HOW TO HIRE · PETS · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire a cat sitter in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
A cat sitting in Ireland costs €12–€30 per visit, typically around €18. Here is how to check that in a minute, what to ask before you book, and what you must be handed when the job is done.
- Search and compare — no account needed
- Nearest to you first
- One score from Google, Trustpilot and Locufy reviews
THE 60-SECOND VERSION
Hiring a cat sitter in five steps
- Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers cat sitter work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — health Monitoring — during visits, sitters may check for any signs of health issues, such as changes in appetite or behaviour.
- How does sitter's experience change the price?A specialist charges above a generalist for the same hours. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does number of visits required change the price?The count sets both the time and the team. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does any additional services requested change the price?It is checked on the visit because it changes the method. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- What is not included?Playtime and Social Interaction — cat sitters often engage with your pet through playtime and companionship, helping to reduce stress and loneliness — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a cat sitter job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
BEFORE YOU BOOK
Check before you book
No register applies
NO LICENCE OR REGISTER APPLIES TO DOG WALKERS, PET SITTERS OR GROOMERS IN IRELAND. Anyone may trade as one. The protection is insurance and what is written down — and the insurance that matters is not the obvious one.
Look for the trader badge and the ID-checked badge on the Locufy profile — both are checked by us, not claimed by the provider.
What to check instead
CARE, CUSTODY AND CONTROL cover, not just public liability — public liability pays if your dog bites a stranger; care, custody and control is what pays if your dog is injured, lost or killed while in their charge, and plenty of walkers carry only the first; How many dogs are walked at once, and whether yours is walked with strangers' dogs; Whether they are insured to drive your dog in their vehicle, and how it is secured; What happens if your dog is hurt or runs — the plan, and which vet; Keys: who holds one, how it is returned, what happens if it is lost, in writing; Two references from current clients, called not read.
Ask for each of these before you agree a price, and get the answers in the same message as the quote.
Insurance
Expect care, custody and control cover as well as public liability. You are booking an individual for a set number of hours, so ask whether the ID has been checked and what the rating is from people who booked the same way — there is no company behind them to carry either.
Ask to see the current certificate of insurance — the insurer's name, the limit and the date it runs to.
Trader or private seller
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 a trader must tell you they are a trader, and your consumer rights — work carried out with reasonable skill and care, and a cooling-off period on a contract agreed in your home or online — apply to traders and not to private sellers. On Locufy the trader status is shown on the profile.
Look for the trader badge on the Locufy profile, and ask anyone else for it in writing before you agree a price.
VAT
VAT at 23%, the standard rate Revenue publishes for this service. Ask whether the price you were given includes it. An individual working under the €42,500 registration threshold does not charge VAT at all, and does not have a VAT number to give you.
Ask whether the figure you were given includes it, and for the VAT number if they are registered — Revenue publishes the rate for this service. revenue.ie →
A good answer: No register covers cat sitter work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — health Monitoring — during visits, sitters may check for any signs of health issues, such as changes in appetite or behaviour.
A good answer: A specialist charges above a generalist for the same hours. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: The count sets both the time and the team. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: It is checked on the visit because it changes the method. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Playtime and Social Interaction — cat sitters often engage with your pet through playtime and companionship, helping to reduce stress and loneliness — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a cat sitter job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
A good answer: Expect care, custody and control cover as well as public liability — litter Box Maintenance — regular cleaning of the litter box is a key part of cat sitting.
A good answer: A written scope and a price before the cat sitter starts, and an itemised invoice after — cat Grooming — light grooming services such as brushing and nail trimming can be included to keep your cat looking and feeling their best.
Booking by the hour
- The rate per hour, and whether it changes in the evening or at a weekend
- The minimum booking, and what happens if the job finishes early
- What they bring and what you supply
- Whether the ID has been checked, and the rating from people who booked the same way
- Insurance, where the work can damage something or somebody
- The hours and the list of what is to be done, agreed before the first one
Walk away if
- They will not talk about it: sitter's experience — a specialist charges above a generalist for the same hours
- They will not talk about it: number of visits required — the count sets both the time and the team
- They will not talk about it: any additional services requested — it is checked on the visit because it changes the method
- A price for the cat sitter before anyone has asked the size, the access or the condition of what they are working on
- Cash only, or a large deposit before anything at all has started
- No written quote, or one that moves once the cat sitter has begun
What a cat sitter costs: €12–€30 per visit
The figures are for the job, per visit, and a quote for your own is the only number that binds anyone. Basic cat sitting and Overnight cat sitting each carry their own band. Cat Sitting price guide →
Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.
KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE
Cat sitters near you, with the badges that matter shown
ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.
Or post the job free and let them come to you.
- Look firstSitter's experience — a specialist charges above a generalist for the same hours — that is what the cat sitter is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneNumber of visits required — the count sets both the time and the team — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfAny additional services requested — it is checked on the visit because it changes the method — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherNumber of cats — the count is the first question you will be asked — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the cat sitter is still there.
- What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, medication administration — the answer to this shapes the rest of the quote.
- Litter Box Maintenance
- Regular cleaning of the litter box is a key part of cat sitting.
- Playtime and Social Interaction
- Cat sitters often engage with your pet through playtime and companionship, helping to reduce stress and loneliness.
- Health Monitoring
- During visits, sitters may check for any signs of health issues, such as changes in appetite or behaviour.
- Overnight Cat Sitting
- A sitter stays overnight at your home to provide companionship and care for your cat, reducing their anxiety.
- Medication Administration
- This service includes administering prescribed medications or special diets to your cat as per your veterinarian's instructions.
- Kitty Playtime
- Focused on engaging your cat in play and exercise, this service helps keep them active and entertained.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring a cat sitter: questions people ask
The cost of cat sitting can vary based on the sitter's experience, the number of visits required, and any additional services requested. For example, administering medication may incur extra fees.
Most cat sitting visits last between 30 minutes to an hour, depending on the needs of the cat and the services included. Longer visits may be necessary for more extensive care.
Many cat sitters offer same-day services, but availability can be limited, especially during peak times. It’s best to check with your chosen sitter as soon as you need assistance.
Out of scope services may include grooming, extensive training, or veterinary care. Always clarify with your sitter what services are included in their package.
NO LICENCE OR REGISTER APPLIES TO DOG WALKERS, PET SITTERS OR GROOMERS IN IRELAND. Anyone may trade as one. The protection is insurance and what is written down — and the insurance that matters is not the obvious one.
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 the work must be carried out with reasonable skill and care, and put right if it is not. Say what is wrong in writing first.
MORE GUIDES