Pet feeding visits: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What pet feeding visits is

A visitor stops by to feed your pets, refill water, change litter and check on the animals while you are out for a day or a few hours. The visit follows your written plan, so your pets keep their routine without you there.

Signs you need it

  • You are out for a long day and your pets need their meals at set times
  • You have a pet that needs fresh water and a clean space during the day
  • You are away for a short trip and want a visitor instead of a sitter who stays overnight
  • You have a pet that eats on a special schedule or needs a specific diet
  • You want someone to check on your pets and the home at each visit

What the pro does

  • Meets you and your pets to learn the feeding, water and litter routine
  • Writes down the food amounts, the times and any special steps with you
  • Feeds, refills water and checks each pet's bowl and space during the visit
  • Changes or scoops the litter, or cleans the cage or tank as the plan says
  • Looks for changes in eating, drinking, movement or behavior and notes them
  • Sends you an update after each visit and tells you right away about a problem

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • The number of visits per day and how long each visit takes
  • The number and type of pets, and how much care each one needs
  • Whether litter, cage or tank cleaning is included
  • Whether medication or special feeding is part of the visit
  • Whether plant watering, mail pickup or light house checks are included
  • How far the visitor travels to reach your home

What a written quote should spell out

  • The dates, the visit times and the number of visits per day
  • The pets covered and the feeding, water and litter steps for each
  • Whether medication, cleaning and updates are included
  • Whether extras such as plant care or mail pickup are included
  • The cancellation terms and any travel fee

Questions to ask before you hire

  • Will you follow my feeding plan exactly, including the amounts and the times?
  • How will you check my pets during the visit, and what will you record?
  • What is your plan if a pet refuses food or looks unwell?
  • How do you get into the home, and how do you keep it secure?
  • Are you insured, and do you have pet first aid training?
  • How will you send me updates, and how soon after the visit?
  • Do you give medication, and how do you record each dose?

Red flags

  • Skips visits or shortens them without telling you
  • Does not ask about the food amounts, the water routine or the litter needs
  • Does not record what it saw during the visit
  • Leaves doors or gates open or unlocked after the visit
  • Has no plan for a pet that refuses food or seems unwell

What you can do yourself

You can prepare for visits by writing the feeding amounts, the times, the litter routine and your vet's number, and by leaving food in labeled containers. Set up automatic feeders and water fountains if your pets are comfortable with them, and test them before you leave. Hire a visitor for regular daytime visits, for pets that need medication, or for any trip where you need someone to check on the animals and the home.

Licenses and permits

A license is often not required for pet feeding visits, but rules differ by state and city. Ask for proof of pet first aid training and a current insurance policy, and check local business licensing rules.

Pet feeding visits questions

How do I give the visitor access to my home?

Decide the access plan before you leave, such as a lockbox, a key kept by a neighbor or a door code. Agree on how the key is returned, and tell the visitor how to secure the home.

What if my pet does not eat during a visit?

The visitor should note it, try the steps in your plan, and call you right away. If the pet still does not eat, the visitor should follow your emergency plan and call your veterinarian.

Can a visitor give my pet medicine?

Only if you have written the medication and the times in the plan and labeled it clearly. Ask the visitor how they record each dose.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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