Leaving a pet with someone else is a question of trust. You are handing over your keys, your animal’s routine and, if something goes wrong, decisions about its health. Knowing how to choose a pet sitter comes down to three things: picking the right type of care for your animal, meeting the person before you book, and putting everything important in writing.
This guide is for pet owners in the United States and the United Kingdom. It covers home visits, overnight stays and boarding, the meet and greet, the questions to ask a pet or dog sitter, what to leave in writing, what sets the cost and how to agree the terms. Where the rules differ between the two countries, there are separate notes.
How to choose a pet sitter: start with the type of care
Before you compare people, decide what kind of care your pet needs. The main options are:
- Home visits: the sitter comes to your home once or several times a day to feed, clean, give medication and spend time with the animal. For many cats, staying in familiar surroundings is the least stressful choice.
- Overnight stays in your home: the sitter sleeps at your place. Good for dogs that dislike being alone at night, for several pets, or when you also want the house looked after.
- Boarding in the sitter’s home: your dog lives with the sitter for the trip. It can feel more like home than a kennel, but your dog has to settle in a new place, often with the sitter’s own animals.
- Commercial kennels and catteries: staffed premises with set routines. Some pets settle well, others find the noise and change hard.
- Dog walking: a walker takes your dog out while you work. It can be combined with home visits.
Think about your animal honestly. An anxious cat, an elderly dog, a pet on daily medication or a dog that does not get on with other dogs will narrow the choice quickly. The right option for a neighbour’s dog may be the wrong one for yours.
The meet and greet comes first
Never book a sitter you have not met. A meet and greet at your home, before any dates are confirmed, lets you see how the sitter handles your pet and how your pet reacts to them. Watch whether they let the animal approach in its own time, whether they ask about its habits, and whether they seem comfortable with its size and energy.
Use the visit to walk through the routine: where the food and medication are kept, how the lead or carrier works, which doors must stay shut, where the cat hides. For a long trip, a short trial first, such as one day of visits or a single night, will show problems while you are still nearby.
How to choose a pet sitter: the questions to ask
A good sitter will expect questions and answer them clearly. Ask:
- How long have you cared for animals like mine, and can I speak to people you have sat for?
- How many animals do you look after at the same time, and from how many households?
- Can you give tablets, liquids or injections, and have you done it before?
- What would you do if my pet became ill, was injured or got out?
- How long will each visit last, and what will you do during it?
- Will anyone else ever come into my home or care for my pet in your place?
- Do you have liability insurance, and what does it cover?
- How and how often will you send updates?
US: many sitters describe themselves as bonded and insured. Ask what that means in their case: what the insurance covers, whether it includes injury to the pet, damage to your home and loss of keys, and ask to see the document. Some sitters belong to professional associations; membership can be a useful sign, but it does not replace your own checks.
UK: in England, someone who takes other people’s dogs into their own home for commercial home boarding or day care needs a licence from the local council under the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018. Ask to see it, and check that it covers the activity they offer. A sitter who only visits or stays in your home does not need that licence. The rules are different in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, so check with your council.
Before you leave: put the care instructions in writing, give the sitter your vet’s details and written permission to take your pet to the vet, and agree how any vet costs will be paid. Leave an emergency contact who can make decisions if you cannot be reached.
Posting a job on Hirovo is free. Say what animal you have, the dates, whether you want home visits, overnight stays or boarding, and any medication or special care. Sitters nearby can apply or message you in the app. You meet them and decide.
Post a free job →Pet sitter cost: what sets the price
A figure you find online cannot price your pet’s care. Two bookings for the same dates can look very different. These are the items that move the number:
| Item | Why it matters | What raises the price |
|---|---|---|
| Visits and their length | Each visit takes travel and time. | Several visits a day, longer visits. |
| Overnight stays | The sitter spends the night with your pet. | Every night of the trip, early or late handovers. |
| Number of pets | More animals mean more feeding, cleaning and attention. | Several pets, different species with different routines. |
| Medication and special care | Needs skill and exact timing. | Injections, frequent doses, elderly or recovering animals. |
| Walking and exercise | High-energy dogs need more time outside. | Long or several walks a day, dogs that must be walked alone. |
| Distance | The sitter travels to you for every visit. | Long journeys, homes outside the sitter’s usual area. |
| Dates | Holidays and school breaks are busy for sitters. | Public holidays, peak travel periods, last-minute bookings. |
The fairest way to compare is to send every sitter the same details: the animal, its age and any health issues, the dates, the type of care and the number of visits. Then ask two or three of them for a written quote and compare what each one includes, not just the total.
Write it down: care notes, keys and the agreement
Good written instructions protect your pet and the sitter. Leave:
- Feeding: what, how much and when, plus treats that are allowed and foods that are not.
- Medication: name, dose, times and how to give it.
- Your vet’s name, address and phone number, and written permission to take your pet there.
- How vet bills will be paid if something happens while you are away.
- An emergency contact who can collect the pet or make decisions.
- The vaccination record and any insurance details for your pet.
- Behaviour notes: fears, hiding places, how the pet reacts to visitors, other dogs or traffic.
- Enough food and supplies for a few days beyond your planned return.
Keys and home security matter too. Agree who will hold the key, that nobody else will enter, how to set and unset any alarm, and how the key will be returned. If the sitter is staying in your home, agree what they may use and whether guests are allowed.
Agree how you will hear from them. A short message and a photo after each visit is a reasonable request and gives you peace of mind. Finally, put the terms in writing by message or email: dates, type of care, number and length of visits, the price, when payment is due, and what happens if your plans change or you come back late.
Using a free Hirovo job post
Posting a job on Hirovo is free. Describe your pet, the dates and the care you need, choose your area, and sitters nearby can apply or message you. Hirovo is a global platform and the number of pet sitters registered in the US and UK is still small, so replies may take time or may not come at all; use it alongside other ways of finding local care. Hirovo does not verify identity, insurance, licences or reviews, and it is not an employer, agent or party to the arrangement, so meet anyone who responds and run the checks above.
In short
Choosing a pet sitter starts with your animal: decide whether home visits, overnight stays, boarding or a kennel suits it best. Meet the sitter at home before booking, and try a short trial before a long trip. Ask about experience, references, how many animals they care for, medication and emergencies. In the US, ask what “bonded and insured” covers; in England, ask a home boarder or day care provider for their council licence, and check the rules with your council elsewhere in the UK. Leave written care notes, vet details and permission, agree how vet costs are paid, and compare two or three written quotes for the same care.