How many visits a day does my cat need?

Most healthy adult cats do well with two visits a day, morning and evening. Kittens, senior cats and cats on medicine often need three, or overnight sitting. A male cat with a history of urinary blockage is safer with someone checking the tray morning and night. Ask your vet if your cat is unwell.

Should I choose a 30 or 60 minute visit?

A 30 minute visit covers food, water, litter, a medicine and some play for one confident cat. Choose 60 minutes for a shy cat that needs time to come out, for two or more cats, for a long-haired cat that needs brushing, or when a medicine is difficult to give.

Are drop-in visits enough for a dog?

Usually not for a trip. PDSA and the RSPCA say adult dogs should not be left alone for more than about four hours at a time, and puppies for less. Drop-in visits suit dogs for short daytime gaps, such as a midday walk on a long working day. For nights away, book overnight sitting or boarding.

Is a cat better off at home with visits or in a cattery?

Most cats are better at home. International Cat Care says predictable routines reduce stress in cats and that much of their stress comes from other cats, which a cattery cannot avoid. Visits keep your cat in its own territory. A cat needing close medical care may need more than visits.

Will the sitter clean the litter tray?

Yes, every visit. The sitter removes clumps and stools, looks at what is in the tray and changes the litter as your care sheet says. They wash trays with mild detergent, never phenol disinfectants, which Cats Protection warns are toxic to cats. A cat straining with little urine is reported at once.

Can the sitter give my cat its medicine?

Yes. The sitter gives tablets, drops or syrups exactly as you write them on the care sheet and logs each dose. Some tablets must be given whole, so they are crushed or hidden in food only if your vet says that is safe. Injections need a trained sitter, agreed before you book.

What if my cat hides and the sitter cannot find it?

The sitter does not leave until every cat has been seen. Show them your cat's hiding places at the meet and greet. If a cat still cannot be found, the sitter searches every room, cupboard and the balcony, tells the gate guard and calls you before leaving the flat.

What happens if my cat gets ill between visits?

The sitter reports anything unusual in the same day's update. In an emergency, such as straining with no urine, breathing trouble or a fall, they call you and take your cat to the nearest 24-hour vet on Petym's list for your city. Leave the carrier out so they can move quickly.

How much do drop-in visits cost on Petym?

A 30-minute visit is Rs 599 in Mumbai, Delhi NCR and Bengaluru and Rs 499 in other cities; 60 minutes is Rs 999 or Rs 799. Each extra pet adds Rs 200 or Rs 150, and injections or festival dates add a fixed extra. The free pet care plan tool adds up your visits.

Can drop-in visits help with rabbits or birds?

Yes. A sitter can give fresh food and water, clean the cage or hutch and check the animal once or twice a day. Write the diet and cleaning routine on the care sheet, and tell the sitter how your rabbit or bird normally behaves so they notice a change.

Drop-in visits

Cat sitting at home with drop-in visits

Updated October 2026By PetymFacts checked against official sources on 21 October 2026

Drop-in visits are 30 or 60 minute visits to your home, once to three times a day. The sitter feeds your pet, refreshes water, scoops the litter, gives medicines and plays. They suit cats best, because a cat stays in its own territory with its routine intact, and you get a photo update every day.

Dogs need company far more often: adult dogs should not be left alone for more than about four hours, so for a dog a visit covers a gap in the day, not a night. Petym is not taking bookings yet and opens city by city.

FromRs 499a 30-minute visitRs 599 in Mumbai, Delhi NCR and Bengaluru. All prices

Tell us your dates How it works

Meet your sitter first, free
PAN-checked, first-aid trained
A photo every day
Pay through Petym, never cash

What’s included

Visits of 30 or 60 minutes, once to three times a dayYou choose the length and the number of visits per day. Morning and evening suits most healthy adult cats; a third visit at midday helps kittens, old cats and cats on medicine.
Meals served exactly as you write them on the care sheetThe same food, the same bowl, the same amount, at the time of each visit. For cats that graze, the sitter tops up dry food and serves fresh wet food rather than leaving it out all day.
Fresh water every visitBowls emptied, washed and refilled each time, and water fountains checked. In summer the sitter puts an extra bowl in the coolest room. Animal Welfare Board of India
Litter scooped every visitClumps and stools removed each time, with a full change of litter at the interval you set. The sitter uses mild detergent, never phenol disinfectants, which are toxic to cats. Cats Protection
A look at what came out, not just what went inThe sitter notes whether the tray was used normally. A cat straining with little or no urine, especially a male cat, needs a vet the same day. Cornell Feline Health Center
Medicine given exactly as you write it on the care sheetTablets, drops or a syrup at the times you set, logged as each dose is given. Tablets are crushed or hidden in food only if your vet has said that is safe. International Cat Care
Play and companyA wand toy, a ball, a lap or a brush: whatever your cat likes. Shy cats are left to come out on their own, with the sitter sitting quietly in the room.
Every cat found and seen, every visitThe sitter does not leave until each cat has been seen, because a cat stuck in a cupboard or out on a ledge is easy to miss in a quiet flat.
A daily photo updateEvery day of the booking: photos, food eaten, litter, medicines given and how each pet seemed. Anything unusual is reported the same day.
Home checks as the sitter leavesWindows and balcony doors as you want them, fans or AC set, lights for the evening, plants watered, doors locked and the key returned to its place.

What’s not included

Someone in the home overnight Between visits and at night your pet is alone. If your pet should not be alone that long, book overnight pet sitting instead.
Injections, unless agreed in advance and the sitter is trained Insulin and other injections need a sitter who has been shown how by a vet. Agree this before you book, or look at special-needs pet care.
Vet treatment decisions The sitter does not diagnose, change medicines or decide on treatment. They report, call you and, in an emergency, take your pet to the nearest 24-hour vet on Petym's list.
Grooming beyond a brush A brush for a long-haired cat and wiping a messy face are fine. Baths, nail clipping and haircuts are for you or a groomer.
Cover for a dog for a whole day or a night Visits suit dogs only for short gaps, such as a midday walk on a long working day. A dog that would be alone for most of the day needs overnight sitting, boarding or day care.

What happens on a 30 minute drop-in visit?

A typical visit to a flat with one adult cat. A 60 minute visit adds more play, a brush and time for a shy cat to come out.

Your sitterAn example day, not a real conversation

The sitter lets themselves in, closes the door at once so the cat cannot slip out, and says hello quietly.Minute 0
Find the cat. Check every room, cupboard and balcony until it is seen, and note how it looks and moves.Minutes 1 to 3
Scoop the litter, look at what is in it, and top up or change it as your care sheet says.Minutes 3 to 8
Wash the bowls, serve the meal and fresh water, and note how much of the last meal was eaten.Minutes 8 to 12
Medicine, if your cat has one, given and logged at the time you set.Minutes 12 to 15
Play, a lap or a brush. A shy cat gets a quiet sitter on the floor instead.Minutes 15 to 25
Photos for the daily update, plants watered, a quick look at windows and the balcony net.Minutes 25 to 28
Fans or AC set, lights on if it is evening, the cat seen once more, then the door locked.Minutes 28 to 30

Who are drop-in visits for?

Healthy cats on trips of a few days, and other pets that are fine alone for part of the day.

You are away for a few days and your adult cat is healthy and settled at home.
Your cat is frightened of travel, carriers or other cats, so a cattery would be hard.
Your pet needs a medicine at a set time while you are at work or away.
You are working a long day and your dog needs a midday walk and a toilet break.
You keep a rabbit or birds that need fresh food, water and a clean cage daily.

Pets it suits

Breeds it often suits

How much does drop-in visits cost?

These are Petym’s launch prices for drop-in visits, for one pet. You pay through Petym, with no booking fee on top, and the care plan estimator prices your exact dates. Extras such as a puppy, injections or festival days are on the rate card.

For one pet	Big cities	Other cities	Each extra pet
A 30-minute visit	Rs 599	Rs 499	+ Rs 200 (Rs 150 in other cities)
A 60-minute visit	Rs 999	Rs 799	+ Rs 200 (Rs 150 in other cities)

Included: Food and fresh water, tablets or drops if due; Litter scooped or a toilet walk; Play and company, not a rushed check; A photo and a note after every visit.

What changes the price

Number of visits a day: One, two or three visits a day. More visits means more of the sitter's time and travel.
Visit length: A 60 minute visit costs more than a 30 minute one. It is worth it for shy cats, several cats or a pet that needs medicine and brushing.
Number of pets: Two or three cats mean more trays, more bowls and more time to find and see each one.
Medicines and special care: Tablets, eye drops or a diet fed in small portions take time. Injections are agreed separately with a trained sitter.
Holidays and festival dates: Diwali, Christmas to New Year and the summer holidays are busy, and sitters may charge more on those dates.
Early or late visits: A visit at 6 am or after 9 pm, to fit a medicine time, may cost more than one in the middle of the day.
Travel distance: Each visit is a separate trip to your home, so the distance the sitter travels matters more here than for overnight sitting.

How are Petym sitters checked?

Every sitter passes these checks before Petym lists them. Petym does not claim more than it checks.

PAN identity check. Identity verified with PAN before listing.
Home walk-through. A video walk-through of the home by Petym, for sitters who host pets.
Society permission. The housing society's permission for paid pet sitting, for sitters who host pets.
Pet first-aid trained. Pet first-aid training before the first booking.
24-hour vet named. A named 24-hour vet within reach of where the pet stays.
Pet limit per home. A limit on how many pets a home may take at once.

Trust and safety in full, including what happens if your pet falls ill.

What should you prepare?

Write the care sheet: meals and amounts, where the food is kept, litter routine, medicines and times, and your cat's hiding places.
Book the free meet and greet so the sitter meets your cat and learns where it hides. RSPCA (England and Wales)
Leave enough food and litter for the whole trip, plus a few days extra in case you are delayed.
Set out one litter tray per cat plus one extra, in different places, if you do not already. Cats Protection
Leave every medicine in its labelled box with your vet's written instructions, and enough for the whole trip. International Cat Care
Write down your vet's name and number and save it in the sitter's phone too. PDSA
Add an emergency contact in your city who can make a decision if you cannot be reached.
Put the cat carrier by the door, so the sitter can reach the vet quickly if needed.
Check that balcony and window nets are intact, and close off places a cat could get stuck.
Do not change your cat's food in the week before you leave; a new food is easier to start when you are home.
Tell the society office and the gate guard the sitter's name and visit times, and add them to your visitor app.
Hand over the keys or lock code and leave a spare with a neighbour you trust.
Leave the vaccination card with the Tricat or other vaccine dates where the sitter can find it.

Put it all on one page: make a free pet care sheet for your sitter.

How many visits a day does your pet need?

Petym’s working from the official rules, no government publishes a total.

Petym's working from the welfare sources below, as a starting point. Your vet knows your pet, so ask them if your pet is unwell or on medicine.

	Visits a day	Visit length	Why
Healthy adult cat, short trip International Cat Care	2	30 minutes	Morning and evening keeps meals, litter and routine close to normal.
Shy or anxious cat	2	60 minutes	Time for the cat to come out and be seen, without being chased.
Kitten	3	30 to 60 minutes	Young animals eat little and often and get into trouble quickly.
Senior cat	2 to 3	30 to 60 minutes	More chances to see eating, drinking and the litter tray.
Cat on medicine International Cat Care	As the doses need	30 minutes	Each dose at the time your vet set.
Male cat with past urinary trouble Cornell Feline Health Center	Overnight sitting is safer	Not visits alone	A blocked bladder can kill within one to two days.
Two or more cats	2	60 minutes	More trays and bowls, and each cat must be seen.
Adult dog PDSA	Only for daytime gaps	30 to 60 minutes	Adult dogs should not be alone for more than about four hours.

If your cat stops eating, stops using the tray or hides and will not come out for a day, the sitter tells you the same day and you call your vet.

Are drop-in visits enough, or do you need an overnight sitter?

For a healthy adult cat on a short trip, visits are usually enough. For dogs, very young or old pets and pets with health problems, they often are not.

If You have a healthy adult cat and are away a few days
Two drop-in visits a day, morning and evening, keep its routine close to normal. How often should a sitter visit a cat? International Cat Care
If You have a dog and will be away overnight
Book overnight pet sitting or home boarding. A dog should not be alone for more than about four hours at a time. Overnight sitting RSPCA (England and Wales)
If Your cat is a male with a history of urinary problems
Overnight sitting is safer, so the litter tray is seen morning and night. A blocked bladder is an emergency. Overnight sitting Cornell Feline Health Center
If Your cat is old, diabetic or recovering from surgery
Look at special-needs pet care, or three visits a day with a sitter you have briefed in detail. Special-needs care
If Your cat is overweight and a fussy eater
Ask the sitter to report every meal. In cats, going off food can lead to a serious liver problem, so call your vet early if it stops eating. Merck Veterinary Manual
If Your cat copes badly with change and you are away for weeks
Overnight sitting gives it company and a person in the home every night. Overnight sitting

Why do most cats do better at home than in a cattery?

Cats feel safest on their own territory with a predictable routine. Drop-in visits keep both.

International Cat Care says being predictable and keeping daily routines is a great way to minimise stress in cats, and that much of a cat's stress comes from interactions with other cats. A cattery puts your cat near cats it does not know, and most cats do not want to share space with an unfamiliar cat. A sitter visiting your home avoids the journey, the carrier and the strangers.

Stress in cats is easy to miss. It can show as hiding, eating less or more, grooming less, or passing urine or faeces outside the tray. Boarding and moving home are among the stresses the Merck Veterinary Manual lists as causes of a cat going off its food, and in overweight cats not eating can lead to hepatic lipidosis, a serious liver disease. A sitter who sees your cat eat at home every day is the early warning.

Cornell's Feline Health Center says stress seems to be an important factor in feline idiopathic cystitis, one form of lower urinary tract disease, and that changes in routine may raise the chance of urinary signs. Keeping your cat's own trays, food and hiding places unchanged while you are away is one of the simplest things you can do.

The RSPCA notes that cats often do best looked after in their own home, because they are not used to travelling and new places.
Leave a worn T-shirt or blanket in your cat's bed for a familiar smell.
If you do choose a cattery, International Cat Care's guide to choosing one is a good checklist.

What does the sitter check on every visit?

The quick checks that catch a problem early. Anything unusual goes in the same day's update.

Every pet found and seen, moving normally.
How much of the last meal was eaten, and whether treats were left.
The litter tray: urine clumps and stools present and normal, no straining, no blood. Cornell Feline Health Center
Water: bowls drunk from, fountains working, nothing tipped over.
Vomit or hairballs anywhere in the home.
Signs of stress: hiding all visit, over-grooming, toileting outside the tray. International Cat Care
Windows, balcony nets and doors closed or open as you asked.
The flat's temperature: fans or AC on in the heat, and the coolest room open.
Medicines given at the right time and logged.

What will the sitter treat as urgent in a cat?

In an emergency the sitter calls you and takes your pet to the nearest 24-hour vet on Petym's list for your city.

If Straining in the litter tray, going back again and again, and passing little or no urine
Go to the vet now, especially for a male cat. A blocked urethra is an absolute emergency. Cornell Feline Health Center
If Not eating at all since the last visit
Tell you and call your vet the same day. Not eating can be serious in cats. Merck Veterinary Manual
If Trouble breathing or collapse
Put the cat in its carrier and go to the nearest 24-hour vet straight away. Merck Veterinary Manual
If Possible poisoning, from a plant, a cleaning product or a human medicine
Take the packet or a photo of what was eaten and go to the vet at once. Merck Veterinary Manual
If A fall from a balcony or window
Keep the cat still in a box or carrier, support its body and go to the vet, even if it seems fine. Merck Veterinary Manual
If The cat cannot be found
Search every room, cupboard, the balcony and the stairwell, then tell the guard and call you before leaving.

How do drop-in visits work in Indian flats, heat and festivals?

A visiting sitter comes and goes several times a day, so the society, the weather and the festival calendar all matter more than for an overnight stay.

Give the gate guard and the society office the sitter's name and visit times in writing, and add them to the visitor app if your society uses one, so each visit is not held up at the gate. Hand over keys at the meet and greet, never in an envelope with your address, and leave a spare with a neighbour. With a digital lock, give a temporary code and change it when you are back.

In summer, a closed flat can get very hot between visits. Leave the AC on a timer or a fan running in one room, draw the curtains on sunny sides and leave an extra bowl of water in the coolest place. The Animal Welfare Board of India asks everyone in charge of animals to provide shade and plenty of clean water in hot weather, and to see a vet for heavy panting, drooling, lethargy, a racing heart or collapse (circular of 4 May 2026, checked 21 October 2026).

Plan for power cuts. Show the sitter the inverter and the main switch, and do not rely only on an automatic feeder or a water fountain that needs mains power.

In the monsoon, check that windows will not let rain in while the flat is shut, and that the balcony drain is clear. On Diwali and New Year nights, ask for the evening visit before the crackers start, with windows and curtains closed so a frightened cat cannot slip out.

What should you do, and avoid, when leaving a cat with visits?

Do

Keep one litter tray per cat plus one extra, in different places. Cats Protection
Keep your cat's routine and food the same as usual. International Cat Care
Leave a worn item of your clothing in its bed. RSPCA (England and Wales)
Show the sitter every hiding place at the meet and greet.
Leave the carrier out and the vet's number on the fridge. PDSA

Don’t

Do not clean trays with phenol disinfectants: they are toxic to cats. Cats Protection
Do not switch to a new food or litter just before you leave.
Do not leave balcony doors or unnetted windows open.
Do not leave human medicines, cleaning products or plants where a bored cat can reach them. Merck Veterinary Manual
Do not rely on visits alone for a dog that would be alone overnight. PDSA

What do the welfare sources say about cats, litter and time alone?

2 a day
How often Cats Protection suggests scooping clumping litter, at the least, with a full change each week. Cats Protection
+ 1
Cats Protection's rule of thumb for trays: one per cat plus one extra, in different places. Cats Protection
under 48 hours
Cornell's warning: once a cat's urethra is fully blocked, death may follow in less than 24 to 48 hours. Cornell Feline Health Center
4 hours
The most an adult dog should be left alone at a time, so visits suit dogs only for short gaps. PDSA

How will booking drop-in visits work on Petym?

Petym is not taking bookings yet. When your city opens, every booking will follow these steps.

Choose a sitter
Sitters are listed only after Petym's checks: identity verified with PAN, pet first-aid training before the first booking and a named 24-hour vet within reach.
Free meet and greet
The sitter visits, meets your cat, sees the trays, the food and the hiding places, and agrees visit times with you.
Write the care plan
Visits a day, visit length, meals, medicines and house rules. The sitter follows it as written and logs each part.
Book and pay through Petym
The sitter is paid after the booking.
Daily photo updates
A photo update every day of the booking.
Your review
You write a review after the booking, about a booking that really happened.

Pet care in your city

Free tools for your trip

Words on this page, explained

Questions owners ask

What is a drop-in pet visit?: A drop-in visit is a 30 or 60 minute visit by a sitter to your home, once to three times a day. The sitter feeds your pet, refreshes water, scoops the litter, gives medicines, plays and checks the home. Your pet stays in its own space and is alone between visits and at night.
How many visits a day does my cat need?: Most healthy adult cats do well with two visits a day, morning and evening. Kittens, senior cats and cats on medicine often need three, or overnight sitting. A male cat with a history of urinary blockage is safer with someone checking the tray morning and night. Ask your vet if your cat is unwell.
Should I choose a 30 or 60 minute visit?: A 30 minute visit covers food, water, litter, a medicine and some play for one confident cat. Choose 60 minutes for a shy cat that needs time to come out, for two or more cats, for a long-haired cat that needs brushing, or when a medicine is difficult to give.
Are drop-in visits enough for a dog?: Usually not for a trip. PDSA and the RSPCA say adult dogs should not be left alone for more than about four hours at a time, and puppies for less. Drop-in visits suit dogs for short daytime gaps, such as a midday walk on a long working day. For nights away, book overnight sitting or boarding.
Is a cat better off at home with visits or in a cattery?: Most cats are better at home. International Cat Care says predictable routines reduce stress in cats and that much of their stress comes from other cats, which a cattery cannot avoid. Visits keep your cat in its own territory. A cat needing close medical care may need more than visits.
Will the sitter clean the litter tray?: Yes, every visit. The sitter removes clumps and stools, looks at what is in the tray and changes the litter as your care sheet says. They wash trays with mild detergent, never phenol disinfectants, which Cats Protection warns are toxic to cats. A cat straining with little urine is reported at once.
Can the sitter give my cat its medicine?: Yes. The sitter gives tablets, drops or syrups exactly as you write them on the care sheet and logs each dose. Some tablets must be given whole, so they are crushed or hidden in food only if your vet says that is safe. Injections need a trained sitter, agreed before you book.
What if my cat hides and the sitter cannot find it?: The sitter does not leave until every cat has been seen. Show them your cat's hiding places at the meet and greet. If a cat still cannot be found, the sitter searches every room, cupboard and the balcony, tells the gate guard and calls you before leaving the flat.
What happens if my cat gets ill between visits?: The sitter reports anything unusual in the same day's update. In an emergency, such as straining with no urine, breathing trouble or a fall, they call you and take your cat to the nearest 24-hour vet on Petym's list for your city. Leave the carrier out so they can move quickly.
How much do drop-in visits cost on Petym?: A 30-minute visit is Rs 599 in Mumbai, Delhi NCR and Bengaluru and Rs 499 in other cities; 60 minutes is Rs 999 or Rs 799. Each extra pet adds Rs 200 or Rs 150, and injections or festival dates add a fixed extra. The free pet care plan tool adds up your visits.
Can drop-in visits help with rabbits or birds?: Yes. A sitter can give fresh food and water, clean the cage or hutch and check the animal once or twice a day. Write the diet and cleaning routine on the care sheet, and tell the sitter how your rabbit or bird normally behaves so they notice a change.

Going away soon? Tell us your dates.

A checked local sitter feeds, walks and keeps your pet company at home, follows your care sheet to the letter and sends a photo every day. Petym is opening city by city: send your dates and we will tell you when a sitter can take them.

Find a sitter How it works

Meet your sitter first, free
PAN-checked, first-aid trained
A photo every day
Pay through Petym, never cash

Keep reading

How often should a sitter visit a cat?Twice a day as the floor, what every visit must include, and when a cat needs more.
How long can a cat be left alone?Why a weekend alone is a risk, the emergency to know about, and how to set up visits.
What to leave for your pet sitterThe full checklist for an Indian home: food, medicines, vet consent, keys, the society and power.
Do cats miss their owners?What the attachment studies actually found, the signs a cat is struggling, and how to plan a trip.
Boarding a cat in IndiaCattery or a sitter at home, what a good cattery has, vaccines on the card, and how to get a cat there calmly.
The meet and greet checklistHow to run the first meeting with a sitter, what to check, and how to read your pet.
Handing over house keys safelyHow to give a sitter access to your flat, who else holds keys, and what to do after.

Keep exploring

Other Petym services

Pet care by pet

Sources

Each source was opened and read on the date shown. How Petym checks its sources

Animal Welfare Board of India: Request to ensure care and protection of animals from direct heat during extreme hot weather (4 May 2026) (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
Cats Protection: Behaviour: to pee or not to pee (The Cat, Autumn 2013) (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
Cornell Feline Health Center: Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
International Cat Care: How to give a cat medication (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
RSPCA (England and Wales): Pet sitting (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
PDSA: First aid for pets (undated) (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026

Show all 12 sourcesShow fewer

International Cat Care: Stress in cats (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
PDSA: Separation anxiety in dogs (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
RSPCA (England and Wales): Separation-related behaviour in dogs (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
Merck Veterinary Manual: Feline hepatic lipidosis (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
Merck Veterinary Manual: What to do in a dog or cat emergency (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
International Cat Care: Choosing a boarding cattery (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026