Pet sitting: what to know
What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.
What pet sitting is
A pet sitter looks after pets in your home while you travel, feeding them, playing with them and checking on their comfort. Pets can include dogs, cats, small animals and birds, and the care is planned around each animal's needs.
Signs you need it
- You are travelling and want your pets to stay in their own home and routine
- You have several pets that need care at the same time
- You have a pet that is anxious and does better in familiar surroundings
- You want a sitter who will keep your home safe and check on the pets each day
- You have a pet with a medication schedule that needs careful handling
What the pro does
- Meets you and your pets to learn their routines, food, medication and triggers
- Writes a care plan with feeding, watering, play, litter or cage cleaning, and medication times
- Visits on schedule to feed, water, play and check on each pet
- Keeps an eye on the home, such as doors, windows and any hazards for the pets
- Gives medication only as you have written it, and records each dose
- Sends you updates with photos or notes and tells you about any 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Every job is different, so we do not publish prices.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 pets and the species that need care
- The number of visits per day and how long each visit lasts
- Whether the sitter stays overnight or visits only
- Whether medication, special feeding or extra care is part of the plan
- Whether housekeeping, plant care or mail pickup are included
- How far the sitter travels to reach your home
What a written quote should spell out
- The dates, the visit times and whether the sitter stays overnight
- The pets covered and the care for each one
- Whether medication, special feeding 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
- What pets have you cared for, and how do you handle the species I have?
- Will you follow my pets' feeding and medication plan exactly?
- How do you handle an emergency, and which vet will you call?
- How often will you visit, and will you send updates with photos?
- How do you keep my home secure during each visit?
- Are you insured, and do you have pet first aid training?
- What do you do if a pet hides, refuses food or seems unwell?
Red flags
- Will not meet your pets before the first visit
- Does not ask about each pet's species, medication or health history
- Skips visits or shortens them without telling you
- Lets pets outside or near hazards in the home
- Does not have an emergency plan or a vet they will call
What you can do yourself
You can prepare by writing a clear care plan with feeding amounts, medication times, litter routines and your vet's number, and by leaving the food and supplies in labeled containers. Keep a spare key with the sitter. Hire a pet sitter for multi-day trips, for pets with medication schedules, or for any animal that needs visits at set times during the day.
Licenses and permits
A license is often not required for pet sitting, but rules differ by state and city. Ask for proof of pet first aid training, a current insurance policy and a written emergency plan.
Pet sitting questions
How do I give the sitter a key?
Discuss the key plan before you leave, and decide whether the sitter uses a lockbox, a key kept by a neighbor or a code. Agree on how the key is returned at the end.
What should I leave for the sitter?
Leave the written plan, the food, the medication in labeled containers, your vet's contact, the emergency contact and the house instructions. Note any pet that hides or needs special handling.
How will I know my pets are okay?
Ask for updates with photos at each visit. Set the time of the updates in the plan and ask the sitter to call you right away if a problem comes up.
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.
Edit history
- Oct 29, 2026: Drafted by infinibell to our content guidelines.
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