A Guide on How to Find a Pet Sitter You Can Trust
Content Sponsored by 24Petwatch
Whether you’re going on a trip or just unsure about leaving your pet home alone while you’re at the office, hiring a sitter is a great option! Sitters can help prevent separation anxiety, socialize your pet with other animals, provide added stimulation, and allow you to enjoy activities without feeling guilty about leaving your best friend behind.
But finding someone responsible to look after your pet can be difficult. You don’t want to leave your dog or cat with just anyone; you want someone who treats your pet with the same love and care that you do. With all the online options, finding someone you trust can be challenging. Let us help you through the entire process with our handy guide on how to find a pet sitter.
Where to Find a Pet Sitter
Family and Friends
Leaving your cat or dog with someone they know can ease their separation anxiety. It can also help you feel more comfortable while you’re away, since your pet is being cared for by someone you already trust.
Word of Mouth
Get recommendations from other pet parents about trustworthy sitters.
Rover
If you are looking for 5-star rated pet sitters in your area, Rover is the place to find them. Rover verifies sitters, ensuring they are real people, and posts feedback from real pet parents to put your mind at ease. Get a $30 discount on Rover with a 24Petwatch Lifetime Protection Membership.
What to Look for in a Pet Sitter
Now that you know where to look, you’ll need to determine the service you need. Typically, the three options you can pick from are:
- Drop-ins: The sitter makes a short visit for playtime and/or feeding
- Housesitting: The sitter stays at your home
- Boarding: Your pet stays at the sitter’s home
The next step is to browse the web for pet sitters in your area. Use the checklist below to help narrow down your options:
- They have experience in pet-sitting
- They have positive reviews or references
- They have pet health knowledge
- If your cat or dog has a health condition, you may want someone who has experience looking after animals with medical needs
- They have insurance: responsible and professional sitters will have insurance to protect themselves
- They have relationships with veterinarians: they know where to go or who to call in case of an emergency
- They are first-aid and CPR certified
- If you don’t want your pet to be with other animals, look for people who only watch one pet at a time
Questions You Should Ask a Pet Sitter
After narrowing your search, you can ask your top picks for an interview. A conversation will help you understand their character and verify their experience. Here are some examples of questions you could ask.
To find out how they would handle unique medical needs or an emergency:
- What would you do if my pet showed signs of poisoning?
- What would you do if my pet went missing while in your care?
- Can you describe a time you had to deal with an emergency? What did you do?
- Can you describe a time you cared for a dog or cat with medical needs?
To find out if they can handle behavioral problems:
- How will you ease my pet’s separation anxiety?
- What is your training style?
- What would you do if my cat scratched the furniture?
- What would you do if my cat eliminates outside the litterbox?
- What would you do if my dog had an accident inside the house?
- What would you do if my dog is aggressive toward other dogs on walks?
To find out how they will stimulate your pet:
- What would an average day look like for you and my pet?
- How would you ensure they get enough exercise and mental stimulation?
How Much to Pay a Pet Sitter
If a pet sitter doesn’t list their rates online, for transparency, asking how much their services are is another critical question. Pricing often depends on where you live, how long the sitter will be with your pet, their experience, and other services like grooming and training. To figure out how much you should budget for a pet sitter, here’s what they usually charge:
How Much to Pay a Dog Sitter
Dog sitters usually charge $10-30 for drop-in visits, $30-100 a day/night for sitting at your house, and $30-60 a day/night for boarding at their house.
How Much to Pay a Cat Sitter
Cat sitters usually charge $10-30 for drop-in visits, $15-40 a day/night for sitting at your house, and $20-40 a day/night for boarding at their house.
Introduce the Sitter to Your Pet
The next step is introducing them with a meet and greet or a trial run. A meet and greet is a supervised introduction to see how they interact. The sitter can confirm if they can handle your pet’s temperament, and your pet can sniff them to get more comfortable before it’s just the two of them. You could also do a paid trial run, like a drop-in visit, to identify any red flags before you leave them alone for a more extended period.
Red and Green Flags to Look Out For
Red Flags
- They don’t ask about your pet’s preferences, needs, or routines
- They don’t have reviews or repeat clients
- They take more than 12 hours to respond
- Their description online is too vague
- Your dog or cat is acting strange or distressed after being with them
- If you smell or see any accidents inside, it could be a sign that they weren’t let out in time, which means the sitter wasn’t attentive
- The water bowl is empty: attentive sitters would notice and refill the water bowl
- Your cat relieved itself outside the litterbox, which could mean that their litterbox wasn’t clean enough for them to use
- If there’s damage, your pet may have lacked stimulation or the sitter wasn’t paying attention
Green Flags
- They respond in a reasonable time frame (before 12 hours)
- They ask to do a meet and greet before pet-sitting
- They ask questions about your pet’s preferences, needs, and routines
- They interact with your pet during the meet-and-greet
- They send you updates
- Your pet is happy to see them
- They’re punctual
It’s essential to trust your instincts. You might not like everyone you meet, and that’s okay. Your furry companion’s safety and your peace of mind are top priorities. But if you follow this guide closely, you’ll find someone who loves your dog or cat as much as you do.
For more information about enhanced Pet Protection Services, contact a 24Petwatch Lost Pet Recovery Specialist today at 1-866-597-2424.