A reference is only useful if the referee's cat tested the sitter in the same ways yours will. A sitter who charmed a confident young cat at two short visits has not yet shown whether they can give a tablet to a suspicious elderly cat twice a day, respect a shy cat who vanishes under a bed, or keep feeding and trays straight in a multi-cat household. Start by asking the sitter to match you with owners whose situations mirror yours, and treat reluctance to share references as information in itself.
Match the Referee to Your Cat
Ask specifically for owners of similar cats: medicated, shy, elderly or multi-cat households, whichever combination describes your home. A referee with a medicated cat can tell you whether doses were ever missed and how the sitter reported it. A referee with a shy cat can say whether the sitter stayed patient or tried to force friendship. A referee with several cats can judge whether bowls, trays and individual quirks stayed separate. If every reference offered involves an easy, sociable single cat while yours is none of those things, the references are answering a question you did not ask.
Speak to at least two referees yourself rather than relying on written testimonials the sitter has selected and trimmed. A short phone call reveals far more than a screenshot, because you can follow up on hesitations and ask what the referee would do differently next time.
Probe the Same Three Things Every Time
Consistency is what makes references comparable, so ask every referee about the same three things. On punctuality, ask whether visits happened at the promised times, whether any visit was shortened or missed, and how the sitter communicated a delay. On updates, ask what arrived each day, whether photos or messages came without prompting, and whether the referee ever had to chase for news. On problems, ask for the story: a cat who stopped eating, a mess, a locked door, a medication refusal. What matters is not whether a problem occurred but whether the sitter noticed promptly, told the owner honestly and acted sensibly.
Vague warmth is a warning sign. A referee who can only say the sitter was lovely may have had an uneventful booking, or may be a friend doing a favour. Specific detail, including a small criticism handled well, is far more reassuring.
Turn Good Answers Into a Written Booking
References also tell you how the sitter runs the business side. Ask referees how keys were handled, what happened when the sitter was unwell, and whether a backup person existed. Then confirm the practical terms with the sitter directly: visit length, visit times, fees, cancellation terms and what happens in an emergency. Get the provider's agreed terms confirmed in writing before the booking starts, covering those points, so there is no disagreement later about what was promised. A trial visit while you are out for an evening lets your cat meet the sitter and lets you judge the update you receive before a longer trip depends on it.
With the references checked and the terms settled, the handover itself becomes simple. Set up Care Pass inside KinsLe before you leave, and the particular sitter you booked sees only what you shared, only until the window you set runs out.