VanKitty Sitting's Respiratory Illness Policy

This page describes the procedures being followed by VanKitty Sitting (VKS) to reduce the likelihood of respiratory illness transmission while providing optimal service to clients and their cats

Initial consultation and other in-home visits with client

• It is preferred that the initial consultation visit occurs remotely by video via Zoom
• Any required in-home visit between the sitter and client will take place with all parties wearing masks, maintaining a social distance, and minimizing time spent indoors
• Any in-home visit between the sitter and client will be re-scheduled to a later date if the client or sitter is symptomatic for, or has tested positive for, any respiratory illness (for example: COVID-19, influenza, RSV, the common cold) 

 
Cat-sitting visits

• If the client lives in a building with shared spaces (lobby, hallway, elevator, stairwell), then the client will inform their sitter of any rules or guidelines for such areas
• The sitter will wash their hands for 20 seconds upon entry to the client’s home
• The sitter will bring and use their own hand soap and hand towel
• Upon the client’s request and with supplies provided by the client, the sitter will wipe down commonly used surfaces after their final visit; this covers any of the following that the sitter has touched: doorknobs, light switches, sink taps, fridge door handles, cupboard handles, drawer handles

Other visitors to the client’s home

• If anyone else will be entering the client’s home at any time on the dates that VKS is hired for cat-sitting visits, the client is responsible for informing VKS of the other visitor
• The client is responsible for ensuring that the other visitor is not the home during the sitter’s visit 
• The client is responsible for informing VKS if the other visitor is symptomatic for, or has recently tested positive for, any respiratory illness within the 5 days prior to their visit

Client illness
The client will inform VKS if they are or have been symptomatic for, or tested positive for, any respiratory illness in the 5 days prior to the first scheduled sitting visit

Sitter illness*
If the VKS sitter becomes symptomatic for, or tests positive for, any respiratory illness immediately before or during their scheduled visits:

• The sitter will inform the client immediately
• If the sitter is well enough to work, and the client agrees to this option, the sitter will visit as scheduled while wearing a KN95 (or equivalent) mask
• If the sitter is not well enough to work or if the client requests another sitter:
  • The client will inform VKS of their preferred alternate care-giver (e.g.: another cat-sitting service, client’s friends or family)  
    • VKS will provide referrals to other cat-sitting services but cannot guarantee their availability  
  • VKS will provide client information and keys to the alternate care-giver, as directed by the client
  • A full refund will be given for visits that VKS does not provide

​Client cancellation due to illness

• If cancellation on short notice or early return is required due to client illness, the client will not be charged a cancellation fee
• If the client has paid for the visits which they must cancel due to illness, a credit will be applied to their file for the visits that were cancelled

* Starting November 17, 2022, people who have COVID-19  are no longer required to self-isolate by the Province of BC as per 

Page updated February 16, 2025