It’s normal to be anxious before leaving your pet at home for a vacation. One of the safest and often most affordable options is to have a trusted pet sitter take care of your pet while you’re gone.

Still, if you’ve never hired a pet sitter before, what do you need to tell them?

Luckily, at Pawfect Pet & House Stting, our professional pet sitters have been doing this for a long time. They know what to ask during a meet and greet, and will ensure that all of your questions are answered before you even pack your bags. 

For even more peace of mind, we put together a list of the 7 things you need to tell your pet sitter so that we can take purrfect care of the pet you love! 

7 Things to Tell Your Pet Sitter Before You Leave

1. How they should enter your home 

All Pawfect Pet & House Sitting appointments require that keys be place in a lockbox so our sitters can safely access your home. Using a lockbox ensures that there is no mishandling of keys and that no keys are lost during the visit. 

Pawfect Pet & House Sitter does not provide lockboxes, and they must be purchased independently. During the meet and greet visit, please show your Pawfect Pet & House Sitter the location of the lockbox, which door(s) the keys unlock, and the code to open the lockbox. 

If there is one door that you’d always like the pet sitter to use, please let your sitter know. During the meet and greet, pet sitters will also be expected to test the keys on the designated doors. 

2. Your pet’s medical history 

Although we record all necessary pet information, like medical history, provide this information directly to your pet sitter. Medical history includes any illnesses, allergies, and current medications. 

If your pet has a history of certain medical conditions, like seizures or bladder infections, explain the signs and symptoms to your pet sitter. The more aware your pet sitter is before a health issue arises, the better able they are to notice it.

If your pet takes medications, detailed instructions on when and how to administer them are necessary. Many medications are time-sensitive, and our pet sitters need to know all aspects of your pet’s schedule. 

3. Emergency information 

All of our pet sitters are CPR certified and will be able to address emergency situations. However, we are not veterinarians. So, please be sure to leave emergency vet contact information inside your member’s portal so we can refer to it if needed. We will record this information before our visit, but it’s a good idea to update your member’s portal and leave this information visible on the counter or refrigerator. That way, our pet sitters can easily & quickly access this information if is an emergency. 

4. Your pet’s behavioral history 

Although we work with pets all of the time, that doesn’t mean that they are all the same. Each animal is an individual and has unique characteristics and behaviors. It is essential to explain to your pet sitter your pet’s behavior history. 

Does your dog get aggressive towards other dogs?

Does your dog or cat get stressed out when you are gone?  

Does your cat hide when someone enters the house?

Do your pets try to escape out of the door when it is opened?

All of these types of behaviors, and more, are the types of things pet sitters need to be aware of, so they can provide proper care while you’re away. 

5. Their mealtime routine 

Beyond potty breaks and lots of love, our pet sitters will be responsible for feeding your dog or cat while you’re gone. Many animals become accustomed to a specific routine, and keeping that routine while their owner is gone can help them manage any anxiety. 

Provide a detailed schedule for each meal that includes what time to feed your pet, how much food to provide, and where that food is located. 

Please also let your pet sitter know if treats are allowed and if your pet has any food allergies. 

6. Your pet’s bedtime routine

Another very important part of your pet’s daily routine is when they go to bed. If you have only scheduled a check-in or a dog walk, then this aspect of the visit may not be necessary to explain. However, if we are house sitting and staying with your pet, our pet sitters can stick to your pet’s usual routine if they’re aware. 

The bedtime routine information should include the time they go to bed, where they like to sleep, and if they usually get a treat or go for a walk before bed. 

7. Location of supplies

The final thing you should tell your pet sitter is where everything is located. We mentioned this throughout some of the other sections, but always provide the location of the following items:

• Keys/lockbox
• Leash/harness
• Poop bags
• Food/treats
• Water
• Medications (if applicable)
• Favorite toys or blankets
• Emergency Contact information

A prepared pet sitter is a Pawfect pet sitter.

By providing all of the information above, you set up our professional Pawfect pet sitters for success. All of our experienced sitters will know what questions to ask, so don’t worry if you forget to add something. Learn more about how to book your Pawfect pet sitter today!