Updated 12 Sept 2024
When planning a vacation, finding the right pet sitter to care for your pet is on the top of your agenda. To help you on your way, stick with us and explore our top tips on what to look for in a pet sitter, to help you choose the best fit for your furry companions.
What to look for in a pet sitter: how to choose the perfect sitter
- Do they have experience with pets?
- Do they suit yours, your pet’s and your home’s needs?
- Do they have references and reviews?
- Are they willing to meet up?
- Do they connect well with your pet?
- Are they covered?
- Do they work alongside a veterinarian?
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What to look for in a pet sitter: how to choose a pet sitter
1. Do they have experience with pets?
Something you might want to look out for when choosing a pet sitting is whether they have previous experience with pets.
Some sitters will have professional pet care experience, while others may have dog walking experience, and many might have had pets of their own in the past, or grown up in a family filled with furry companions.
Another thing to look for in a pet sitter is if they have previous experience handling animals like yours in particular - especially if your pet has specific needs, or you have senior pets at home.
They could have simply cared for a friend's cat, pet sat for their parent's pooch or even worked as a veterinarian. All of these add up to valuable experience.
Pet sitters found on platforms such as TrustedHousesitters will have a variety of experience - some with countless sits under their belt, others previous owners, and some vets or professionals who work with animals.
With nothing exchanged between owners and sitters but loving pet care from a verified sitter and a place to stay, check out how welcoming a sitter with TrustedHousesitters works.
How to connect with sitters
2. Do they suit your specific needs?
If you’re wondering what to look for in a pet sitter, one of the key things is whether they meet your pet’s specific needs. It may be that you have a senior dog who needs medication administering, a young puppy who needs lots of exercise, a house cat who requires daily mental stimulation, or a bird who has tropical care needs - the list is endless.
Opting for a sitter who meets your pet sitter requirements and can give your furry friend the care they need gives pet owners endless peace of mind while they’re away.
Another thing to bear in mind is that sitters stay at your house, in your home environment with your pet the whole time you’re away. So, you’ll need to make sure the sitter you choose is up for the job of taking care of your home, plants, post and garden, as well as your pets.
To find out whether there are pet sitters who meet your requirements, explore thousands of verified pet sitters below.
Explore pet sitters
3. Do they have references and reviews?
Another vital part of choosing the right pet sitter for you and your furry fam is reading their references and reviews. This allows you to see what others have to say about their overall character, and experience with them as a sitter.
If you’re hiring a professional pet sitter, you might be able to access client references that’ll reveal how previous pet parents felt the sitting experience went.
At TrustedHousesitters, homeowners can access both external references and reviews made by pet parents. External references might be provided by a previous employer, lecturer or colleague, while reviews are made by pet parents, who have welcomed the sitter, and had them care for their home and pets in the past.
Reading these first-hand accounts with the sitter will help you determine whether the sitter is right for your home and pets - all fully accessible on each sitter’s profile.
4. Are they willing to meet up?
One great sign when you’re looking for a dog sitter, cat sitter (or another animal sitter altogether) is that they’re willing to meet up in person or via a video call, ahead of the sit. This is a great opportunity for them to meet your pet (and is often a red flag if the sitter isn’t willing to meet in some way beforehand).
Questions to ask when choosing a sitter
One great way to determine whether a sitter is right for you is to meet beforehand, or to arrange a video call. Ask them as many questions as you need to get a good idea of their personality and the kind of pet care they will provide. Here are some to get you started:
- How many pets have you looked after previously?
- What's your experience looking after pets?
- Why would you like to look after my pet in particular?
- Do you have experience with administering medication?
- Will I be able to reach you easily while I am away?
- Do you have the right amount of time to care for my pet?
Do you have any funny stories from times you’ve spent with animals?
(This question is a great one to get a feel for their personality!)
5. Do they connect with your pet?
When hiring a pet sitter, the most important thing is that you feel sure they’re going to provide top-notch care for your pets. If you decide to meet in person, one great way to know that you’ve made the right choice is that the sitter is engaged with your pet.
It’s clear when there’s a connection between pets and humans (you’ll know this as a pet lover yourself), but other things to look out for include taking interest in your pet’s needs, habits, preferences, characteristics and routine.
However, the alarm bells should ring if your pet looks very uncomfortable and the sitter doesn’t seem to be handling them correctly. A good pet sitter will recognise the needs of your pet and be able to respond to them well.
For example, they should know when your cat has had enough playtime or your dog is going overboard on dinner. Find the person that handles your pet with affection and love.
6. Are they covered?
When choosing a pet sitter, many pet parents will make sure their sitters are covered by an insurance plan, before letting them into their home to care for their furry family members.
With TrustedHousesitters, pet parents with a Standard or Premium annual membership plan can not only welcome unlimited sitters, but they’re also covered by our Home and Contents Plan for every sit organised and confirmed through TrustedHousesitters, at no extra cost.
Underwritten by global insurer, GUARDHOG, pet parents are covered against property damage, theft, and public liability if a sitter has an accident in their home, up to $1 million USD.
For more on what’s included in the annual membership plans available, take a look below.
7. Do they work with a veterinarian?
Many pet sitters work alongside a veterinarian. This is an extra aid so that all pets under their care have emergency backup if an accident happens, or a pet seems to be getting sick.
This is common amongst private pet sitters who choose pet care as their livelihood. TrustedHousesitters offers members the choice to use their 24/7 Vet Advice Line while on a sit. Here, the qualified team of veterinary nurses are on hand to answer any pet-related questions, whether that’s about food habits, activity levels, or if they think there’s an emergency.
Traits of a good pet sitter
- Trustworthy: You should feel comfortable leaving your pets and home with the sitter you choose.
- Patient: Your sitter should be calm and patient with your pet, adapting to your pet’s needs, as agreed.
- Consistent: Your sitter should follow any rules and guidelines you’ve set out for looking after your pets, home and garden.
- Curious: Your sitter should be interested in your pets, asking questions so they’re clued-up on how to look after them best, and keep them happy while you’re away.
- Great with communication: Your sitter should keep you in the loop throughout the sit, if this is what you’ve asked for.
- Caring: Naturally, a great pet sitter will be caring in nature, and have your pet’s wellbeing as a priority.
FAQs
Cat sitting rates vary, but with platforms like TrustedHousesitters, pet owners can welcome as many cat sitters as they need with an annual membership. When it comes to tipping a pet sitter, this is down to homeowners to decide, but it’s certainly not mandatory.
The overall responsibilities of a pet sitter include feeding and watering pets, providing them with fun and play, along with mental and physical stimulation. Many pet sitters - like those at TrustedHousesitters - also maintain the home while pet parents are away, along with the garden, and plants, and often collect the post.
