Hospice support must preserve the cat’s comfort without pretending a sitter can replace the veterinary team.
In-home support may help maintain medication, food, hydration, litter access, mobility, familiar routines, and guardian communication when the cat is stable enough for scheduled visits.
Translate the comfort plan into specific visit responsibilities.
Include the current veterinary assessment, medication, feeding, hydration, toileting, mobility, expected changes, and the decision-maker’s wishes.
Veterinarian-directed plan
Provide the regular clinic, hospice provider when applicable, current instructions, recent changes, and how the veterinary team should be reached.
Comfort medication
List each approved medication, route, timing, storage, administration method, handling tolerance, and response after dosing.
Food and hydration
Describe what the cat normally accepts, how food is presented, drinking patterns, supported routines, and when changes must be reported.
Mobility and positioning
Explain stairs, lifting, traction, bedding, temperature, litter access, pressure areas, and what forms of assistance are familiar and approved.
Comfort baseline
Document ordinary breathing, posture, sleep, social contact, hiding, grooming, vocalization, and the behaviors the guardian associates with comfort or distress.
Decision and transport authority
Name the person authorized to make decisions, the preferred veterinary destination, the carrier, transport, and payment arrangements.
Bring essential resources to the cat.
Food, water, litter, bedding, medication, warmth, and preferred hiding or social locations should be accessible without unnecessary climbing, walking, or handling.
A rapidly changing cat may need continuous family, hospice, or veterinary support.
When comfort cannot be maintained through the planned visit gaps, medication is unreliable, the cat cannot access essentials, or the decision-maker cannot be reached, ordinary cat sitting may no longer be the appropriate system.
Review current stability
Confirm that the planned travel and visit schedule remain appropriate with the veterinary team.
Define contact thresholds
Write the signs or changes that require immediate communication.
Ensure decision access
Keep the authorized person reachable throughout the care period.
Change setting when needed
Use family, higher-continuity, hospice, boarding, or veterinary care according to the cat’s current needs.
Send the current plan before requesting dates.
Include the cat’s condition, medications, daily function, veterinary contacts, decision-maker, travel dates, proposed visit frequency, and what has changed recently.