Do I have too many pets for a house sitter?

Got a large pack of canine companions, a clowder of cats or even a herd of alpacas? And wondering - do I have too many pets for a sitter? Well stick with us to find out how many pets is too many, and to hear what real-life sitters have to say about caring for multiple animals.

TrustedHousesitters policy on the number of pets

Fortunately, here at TrustedHousesitters, we don’t have a limit on the number of pets owners can seek a sitter for. It’s up to pet parents to clearly state the needs of their animals, and sitters to make their mind up about whether the sit is right for them or not. So, if you’ve got a flock of chickens, 2 horses, 3 dogs and a cat, you still have a fabulous chance of finding a sitter. Why? Well our sitters are here because they adore animals - if they wanted a peaceful hotel stay, they wouldn’t be here!

Tips on finding the right pet sitter

• State your pets’ needs. Even if (and especially if) your pets have a number of specific needs, like they require medication or they’ve got certain behavioral issues, it’s vital you share this in your listing and your welcome guide. That way, you’ll attract sitters who are actually up for the task.
• Be completely transparent. Never understate the number of pets you’ve got - the last thing you want is for your sitter to turn up, and decide the sit is too much for them.
• Shout about your amazing pets. Have you considered that for some sitters, caring for a number of animals is their idea of animal kingdom heaven?! Shout about your wonderful pets on your listing and you’ll soon land a sitter who’ll love and care for them, just like you do.
• Provide clear photos. It’s super handy for sitters to see clear pictures of each and every one of your pets - that way, they know who they’re caring for, and whether they’re up to the challenge.

So, feeling ready to connect with a sitter who’s up for caring for your flock, pack, clowder, or all three? Great - click below to find out how to connect with a pet sitter.

Hear from real sitters: sits with multiple pets

Wondering if sits with a huge number of furry (feathered and scaled) friends exists? Luckily for you, they certainly do, so take a look below to hear from real life pet sitters on what they have to say about the pets they care for.

“Our biggest number of pets in one go was at a beautiful converted millhouse in the Cotswolds- 2 dogs, 10 chickens, 10 ducks, 1 goose, a pond full of exotic fish and 2 emus! We absolutely loved every minute of it! In our experience it's absolutely not the number of animals that makes or breaks a sit!” - Lokstar, sitter member

“We have done a sit with 23 pets but 16 of them were chickens, ducks and geese. At other times we are happy with just 1 dog or a couple of cats. We are currently on our way to a sit with 3 dogs, 3 cats and a guinea pig.” - Debbie, sitter member

“Our first THS sit was 13 pets!!! Sounds a lot but it was for 2 dogs and 11 chickens - not at all onerous and lots of eggs for breakfast, lunch and tea.” - Silversitters, sitter member

For our members Silvi and Lucas, the idea of looking after multiple animals was a dream come true. Read their story of caring for two dogs and an entire herd of alpacas.

“It so completely depends on the animals’ needs in my opinion. I’m currently sitting three dogs, but two are elderly so only one actually needs walking further than the end of the drive. If it had been three under 3, I wouldn’t have gone for it! In general I think I’d take multiple dogs vs. 1 puppy!” - ERRa, sitter member

“We have done a sit with 8 dogs and 4 donkeys. It was totally fine. The dogs didn’t need walked, they roamed around and ran around on the big property. All we had to do was take the donkeys inside at night. There was somebody who came to take them out, feed them and clean the stables. We’d sit for them again!” - Els, sitter member

Useful resources

• What are farm sitting rates?
• How much do you pay for horse sitting?
• Are pet sitters trustworthy?