litter use is one of the clearest early signs a sitter can spot. Point out the scratching posts the cat should be directed to, any furniture it tends to target, and whether you use covers or deterrents the sitter should keep in place. Small routine details like these keep the house feeling unchanged.
Health contacts and the changes a shorthair sitter should report
Leave your phone number, a local emergency contact, and your veterinarian's details where the sitter will find them without searching. Note any health issue your vet is already aware of, in plain terms, and what the sitter is being asked to watch rather than manage. Ask for a same-day call if this Domestic Shorthair refuses food for a day, strains in the litter box, hides continuously and stops coming out at night, vomits repeatedly, or seems to struggle to breathe. Also tell the sitter where the carrier is stored and how the cat usually responds to it, since a calm, familiar carrier routine makes an urgent vet trip far less chaotic for everyone involved.
Home safety points specific to this cat's habits
Walk through the house as this Domestic Shorthair experiences it. If the cat darts for the front door, say so and ask the sitter to come in carefully and close it before calling the cat. If it chews houseplants, cords, or string toys, name those items and where they should be kept out of reach. Note windows that must stay closed, appliances the cat has tried to climb behind, and any cleaning products stored where the cat can reach. A short in-person tour before you travel, opening the food cupboard and litter area and showing the cat's hiding places, turns written notes into a routine the sitter can picture. Putting that personal Domestic Shorthair brief into KinsLe's Care Pass gives your sitter one temporary, complete handover to follow while you are away.