Name the Food Precisely, Not Approximately
A carer cannot follow instructions like his usual biscuits, so record the full name of each food he eats, whether it is wet, dry, or a mix, and any flavour or variety he accepts or refuses. If he eats different foods at different meals, say which belongs to which meal, and if a food must be prepared a certain way, warmed slightly, mashed with water, served at room temperature rather than straight from the fridge, write that down too. Note where each food is stored and how an opened tin or pouch should be kept and for how long you would keep it, so the carer is not guessing about freshness in your kitchen.
Give Amounts a Carer Can Measure
Portions are where well-meaning carers go most wrong, usually by being generous. Record the amount per meal in the measure the carer will actually use: this scoop filled level, half a pouch, a weighed portion in the kitchen scales that live by the food bin. State how many meals he gets and the times that suit his stomach and your household routine, and say plainly whether leftovers should be lifted after a set period or left down for grazing, because those two approaches produce very different days. If his appetite varies, describe what a normal day's eating looks like so the carer can tell a typical dip from a worrying one.
List the Forbidden Foods and the Treat Rules
Write a short, unmissable section on what he must never be given: foods toxic to cats that a kind visitor might offer as a treat, rich human leftovers that upset his stomach, milk if it disagrees with him, and any ingredient his veterinarian has told you to avoid. Then cover treats positively: which treats are allowed, how many in a day counts as normal in your house, and whether treats are part of play, training, or a bedtime routine. A carer who knows the treat rules can say yes safely instead of either refusing everything or handing over whatever is in the cupboard.
Add the Behaviour Around the Bowl
Feeding a cat is rarely just about the food. Record where he is fed, whether other pets must be shut out while he eats, whether he eats slowly, guards his bowl, or wanders off and returns, and whether he needs encouragement, company, or complete quiet. Mention how he drinks: a fountain he prefers, a bowl that must be topped up, a habit of drinking from a tap a carer should not start. Note what to do if he refuses a meal, such as offering it again later rather than opening something richer, and when a refusal should be reported to you or taken to a veterinarian, particularly if it lasts beyond a day or comes with hiding or vomiting.
Hand the Record Over, Do Not Just Leave It
Walk the carer through the written record once in the kitchen itself, showing them the food, the measure, and the bowl, because instructions that make sense on paper can still hide a misunderstanding that only appears at feeding time. Leave your contact details on the record for the questions that will inevitably come up. Passing that routine over through a KinsLe Care Pass gives your sitter temporary, clear access to his feeding details and key information for exactly the days you are away.