Finding Someone Trustworthy to Look After Ruby

Ruby is a Bengal cat, and at thirteen and a half he is still very much the boss of our house in Khon Kaen. He is a loud, opinionated male who likes sleeping on the keyboard. For years I traveled without much worry, because he had a cat-sitter who knew his routine. When she moved away last year, I realized how much I depended on one person.

Finding a new sitter took longer than I expected. I checked a few online groups, asked around at the vet clinic, and interviewed three people. I wanted someone who would read my notes, not just scoop food and leave. One of them asked about Ruby's favorite toy before she even asked about the price, and that told me a lot.

Before my last trip I left a written sheet with his feeding times, litter preferences, and our vet's phone number. I also set up a short video call each evening so I could see him eating and settling in. When I got back he ignored me for an hour, which I took as a sign the sitter had done a good job.

The lesson is patience. A good sitter is not the cheapest or the fastest to reply. It is the one who asks questions and treats your cat as an individual, even when he is thirteen and grumpy.