Start with experience — and with your cat specifically
Ask how long they have sat cats, how many regular clients they keep, and whether they have cared for a cat like yours: a nervous rescue, a senior on a strict routine, a multi-cat household where feeding separately matters. Then watch the meeting itself. A good sitter lets the cat approach, gets down to the cat's level without grabbing, and asks you questions back — where does she hide, how does she like to be approached, what frightens her. A sitter who talks only about themselves and barely looks at the cat is telling you something, whatever their answers sound like.
Pin down what a visit actually includes
Visits vary enormously under the same label, so turn the word into a list. How long is a visit, and what fills it beyond filling bowls: litter tray cleaned each visit, fresh water, play and company time, curtains and post handled, plants if agreed? How many visits a day do they recommend for your cat, and at what times? Ask how they record what happened — a written note or message after each visit is the mark of a sitter who runs visits as a service rather than a favour. If your cat needs company as much as feeding, say so now and price the longer visit honestly.
The emergency questions matter most
Ask directly: what would you do if my cat seemed unwell, if she refused food for a day, if she got out, or if you arrived to find a burst pipe soaking the floor? You are listening for calm, concrete answers and a clear promise to contact you and your veterinarian promptly, plus whether they hold your vet's details and an emergency contact from the start. Also ask who covers if the sitter themselves falls ill mid-booking — a named backup arranged in advance is professional; silence on the question is a gap. Check insurance and references with the same plainness, and actually follow one reference up.
Keys, access and the security conversation
Agree exactly how keys are handed over, labelled, stored and returned, whether an alarm code is needed, and which rooms are off limits. A professional sitter will not carry keys identified with your address and will have a routine for this. Walk them through the house as you would want it run: litter supplies, food storage, the hiding places, the window that sticks, the neighbour who holds a spare key. Write it down rather than relying on the tour, because the detail you demonstrate cheerfully today is the detail forgotten by visit three.
Agree updates, then make the booking properly
Settle how you will hear from them — a message and photo after each visit is a common, reasonable pattern — and what should trigger an immediate call instead. Confirm the booking in writing with dates, visit times, fees and cancellation terms, so goodwill is never the only contract. Then give your chosen sitter the full picture in one document rather than scattered texts: a KinsLe Care Pass hands them her feeding routine, hiding places, vet details and house notes as temporary, clear access for exactly the period you are away.