What You Need to Know About Cat Care

Why Cat Care is Important at Texas Ruff House

When you think about pet sitting, what usually comes to mind? Do you imagine someone just stopping by to fill your cat’s bowl with food, refresh their water, and make sure the house is secure? We certainly hope not! Pet sitting goes far beyond that at Texas Ruff House, where your pet gets love, attention, and personalized care from our devoted pet sitters. Our talented and caring pet care team in Pflugerville, TX has over 100 years of combined experience and are sharing all the reasons why regular visits are essential to your cat’s well being.

 

Time to debunk common cat myths!

Cats often have a reputation for being aloof, independent, and non-social. But in reality, cats are creatures of habit and they thrive on predictability. When we arrive for the visit, we announce ourselves to let your cat know that we are there. We give them fresh water and food and clean up their feeding area. It’s very important to check your cat’s litter box and verify that there are no concerning signs of possible illness. We scoop the litter on every visit and inspect it to make sure that the amount of waste is normal for your cat.
 
Besides covering the basics, our pet sitters in Pflugerville, TX and the surrounding areas of Round Rock, Georgetown, Hutto, and North Austin understand that cats also need daily enrichment with a human and deserve to have their minds and hearts stimulated. Many cats love hunting, so we’ll set up some puzzles or maze toys and hide food and treats for them. Some cats really enjoy human interaction, and we’ll grab their favorite toys and engage them in play, or take out a brush and give them a nice grooming session.
 
Other cats can be shy and may need more time and patience from our pet sitters before becoming friends. It’s essential not to force a cat to be social and to give them their space. Whatever the situation may be, our pet sitters always make sure to get a visual on your cat. We make every effort possible to find them, searching high and low and opening every door, as sometimes a cat can be stuck behind a closed door and the owner is unaware.

 

Pro tip: Cats leave clues as to how they feel.

What a great feeling it is when a cat is finally ready to greet us! We love to spoil them with attention and wish we didn’t have to hold back! But understanding a cat’s temperament is key to cat care. We get clues to how a cat is feeling when we do visual inspections of the home and look for hairballs, accidents, or anything else of concern. Sometimes cats leave presents for us, especially if a home has a pet door that cats can go in and out of as they please throughout the day, and we’ll clean up whatever they may have brought inside or ended up vomiting. Other times, cats may show signs of anxiety in their behavior, such as tearing up or knocking over things in the home. We detail anything that happens during the visit in your cat’s daily update/report card.
 
Some cats may have requirements regarding feeding or medications, and we will always follow through with owner instructions and customize care according to your cat’s needs and routines. Upon observing your cat’s behavior, we may make some recommendations based on our knowledge and experience if, for example, a cat demonstrates high arousal, anxiety, or any unusual behavior regarding feeding, litter box use, or interaction with people or other pets in the home. If your cat is acting out of character, we would recommend consulting with a veterinarian for any medical issues, and if medical issues are ruled out, then consulting with a cat behaviorist. At the end of the day, you know your cat best. Every cat is different and has their own preferences, and it’s important to observe and act accordingly.

 

Our pet sitters at Texas Ruff House are here to help!

We understand how vital it is for your pets and home to have the highest quality professional care. Now that your pets are used to having you around for an entire year of “safe at home” orders, we are here to help you continue your pets’ routines when you return to your workplace. Texas Ruff House is now offering cat visits between 15 or 30 minutes in length, depending on the number of cats in your home and any special medication needs. And if you are already booking services with us for dog walking and have a cat or two, we welcome you to add on time to the visit to help balance your multi-pet household and allow each pet to get their physical and emotional needs met. Our pet sitters at Texas Ruff House strive to exceed your expectations on every visit and take great pride in providing peace of mind and caring for your pets as if they were their own!