Hi
Is there a way of finding sitters who only look after cats?
Hi @Sheila7
Not via profiles out reach I’m afraid but the best way as always is to post a sit and state your preference on said listing.
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@Skylos That’s for sitters to filter listings. I am not aware of a similar system to search sitter profiles that the OP is asking about.
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You can click on “my pets” on the right side of the screen to filter by type of pet
(Screenshot edited to remove sitter profiles)
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Thanks @richten1
It’s actually for Pet Parents what I shared.
Just to clarify, the filters will show sitters who are open to caring for cats,
BUT not necessarily sitters who care only for cats.
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Hi @Skylos
Sorry that’s what I meant. As sitters we can choose the animals we wish to sit for.
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@Sheila7 no, I don’t think it’s possible, if you filter by cats, it will include those that want to sit cats and other animals they have chosen.
Anyway… I know you’re new from your other posts, which is why I’m saying this… but are you sure you want to do that anyway?
The reason I mention it, is because there are way way waaaay less cat sits than dog sits on THS, so if a sitter sits full time, it could be potentially difficult for them to do so with cats alone, in the area they particularly want to sit in.
Also, a sitter could have 80 reviews of cats and other animals, that you’d potentially be ruling out, over someone with perhaps only a few dedicated sits with cats.
We’ve only been with THS for just over 2 years (but we’ve got 38 reviews, we love it), but you’re also ruling out all those sitters that have been with THS for 10 years, where they’ve sat cats and dogs to help fill their calendars… do you really want to rule that amount of experience out?
Personally I would see who applies, and then rule each one out that doesn’t feel right for you. Personally I wouldn’t rule out a huge chunk of sitters, read their profiles first, then rule them out if you want.
We sit full time, in a very dog orientated region, so if we just did cat sits we’d never find enough sits to fill our time. It would be impossible for us to do.
It’s totally up to you obviously, I just thought I’d try to help you see the bigger picture of ruling a whole set of sitters out, because your perfect sitter may have been among them.
PS You’re posts are great by the way, you’ll be helping loads of newbies, without even realising it 
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I primarily sit for cats, but my profile does indicate that I will sit for both cats and dogs. In reality, I sit for cats and do an occasional sit for a small dog. I’ve sat for 95 cats total so far.
I think you would be best to put something in your listing indicating that you are looking for someone who loves cats and has experience sitting for cats. When you get applications you can look at the previous reviews and see what animals they cared for on each sit.
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@Sheila7 Can you see what you’d be missing out on if the filter worked purely for cats alone, @systaran would have never showed up in your search with doing the very occasional dog sit… 95 cats in total… that’s pretty amazing!
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Reviewers have described me as a “cat goddess” and a “cat whisperer,” but I sit cats and dogs.
One of my cats-only hosts even offered me roundtrip airfare to repeat sit in San Francisco. Lovely home near loads of amenities, with a regular cleaner and gardener, so I’m sure they could’ve filled the sit without me. But they asked me back, because their indoor / outdoor cats are skittish and don’t usually take to strangers. And if they dislike the sitter, they might not return home at night. They loved me, though.
Those hosts chose me based on my reviews.
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Wow! As a cat “specialist” - that is, someone who’s been looking after cats professionally and otherwise for some nine years, but who has also looked after dogs, fish and poultry (initially just because they came with the cats) - I love your question!
I do get the feeling too often that many sitters opt for cats because they assume they’re “easy”… Hey, all they need is some food plonking down twice a day and maybe the odd litter-scoop, right?? So yippee, the sitters can spend their time exploring the hot locality and making merry…!
Nope. Noppity nope. Cats need a LOT more than that.
Apologies, I rather climbed onto my soapbox there…
But to answer your question, all you can do is spell it out in your listing that you’re looking for a dedicated CAT sitter…
Unless you’re on South Georgia (sorry, guys!) I know you’ll find it hard to choose between the great applicants you’ll get.
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So Sheila hasn’t been back! I want to ask the “Why?” question but it looks like several have made the same assumption I did and answered the question.
Sheila, if you are out there and still want to find a “specialist” and the best person to sit your cat, just say in your listing that you want someone with lots of cat experience, and then when you cat applicants read their profiles and reviews. Not enough cat experience? Decline and move on.
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I thought at 56 cats sat via THS I was doing well but looks like I’ve got a long way to go to catch your 96! Maybe if I count family cats and those I looked after via a charity I’m at that level! 
Thanks.
I will do that later today
Apologies for not replying sooner
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Thanks for your reply.
Sorry I didn’t reply sooner
Are there really 24 hours in a day?
I get to a point in the evening that I can’t do anything constructive. If I’m sat in front of my laptop, I drop of for just seconds. Time to stop, which was what happened yesterday evening!
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Thank you
Sorry for the late reply.
I’ll make it clear that I would like someone with cat experience.
Thank you for your reply, lots of useful info for me to digest.
I have to stop now or I’ll miss my bus!
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