Recovery instructions must remain workable after the guardian leaves the home.
Post-surgical cat sitting follows the discharge plan while observing whether food, medication, elimination, mobility, confinement, and the home environment remain stable between veterinary follow-up appointments.
Translate discharge instructions into a visit-level checklist.
Do not assume the sitter can infer restrictions, incision expectations, medication timing, feeding, e-collar use, or what requires veterinary contact.
Written veterinary instructions
Provide the discharge summary, procedure date, restrictions, follow-up appointment, clinic contacts, and any expected recovery milestones.
Medication schedule
List product, dose, timing, route, storage, administration method, and what the veterinary team has said to do after a missed or uncertain dose.
Food and hydration
Document food type, amount, appetite baseline, feeding method, and the veterinarian-directed response to refusal, vomiting, or other changes.
Mobility and confinement
Define stairs, jumping, room confinement, bedding, traction, lifting, exercise, and access to food, water, and litter.
Visual observation
Explain what the sitter is expected to observe without manipulating an incision, bandage, device, or painful body area.
Contact and transport plan
Name the decision-maker, regular clinic, emergency hospital, carrier, transportation, payment authorization, and access instructions.
The recovery environment should be prepared before the trip.
Keep essential resources on one accessible level, remove climbing temptations when instructed, create non-slip routes, maintain the required confinement area, and make medication and carrier supplies easy to locate.
A cat can change significantly between scheduled visits.
Recent surgery, unstable appetite, intensive medication, inability to use litter, poor mobility, difficult confinement, or a need for repeated hands-on assessment may make overnight or boarded care more appropriate.
Review stability
Confirm the cat’s current condition and the veterinarian’s expectations before the guardian leaves.
Define observation needs
Determine what must be checked and how long the cat can safely remain between checks.
Test care tasks
Make sure medication, confinement, feeding, and handling can be completed by the assigned caregiver.
Choose the setting
Use home visits only when the approved plan can be held safely inside the visit schedule.
Send the discharge instructions before booking is confirmed.
Include the procedure, date, current function, medications, restrictions, follow-up schedule, dates of guardian absence, and the requested visit frequency.