What to Expect From Cat and Small-Pet Home Visits

Updated August 2026

Going away does not always mean boarding your pets.

For many cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, and other small animals, home visits allow them to remain in familiar surroundings while someone provides their usual food, water, cleaning, and welfare checks.

A proper pet visit should involve more than filling a bowl and leaving. It should follow your written routine, check that your pet and their environment appear normal, and provide you with a useful update.

This guide explains what happens before, during, and after a cat or small-pet home visit, how often visits may be needed, and when overnight house-sitting might be more appropriate.

If you are looking for local care, you can go directly to my cat-sitting service in Finchley or small-animal care service for rabbits, guinea pigs and other suitable pets.

What is a cat or small-pet home visit?

A home visit means I come to your property at an agreed time to care for your pets while you are away or unable to provide their usual routine.

Depending on the animals and the arrangement, a visit may include:

• preparing their usual food
• providing fresh drinking water
• checking water bowls and bottles
• cleaning litter trays
• providing fresh hay
• removing spoiled food
• spot-cleaning bedding or an enclosure
• checking doors, lids, catches and cat flaps
• straightforward medication support where agreed
• calm companionship
• familiar play or enrichment
• observing eating, toileting, movement and behaviour
• sending a photograph and update
• completing a few agreed household checks

The exact routine should be discussed before you travel.

I do not introduce new food, treats, litter, bedding or equipment without a good reason and your prior agreement. Familiarity is normally more useful than trying to make each visit different or exciting.

Why home visits can work well

Home visits allow your pets to remain with their usual:

• smells and household sounds
• feeding arrangements
• sleeping and hiding places
• litter trays or enclosures
• companion animals
• temperature and lighting
• daily routine

Cats Protection describes staying at home as one of the least unsettling holiday care options for many cats. Its guidance also explains what owners should leave for their sitter and what to check before booking.

You can read the independent Cats Protection guidance about going on holiday without your cat.

Home care is not automatically the best option for every animal.

Specialist boarding, veterinary boarding, or another experienced carer may be safer for a pet with complex medical, handling, or husbandry requirements. I will be honest if a routine falls outside my experience.

What happens before the first booking?

Your initial enquiry

When you contact me, please include:

• your postcode
• the dates you need
• the number and type of pets
• how many visits you expect to need
• their normal feeding routine
• any medication or health concerns
• whether anybody else will share the care
• any handling, escape or access concerns

This gives me enough information to check whether I cover your address, have suitable availability and can provide the care safely.

You can check my pet-care service area before enquiring.

The meet-and-greet

A meet-and-greet is normally required for a new client.

This takes place in your home so I can meet your pets and see how their routine works in practice.

We can cover:

• food and feeding measurements
• water bowls, bottles or fountains
• litter trays and cleaning
• hay, bedding and enclosure care
• normal behaviour and hiding places
• handling preferences
• medication
• outdoor access
• heating, lighting and timers
• keys, alarms and entry arrangements
• cameras and recording equipment
• veterinary details
• emergency contacts
• carriers and transport arrangements
• the number and approximate timing of visits

The meeting also gives you an opportunity to ask questions and decide whether you are comfortable leaving your pets and home in my care.

What happens when I arrive?

I do not immediately move things or try to handle your pet.

I first look at the general situation.

Depending on the species, I may check:

• whether each pet is present or can be safely accounted for
• whether they are moving and behaving as expected
• whether food has been eaten
• whether water is available and flowing
• whether litter, urine and droppings appear normal
• whether the enclosure remains secure
• whether the room or outdoor setup feels unusually hot or cold
• whether anything has changed since my previous visit

I then follow the written routine we agreed.

This matters because subtle changes are sometimes more useful than a posed photograph. A normally confident cat hiding unexpectedly, a rabbit eating less hay or a guinea pig failing to appear at feeding time may all be worth noting.

I am not there to diagnose illness. My role is to recognise when something appears different and follow the emergency arrangements agreed with you.

Care tailored to different pets

Cats

Some cats meet me at the door. Others watch from the stairs, remain under a bed or wait until I have gone before eating.

I work at the cat’s pace.

A cat visit may include:

• feeding
• refreshing water
• litter-tray care
• checking eating and toileting
• quiet companionship
• familiar play or enrichment
• basic grooming where enjoyed
• agreed medication
• checking established outdoor-access arrangements
• photographs and updates

I do not pull a nervous cat out of hiding simply to obtain a photograph. Where there is no medical or safety reason to handle them, allowing them space may be the kinder choice.

For detailed service information, visit Cat Sitting in Finchley.

Rabbits

Rabbit care involves much more than providing pellets.

A rabbit visit may include:

• providing fresh hay
• feeding measured pellets and familiar vegetables
• refreshing water
• checking that bottles are working
• cleaning litter trays
• spot-cleaning bedding
• observing appetite and droppings
• checking movement, posture and behaviour
• checking the enclosure and predator protection
• providing agreed access to a secure exercise area
• returning the rabbits safely to their enclosure

Rabbits can conceal signs of illness. Reduced eating, smaller or fewer droppings, unusual quietness, a hunched posture or teeth grinding require attention.

The Rabbit Welfare Association’s rabbit health-check guidance explains why knowing a rabbit’s normal eating, movement and behaviour is important.

Guinea pigs

Guinea pigs need a reliable supply of hay or suitable grass, fresh water and their familiar food.

Visits may include:

• replenishing hay
• feeding measured pellets
• preparing familiar vegetables
• refreshing water
• checking bottle nozzles
• removing spoiled food
• spot-cleaning wet bedding
• checking droppings and urine
• observing each guinea pig
• checking hides, tunnels and enclosure security

Please leave clear feeding measurements and enough familiar food for the entire booking, plus some extra in case your return is delayed.

The PDSA guinea-pig health guidance provides further information about recognising changes and meeting their welfare needs.

Hamsters, gerbils and degus

These animals should not all be treated as though they have identical requirements.

Depending on the species and setup, care may include:

• measured feeding
• fresh water
• checking water bottles
• removing spoiled food
• appropriate spot cleaning
• checking wheels and other equipment
• checking enclosure security
• monitoring room temperature
• following established handling instructions

Nocturnal animals may be asleep when I visit. I will not repeatedly wake or handle them purely to produce a photograph.

Please explain what normal activity looks like, where food may be stored and how you normally manage cleaning.

For hamster-specific care information, see the PDSA hamster-care guidance.

Other small pets

I may be able to care for certain tortoises, caged birds and other suitable animals by prior agreement.

I need to understand their:

• species
• diet
• temperature requirements
• heating and lighting
• humidity where relevant
• cleaning routine
• handling requirements
• escape risks
• specialist veterinary arrangements

I do not provide snake care. I will also decline care involving specialist equipment, medical treatment or husbandry outside my competence.

How often should a pet sitter visit?

There is no single schedule suitable for every pet.

The decision should consider:

• species
• age
• health
• medication
• feeding times
• social needs
• water arrangements
• indoor or outdoor housing
• temperature and weather
• how quickly a problem could develop
• whether another responsible person is sharing the care

Cats

I offer one or two visits a day depending on the individual cat and the overall care arrangement.

Cats Protection advises that a sitter should normally visit at least twice daily, with kittens, senior cats and cats with certain medical conditions potentially needing more frequent care.

A single visit may sometimes be part of a suitable arrangement for a healthy adult cat, particularly when someone else is providing another check. It should not be chosen simply because an automatic feeder is available.

Read How Often Should a Cat Sitter Visit? before deciding on your schedule.

Rabbits and other small animals

Every small pet needs an appropriate physical check each day. I do not offer every-other-day holiday visits.

Two visits may be more appropriate where:

• rabbits are involved
• animals live outdoors
• the weather is hot or very cold
• fresh food is divided between morning and evening
• medication is needed
• the animals are older
• a water bottle could leak or become blocked
• closer observation is required

During warmer weather, rabbit visits may require particular attention due to the risk of flystrike. The Rabbit Welfare Association’s flystrike guidance recommends daily checks and more frequent checking during summer.

Medication and emergency arrangements

Straightforward medication support may be possible where it has been discussed in advance and can be provided safely.

Please leave:

• medication in its original packaging
• clear written instructions
• the prescribed dose
• administration times
• instructions for a missed or refused dose
• information about known side effects
• enough medication for a delayed return
• your veterinary practice details
• emergency-vet details
• a local emergency contact

A trial visit may be required.

I do not diagnose conditions, prescribe treatment, change a veterinary dose or carry out procedures outside my competence.

If I notice a significant change, I will contact you, where possible, and follow the emergency arrangements agreed upon before you left. Urgent veterinary care will not be delayed while waiting for a non-essential reply.

Photographs and updates

I normally send an update after a visit.

This might include:

• a photograph or short video
• confirmation that food has been eaten
• information about water
• litter-tray or enclosure observations
• medication confirmation
• behaviour notes
• anything unusual I have noticed

A nervous cat or sleeping hamster may not appear in every photograph. I will not disturb or frighten an animal simply to create a more impressive update.

Sometimes “food eaten, water refreshed, litter normal and cat seen in their usual hiding place” is the most useful update.

Household tasks and pet cameras

A few simple household tasks may fit into the visit without reducing the time available for your pets.

These might include:

• bringing in post
• opening or closing agreed curtains
• switching agreed lights on or off
• putting out a household bin
• watering a few suitable indoor plants

More involved tasks or several pets with different routines may require additional booked time.

Please tell me about any indoor or outdoor cameras before the booking. Cameras can provide reassurance, but their location and use should be discussed openly, particularly when somebody is working inside your home.

Pet care always remains the priority.

What should you leave ready?

Before travelling, please prepare:

• enough familiar food
• extra food in case your return is delayed
• hay, litter and bedding
• clean bowls and spare water bottles
• pet-safe cleaning supplies
• bin bags
• clearly labelled medication
• written care instructions
• veterinary and emergency-vet details
• a local emergency contact
• suitable carriers
• spare keys where agreed
• travel and return information
• instructions for alarms, doors and access

Keep essential supplies together and make sure they are accessible.

For a more detailed cat checklist, read What to Leave for Your Cat Sitter.

When house sitting may be more appropriate

Short home visits will not suit every household.

You may need to consider overnight or continuous care where:

• several species have complicated routines
• a pet cannot safely be left overnight
• medication is required at difficult times
• an animal needs more frequent observation
• your cat is extremely social or distressed when alone
• a dog also lives in the household
• several early and late tasks are required
• the home setup is too involved for short visits
• your pets need somebody present for longer periods

My standard house-sitting includes overnight care but does not automatically mean I remain at the property continuously.

Read the full house-sitting service and care arrangements before deciding which option fits your household.

Cat and small-pet visits in Finchley

I provide calm home visits for cats and suitable small animals in:

• North Finchley, N12
• Finchley Central, N3
• East Finchley, N2
• Muswell Hill, N10
• selected nearby addresses where the timing and journey are practical

Availability depends on your exact address, dates, visit frequency, existing bookings and the care your pets need.

I have provided professional pet care since 2011, caring for one household at a time.

You can view current cat and small-animal visit prices or contact Del about pet-care availability.

Frequently asked questions

Is this the same as cat sitting?

Cat sitting is one form of home visiting. This guide also covers rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters and other suitable small pets.

For cat-specific details, visit my cat-sitting service page.

How much do home visits cost?

As of August 2026, one standard pet visit costs £15 and two standard visits on the same day cost £25 in total.

Additional time can be booked where several pets, enclosures, medications or household tasks make the routine more involved. Always check the current pet-care prices before booking.

Do you charge separately for every pet?

Not automatically.

The important question is whether I can provide the agreed care properly within the booked time. Several feeding areas, litter trays, enclosures or medications may require additional time.

Will you give medication?

Straightforward medication support may be possible when discussed in advance. It must be within my competence and safe for the individual animal.

Will I receive photographs?

Yes, I normally provide an update and a photograph where appropriate. I will not force a nervous, hiding or sleeping pet to interact purely for a picture.

Can you care for several species in the same home?

Yes, where the routines can be managed safely during the booked time. House sitting or additional visit time may be more suitable for a complex multi-pet household.

Do I need a meet-and-greet?

A meet-and-greet is normally required for a new client. It allows us to discuss routines, keys, medication, handling and emergency arrangements before you leave.

Do you care for snakes?

No. I also decline care that requires specialist husbandry, equipment management, medical procedures or handling outside my experience.

Related Finchley Dog Walker guides

• Cat Care Advice in Finchley
• Small-Animal Care Advice in Finchley
• Cat Sitting in Finchley
• Small-Animal Care in Finchley
• How Often Should a Cat Sitter Visit?
• What to Leave for Your Cat Sitter
• Guinea-Pig Holiday Care Guide
• House Sitting in Finchley and North London

Planning care for your pets?

Home visits work best when the routine is clear, the visit frequency suits the individual animals, and everybody knows what should happen if something changes.

If you need cat or small-animal care in Finchley or Muswell Hill, send me your postcode, dates, the number of pets, and a brief outline of their routine.

I will tell you honestly whether ordinary home visits, longer visits, or house-sitting appear to be the most suitable option.

Contact Del and check availability

Important information

This guide provides general information about pet sitting and holiday care. It does not replace veterinary advice or an individual assessment of your pet.

If your pet is unwell, has recently changed behaviour, is eating less, requires complex medication or has specialist care needs, speak to your veterinary practice before arranging holiday care.