If you’re going away for Christmas and your cat is staying home, now is the time to sort out who will look after them. Christmas is the busiest stretch of the year for pet sitters, and in St Ives the good dates go early.
This guide covers when to book, whether home visits or a cattery suit your cat better, what it costs, and what to do before you leave.
Why Christmas books up early
Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Eve are the dates everyone wants covered at once. A sitter can only be in so many homes in a day, so once the visits for those dates are spoken for, they’re gone.
Most owners book a Christmas pet sitter four to six weeks ahead. For a first booking with someone new, earlier is better still, because you’ll want time for a meet and greet before you hand over your keys.
If you’re reading this in October or early November, you’re in good time. By December, choice gets thin.
Cattery or home visits?
Both can work well. It depends on your cat.
Home visits suit most cats. Cats are territorial and many are calmer in their own home, with their own smells, sleeping spots and window to watch from. There’s no travel, no new cats next door, and their routine stays the same. A sitter comes in to feed them, clean the litter tray, check they’re well and keep them company.
A cattery can suit a cat who needs watching around the clock, or a home where nobody can come in for a few days. Look for a licensed cattery and visit before you book.
If your cat is happiest at home, check-in visits are usually the gentler choice.
How many visits does your cat need?
Once a day is fine for many healthy adult cats. The visit covers food, fresh water, the litter tray, a quick check over and some fuss.
Twice a day is better for:
- kittens and older cats
- cats on medication or a special diet
- cats who eat little and often
- cats who get lonely or unsettled when you’re away
- homes with more than one cat, where trays fill up quickly
Twice a day also means someone is in your home morning and evening, which many owners like over the holidays anyway.
What Christmas cat sitting costs with Jas & Paws
Prices are the same all year, with a supplement on the three biggest days.
- Check-in visit, 30 minutes: £12
- Check-in visit, 1 hour: £16
- Two visits a day: £22 a day
- Each extra pet in the same home: +£3 a visit
- Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day: double
An example. You’re away for seven days, including Christmas Day and Boxing Day, and your cat has two visits a day. That’s five days at £22 and two days at £44, so £198 for the week. With one visit a day, it’s five days at £12 and two at £24, which comes to £108.
New clients also get a free meet and greet, and the first visit is half price.
Christmas hazards to put away before you go
A quiet house with nobody watching is when a curious cat gets into trouble. Before you leave:
- Lilies. Every part of the plant is poisonous to cats, including the pollen and the water in the vase. Keep lilies out of any home with a cat.
- Tinsel, ribbon and string. If a cat swallows them they can cause a serious blockage. Tidy away wrapping and keep tinsel off low branches.
- Chocolate and leftovers. Chocolate is toxic to cats and dogs. Put festive food and selection boxes in cupboards, not under the tree.
- Fairy lights. Switch them off at the wall rather than leaving them on a timer, and keep cables out of reach.
- Poinsettia. It’s less dangerous than people think, but it can still upset a cat’s stomach. Keep it up high.
What to leave out for your cat sitter
Make the first visit easy by leaving:
- enough food and litter for the whole trip, plus a few days spare
- feeding instructions, including treats and amounts
- any medication, with clear written doses
- your vet’s name and number, and your pet insurance details
- an emergency contact who lives locally
- the carrier somewhere easy to find, just in case
- notes on hiding spots, so nobody panics when your cat vanishes behind the sofa
How booking works
- Send an enquiry with your dates and a little about your cat. Get in touch here.
- Free meet and greet. Jasmin visits you at home to meet your cat, go through the routine and sort out keys. Keys are labelled with a code, never your name or address.
- Enjoy your Christmas. You get a photo update after every visit, so you’ll know your cat is fed, settled and fine.
Jas & Paws covers St Ives, Cambridgeshire and nearby villages including Hemingford Grey, Hemingford Abbots, Houghton, Wyton, Fenstanton and Needingworth. See the areas covered or read the common questions.
If you’re going away this Christmas, send an enquiry now and Jasmin will hold your dates.
Quick answers
How far ahead should I book a cat sitter for Christmas?
Four to six weeks ahead is typical, and earlier is better for Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Eve. Those dates fill first.
How much does Christmas cat sitting cost in St Ives?
With Jas & Paws a 30 minute visit is £12 and two visits a day is £22 a day. Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day are charged at double.
Is one visit a day enough for my cat?
For many healthy adult cats, yes. Two visits a day suits kittens, older cats, cats on medication and cats who like company, and it means the litter tray is cleaned twice.
