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Even the most self-reliant feline friends still need us humans for a few things – including putting out food, changing litter, and letting them out for a breath of fresh air. So what do you do when you go on holiday?
That’s where cat sitters come in. Sitters can give your cat personalised care and attention in the comfort of their own home. They’re the perfect alternative if your cat gets stressed staying in unfamiliar environments like catteries.
Let’s take a closer look at the services that cat sitters offer, how much you can expect to pay, and why a sitter might be beneficial for both you and your pet.
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What does cat sitting involve?
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Cat sitters offer a range of services to meet your cat’s needs while you’re out of the house. These include:
Feeding – making sure your cat gets their meals once or twice a day.
Playtime – spending social time with your cat to keep them active and entertained.
Litter – scooping and changing your cat’s litter tray regularly.
Health – keeping an eye out for any changes in behaviour or health.
Medication – administering medicine or tablets.
Some cat sitters offer additional services like grooming, plant watering and mail collection while you’re away.
How much does a cat sitter cost?
The price you’ll pay for a cat sitter depends on:
Location – cat sitting rates tend to be higher in cities and anywhere with a higher living cost.
Experience and qualifications – professional sitters with qualifications or extensive experience may charge more.
Visit duration and frequency – some sitters charge per visit, while others offer daily or weekly rates. Similarly, some sitters may charge more if you want them to spend a bit more time with your cat during each visit. It might even be possible to book a cat sitter overnight, but it’ll cost a lot more than a quick drop-in.
Number of cats – lots of sitters have a basic rate for one to two cats, then charge a supplement for each extra animal you have.
Additional services – grooming or administering medication can increase the cost of cat sitting.
Cat sitting fees
We surveyed 26 pet sitters in the UK in January 2025. These are the average costs, based on our research:
| Price | |
|---|---|
| Weekday visits - 30 mins to 1hr | £13.29 |
| Weekend visits - 30 mins to 1hr | Most don’t add a weekend supplement but we found some sitters charging between £1 and £10 extra for Saturday or Sunday visits. |
| Bank holiday, Christmas, New Year visits - 30 mins to 1hr | £24.38 |
| Other services: trips to vet, cleaning, key collection, plant watering, grooming, overnight stays | As little as £3-5 for watering plants, key collection or giving meds. Up to £50+ for vet taxi and bathing/grooming. |
The average cost of a cat sitter in 2025 is £13.29 for a 30-60-minute visit. There was a pretty wide range nationwide. The cheapest and most expensive cat sitters were both found in Yorkshire. One charged £9 and the other £25.
These average prices are to attend to one cat – some charged more for multi-cat households. Others were happy to feed and fuss as many cats as they could fit into the allocated time for no extra fee.
There’s often a discount for a second visit each day as well and the majority of cat sitters didn’t charge extra for weekend visits. Those that did generally only charged an extra pound or two, but one sitter in London charged £10 extra on a Saturday or Sunday.
Cat sitters usually work Bank Holidays, including Christmas and Easter, but charges can be steep. Most charged 50-100% more for public holidays, so the average cost of bank holiday visits is £24.38.
The benefits of cat sitting
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You may be lucky enough to have a trusted friend or family member who’s happy to look in on your cats. But if not, there are plenty of benefits to hiring a professional cat sitter:
Familiarity – cats are territorial, and hiring a cat sitter means they can stay at home while you’re away, in the environment where they feel most comfortable.
Personal attention –- most cats love getting strokes and cuddles. With a cat sitter, you can make sure they’re getting dedicated personal attention, along with services tailored to their needs.
Food – cat sitters will make sure your cat is eating their food, and can hand out treats now and again.
Hygiene – your cat sitter will scoop and change your cat’s litter regularly.
Peace of mind – you don’t want to spend your holiday worrying. Cat sitters can send regular updates that your kitty is happy and healthy, straight to your phone.
Health – your cat sitter can check that your cat hasn’t had any bumps that might need a vet’s attention, and give it any prescribed medications.
Extras – some cats sitters offer extra services during their visits. That could be anything from taking out the bins and watering plants, to collecting mail, and turning lights on and off.
Choosing the right cat sitter
It’s important to pick a cat sitter that fits you and your kitty’s needs best. Here’s some top tips to finding the purrfect pet sitter for you both:
Recommendations – if there are any fellow cat-lovers in your friends or family circle, why not ask for cat sitter referrals? Your vet might be able to give you some reputable cat sitter contacts too.
Interviews – talk to a cat sitter on the phone, or ideally meet them in person, before hiring them. Think about the questions you’ll want to ask them before you meet.
Reviews – check your cat sitter’s website or social media page. The reviews they’ve received will give you a good idea of whether they’ll be compatible with you and your cat.
Insurance and qualifications – some cat sitters will have animal-related qualifications, including pet first aid, that help them stand out from the crowd. It’s also worth checking if they have insurance to protect against any accidents while they’re sitting.
How can I find a cat sitter near me?
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If you’re looking for cat sitters or cat sitting companies in the UK, try these resources as a starting point:
Pawshake – a community of trusted and vetted pet sitters across the UK, offering a range of personalised services.
Cat in a Flat – a specialised cat sitting database representing a network of cat-loving sitters with flexible services.
Trusted Housesitters – a resource that connects pet owners with prospective house sitters who offer in-home sitting in exchange for a place to stay.
Tailster – primarily a dog walking and sitting service, but Tailster also offers cat sitting.
Does pet insurance cover my cat sitter?
Your pet insurance should cover you for any claims where your sitter needs to take your cat to the vet for you.
Your pet sitter will probably want to know who your regular vet is and might need details of your insurance to make sure your cat can always get the treatment they need.
Explore cat insurance, or get a quote from us today in seconds.
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