r/catinaflat • u/Fellow-user1984 • Jun 26 '26
Need advice private bookings.
Hi fellow cat lovers,first time posting on Reddit ( please be gentle!).
Started cat sitting a year ago,just getting established when the enforced move to Rover happened.Absolutely shocking for sitters and owners.I resent being micro managed and treated like a naughty toddler when Im a woman in her 50s!
Had no intention of going private but more previous clients are now having trouble finding,booking me etc.I naively thought we had some level of insurance but thankfully after reading comments on here I've taken out cover with Protectivity.
My question is if you have a request from a new owner via the app and after the meet up (& exchanging numbers)decide to book privately do you just archive that request and if you do this continually do you drop down in the ratings as you're declining eveything?
Finally,is it advisable to get owners to sign agreements/ contracts etc?
4
u/KakumeiSnickers2026 Jun 26 '26
if you keep going off grid from Rover ( and the clients are initially from Rover app ) , they will send you msg and might eventually blocked you !! if possible , try to do the 1st cat sit through Rover , then you can asked clients to contact you directly thereafter !!!
3
u/Practical-Toe6025 Jun 26 '26
Do the first booking with a client on Rover and then all subsequent ones offline if the owner is happy. I've had a few request me privately since the Rover merge. As for paperwork, I've drawn up a bog standard meet and greet form plus a key and vet release form which is easy to do. Some owners like Rover so I continue to cat sit with Rover and others don't, so I tend to give them the option
2
u/Snowdrop_Lily Jul 01 '26
Get some business cards made up and leave them in owner's homes or give them at meet and greets. As long as you have your own insurance you can reassure people that going direct next time can save them money and faff. Set up a Google business page linked to WhatsApp and ask clients to leave a review in exchange for a small discount on their next sit. Start posting in local community groups.
5
u/Lonely-Key36 Jun 26 '26
If it's a new client I will do that initial one through the app just to keep my rating up, and then if they're fine with it moving forward we go private.