Cats are Happier at Home

If you’re heading away and you’re not sure what to do with your feline friend, The Cat Butler offers the ideal alternative to a cattery.

We’ll visit your cat daily in the comfort and security of his or her own home to provide feeding, grooming, cleaning as well as playtime and cuddles!

We’ll send you updates and photos each day, so you can see how your cat is getting on.

Every single one of our professional Cat Butlers is DBS checked, fully vetted and insured for your peace of mind.

Professional Cat Sitting

Let us pamper your cat while you’re away! We have a network of local cat sitters and take the time to match your feline friend with the purr-fect Cat Butler who will wait on your cat hand and foot, er paw! 

We can visit your cat once, twice  a day or more and our services are tailored to your cats needs.

As well as caring for your cat, we also look after your home and offer a complimentary Home Care and Security Service.

Cat Butler Cat Sitting

_{Our professional cat sitting services are delivered by trained and vetted cat experts in the comfort of your cat’s own home, helping us to make sure that they are happy and safe while you are away.}

We provide a professional and comprehensive cat sitting service and a stress-free alternative to a traditional cattery.

Services are delivered in your cat’s own home and are tailored to their specific needs.

If they are shy around strangers, we’ll respect that – we’ll make sure that they are looked after and reassured from a distance. If they love to play, we are only too happy to oblige! And if you have a cat who loves affection – well, our cat sitters give the best chin rubs and cuddles ever!

We can visit once or twice each day, and we always make sure that we pop in at least once a day. 

We feed, top up the water, change the litter tray and clean up any mischief they may have caused. We also spend lots of quality time with our feline friends, playing, cuddling, and interacting with them.

We’ll keep in touch with you while you’re away and send you regular updates. We’ll also send you photos and videos so you can see how your cat is getting on.

Cat Sitting Services

Our cat sitters are passionate about cats. They love them, understand how they behave and are fully trained, vetted, and insured. Services provided include:

• Feeding & replenishing of water.
• Cleaning of eating area and food bowls.
• Administering medication (if needed).
• Cleaning of litter trays.
• Removing any little accidents or presents!
• Grooming.
• Lots of fuss, attention, play and interaction.
• Providing you with regular updates, photos and videos, so you can see how your cat is getting on.

Home Care & Security

_{We are more than just cat sitters. While you’re away, The Cat Butler team is here to make sure that your home is also safe and looked after.}

Complimentary Home Care & Security Service

It’s not just your cat that we look after while you’re away – we also make sure your home stays safe and ‘lived in’ for your peace of mind. If required, we can:

• Put out and bring in the rubbish and recycling bins.
• Take in the post and deliveries.
• Open and close curtains and blinds.
• Turn on the lights in different rooms.
• Water indoor and patio plants.

These benefits are delivered at no extra charge to our cat sitting customers.

You don’t have to be a cat owner to take advantage of our home security and care services. If you’re heading out of town and want peace of mind while you are away, our home security and care service is the perfect solution!

The Cat Butler Process

_{We offer a free meeting to get to know your cat and to discuss their routine and care requirements.}

Initial Meeting

When you get in touch with us, we find out about your cat – their background, personality and quirky ways and what they like and don’t like and the care that your cat needs.

We then match them with the purr-fect Cat Butler, who will arrange a time to meet you and make friends with your feline-friend. 

The meeting gives you the opportunity to discuss the care required for your cat and show your cat sitter where the cat supplies are kept and the cat care routine. You can also show us how to use any house alarms and let us know anything else you need doing, such as putting the bins out for collection.

Booking Confirmation

Once we’ve met you and been approved by your cat, we will send you a confirmation of your booking. We will also send you an invoice at this time, which will need to be paid before our cat sitting services can be provided.

Before You Go

• Please make sure that there will be enough cat food, litter, medication etc., for the duration of your trip.
• If we are required to give your cat medication, please leave out the medication with the veterinary instructions. It is a good idea to inform your vet that we will be caring for your cat in your absence.
• If your cat wears a collar with an ID tag, make sure it is wearing the collar before leaving.
• Please leave out spare batteries in the case of battery-operated cat flaps.
• In the colder months, be sure to set a comfortable house temperature for your cat.
• Please make sure that you remove potentially dangerous plants, glass objects, Christmas decorations, etc.
• Please place cleaning supplies etc., where they can be easily accessed.
• It is a good idea to let your neighbours know that your cat sitter will be visiting while you’re away. If applicable, please give your Landlord our details in case of an emergency.
• Please check your online pet portal before you go away and make sure we hold all the correct details, such as your away contact details and your alternate and emergency contact information, vet details, feeding instructions, etc. You can add notes to your online record regarding the care for your cat.
• If your cat has access to a cat flap,  please upload their photo to your online pet portal, which will help find it should it go missing.

While You’re Away

• We will Whatsapp, text or email you regular updates to let you know how your cat is getting on.
• We can send you photos/videos of your cat/s via Whatsapp or upload them to our Facebook page.

When You Get Back

• If your return is delayed, please contact us so that we can continue the visits to your cat and home. 
• Please let us know when you are home safely.

Key Holding Service

• We will need a copy of your house keys which we will keep locked away and separate from your details.
• We normally retain keys, but they can be returned to you if you wish. Retaining the keys, though, ensures we can continue to care for your cat in the event of an emergency or if your return is delayed.

Our Story

The Cat Butler was set up by Sandra James in 2015 and was inspired by the animal lover’s feline friend, Ziggy.

Like many cat owners, Sandra often felt unable to go away and leave Ziggy. Although there were some amazing catteries nearby, Sandra knew that Ziggy was much happier at home, and a trip to an unfamiliar environment would be traumatic.

While she had considered asking a neighbour to pop in and keep an eye on Ziggy, Sandra also knew that being a typical cat, Ziggy thrived on routine.

It wasn’t enough to have somebody come in once a day or so and top up his food bowl; Ziggy needed consistency, interaction, and a reassuring presence around the house to feel safe and content.

After leaving her career in financial services, Sandra set up The Cat Butler to provide felines in and around St Albans with tailored care in the safety and comfort of their own home. Today, The Cat Butler team works with thousands of customers – and their humans – across the UK.

Our Mission

Every cat owner we’ve met considers their cat an important member of their family. But, when they go away, finding the perfect cat care solution can be tricky, especially when there are so many seemingly “easy” options out there.

Since the start, we have made it our company mission to offer the highest level of care and professionalism when caring for our clients’ beloved cats and their homes.  All of our Cat Butlers love the company of felines and only ever want the best for the cats they care for, as they would do their own. They’re not just looking after cats because it’s their job; they serve cats because of their genuine love and respect for them.

Our Core Values

• Reliability – Our commitment and dedication ensure that our clients can trust our ability to provide the best cat care. We will always conduct our services professionally. Our clients can be sure that their cat and their home are in safe and capable hands.
• Integrity – Our clients’ and their cats’ needs are our top priorities. We understand that their cat is a member of their family and, we pledge to treat their cat as a member of our own.
• ​Excellence – It is not enough to merely meet expectations. We strive to exceed standards with the quality of service we provide.
• Caring – This is much more than a business to us. Taking care of cats is our life’s passion. Our clients will notice the excellent and professional service that we provide and the genuine care and love that we put into our work every day.
• Community – We are proactive in our communities, volunteering and supporting the voiceless and homeless cats and other animals.

The Cat Butler Franchise

We’ve now expanded the service through our Franchise and will be introducing new locations across the UK.

Choosing the right care for your cat

If you’re a cat owner, you’ll know just how purr-ticular cats can be! This is true of their care too, which is why it is so important that you choose a care plan that is right for them when you are away. Broadly speaking, these options will fall into one of two categories – cattery (cat hotel) and cat sitter.

What is a cattery?

A  cattery or cat hotel is a boarding establishment where your cat can stay while you’re away. These are often purpose-built and will house several cats at a time in individual cages or rooms. Some catteries are quite basic, and others are more luxurious.

What is a cat sitter?

A cat sitter is someone who comes to your house to look after your cat while you’re away. Your cat gets to stay in an environment that they are familiar with, which is less traumatic for them,  and it removes the stress of transporting them to another place.

The Cat Butler® provides cat sitting services, but our approach is quite different from that of many other cat sitting companies.

First and foremost, we always make sure we meet you and get to know your cat before you go away. We visit at least once every 24 hours – for your cat’s safety and your peace of mind.

We also provide complimentary home care and security services – so we look after your home as well as your feline friend. 

What will your cat prefer?

Every cat is different, and what’s right for one might not work so well for another. So, it is important that, when making this decision, you consider your cat’s needs, behavioural patterns, and unique personality.

As a general guide, though, a cat sitter is probably a better option if your cat:

• Is independent
• Likes the creature comforts of its own home
• Dislikes travelling and hates the sight of the cat carrier!
• Normally has access to a cat flap and loves to explore the great outdoors.
• Is territorial and hates the sight of other cats

If, however, your cat is very anxious when left on its own or is used to having company for much of the day, a cattery may be the better option.

Why choose The Cat Butler

Your cat stays at home

For a start, your cat gets to stay in their own home – where they are happiest and where they feel safest. You don’t have the stress of needing to find the cat carrier, getting them in it, and then reassuring them during the car journey.

It also means less stress and inconvenience for you. Unlike catteries, which will often have allocated drop-off and pick-up times, we work around you. Our services fit around your travel times, and if you’re ever delayed, we extend our visits until you’re back safe and sound.

What about medication?

Sadly, many cats are turned away from catteries as they require medication. Catteries often won’t have staff trained to administer medication, which is an important factor to consider if your feline friend relies on regular medication to keep them fit and healthy.

Our Cat Butlers are trained to safely administer a wide range of medication.

It’s not just your cat that we look after

When we look after your cat, we also provide a ‘lived in’ presence in your home, keeping it safe and deterring any criminal activity. We can also water indoor and patio plants, put out the bins, and bring in post and deliveries.

How do the costs compare?

A number of factors will affect this, such as area, but, typically, a stay in a cattery will cost £20 per day for one cat, rising to £25 for two, or £30 for three.

We charge from just £14 per day (based on one daily visit). We won’t charge you any extra if you have a second or even a third cat!