When you have to leave home for more than a day, you need to find a reliable person to care for your dog, cat, or other pets. If friends and family aren’t available, you have two basic choices for professional pet care: send your pet to a boarding facility, or hire an Atlanta pet sitter to come to your home. But how do you know which option is right for your pet?
Many differences between pet sitting and boarding make the former preferable over the latter. Don’t overspend on a kennel or doggy daycare where your pet will be exposed to health risks, separated from their favorite things, and taken out of their normal routine. Instead, pamper your pet and your wallet by hiring an in-home sitter to come straight to your door, as often as you need, at any time you need. Whenever you need coverage, count on Critter Sitters for care you can trust.
Call (404) 793-6178 to schedule pet sitting services from Critter Sitters in Georgia.
What Are the Main Differences Between Pet Sitting and Boarding in Georgia?
On the surface, the difference between pet boarding and pet sitting seems pretty simple: you either bring your pet to a boarder or kennel or hire a sitter to come to your home. Boarders and sitters are nowhere near the same, and there are major differences in safety, cost, and convenience between these two approaches to pet care.
Safety
As a pet parent, you wonder which option is better for your pet’s health and safety: a boarding facility or in-home pet sitting? Where is there a lower risk of illness and injury, and where is your pet more likely to receive prompt veterinary care in case of emergency, at a kennel or at your home? In most situations, your pet is safer staying at home than staying with a boarder, especially if there are other animals present.
Cost
The cost is another major difference between pet sitting and boarding, with pet sitting typically costing less. What if you need to hire a boarder or pet sitter for multiple dogs, or need to book a boarder or pet sitter for multiple cats in Atlanta? What if you need a long-term pet sitter in Atlanta? Can you find a long-term boarding option for the same price, or will it get too expensive too quickly?
Convenience
Pet sitting is also more convenient in terms of time, gas money, and transportation arrangements compared to boarding. It also gives you more flexibility for weekends, late nights, early mornings, the holidays, bad weather, and anything else that keeps you away from home and unable to take your pet on a walk or feed it its meals.
Why is Pet Sitting So Much Safer Than Boarding?
For all pet parents, the most important factor in deciding between pet sitting and boarding is the health and safety of their pets. At a boarding facility, such as a kennel or doggy daycare, your pet could be sharing close quarters with dozens of other animals. This almost automatically creates health risks that aren’t worth taking.
Lower Risk of Illness
Whether it’s a jumping flea that carries bacteria from cage to cage, or a nasty airborne illness like canine distemper, the crowded conditions at a boarding facility increase your pet’s risk of exposure to parasites and/or contagious viruses.
It only takes a single dog (or cat) to spread a serious illness to your furry friend. Other than going for walks, in-home pet sitting eliminates this risk by keeping your pet in their own environment, where there’s no prolonged exposure to animals that might be sick or contagious.
Lower Risk of Injury
The animals at boarding facilities are often stressed and fearful, especially when they first arrive. This increases the risk of aggressive behavior, even in animals that are not normally aggressive. Without intense supervision, cats and dogs can lash out defensively, scratching or biting each other and causing deep wounds in the process.
While it’s deeply unpleasant to think about, there’s also a risk that staff members could hit, neglect, or otherwise abuse the animals under their care. Not only are Critter Sitters’ Atlanta cat sitters and dog sitters screened to ensure that each applicant is dependable, caring, and completely professional, but sitters also undergo training with our detailed handbook for an added level of quality assurance.
One-on-One Attention
Boarding doesn’t ensure the same one-on-one attention and care that pet sitting does. Attention has to be split between many different animals, which increases the risk of injuries, illnesses, and concerning behavioral changes going unnoticed. Our sitters pay close attention to animals’ health and habits during each visit so that we can identify if something is off with your furry friend.
No Routine Disruption
Domesticated animals get set in their routines, and it can be distressing when those routines are disrupted. Hiring an in-house pet sitter lets your pet maintain its normal daily routine and enjoy being in the comfort of its own home, where it feels safe and content.
If your pet is a creature of habit and does not handle changes well, boarding could be a traumatic experience for your dog or cat.
How Much Money Can You Save with Pet Sitting Instead of Boarding?
Doggy daycare and cat boarding services can charge steep prices, especially if the holidays are coming up, if there are any hidden fees for “bonus” services, or if owners’ plans change on short notice.
Comparatively, our pet sitters charge modest rates per session, giving you total control over what you spend. If you only need one pet sitting session, you’ll only be charged for one pet sitting session. Boarding facilities typically charge by the day, giving pet owners far less flexibility.
Kennels range in cost, with some rates starting at $40 per night, and others exceeding $100 per night. Comparatively, our per-visit rate is $26 for the first dog or cat, with only an extra $4 or $3 for each additional dog or cat. If you have multiple pets, boarding them all at a safe, trustworthy kennel can get very expensive very fast.
Why is Pet Sitting More Convenient Than Boarding?
Not only does pet sitting at home do a better job of protecting your pet from harm, but it’s also more convenient and, in many cases, far more affordable than pet boarding, particularly if you have multiple pets or need a long-term sitter for an extended vacation.
Time Savings
Pet sitting can save you lots of time and planning before and after a vacation, because you won’t need to drive anywhere to drop off or pick up your pet. Not only does that take some of the stress off you and your pet, but it also means that you don’t have to worry about getting any fur, urine, feces, vomit, discharge, or hairballs in your vehicle if your pet gets carsick.
Routine Home Maintenance
What’s more, pet sitting services from Critter Sitters come with added benefits for pet parents, like bringing all mail inside and offering a plant watering service for any houseplants.
Last-Minute Coverage
Pet parents who become Critter Sitters “key clients” can get last-minute coverage that boarding kennels cannot provide. Critter Sitters can securely hold a copy of your house keys so your sitter can help with a walk or feeding with very little notice, without meeting beforehand to hand over the keys.
Is Pet Sitting Better Than Boarding for Senior Pets?
Senior pets may need more hands-on attention than healthy adults. Even if you previously boarded your pet at a kennel while on vacation, you may consider hiring a pet sitter instead as your dog or cat ages.
With a caring and experienced sitter, pet nanny services are healthier and safer than boarding your senior pet outside the home. Not only is there a lower risk of injury and contagious disease, but if an emergency does occur, the sitter will immediately contact your veterinarian for instruction. A kennel might not ensure such a speedy response, especially if the facility is busy or understaffed.
Is Pet Sitting Better Than Boarding for Puppies and Kittens?
Puppies and kittens still settling into their new homes and routines can experience major distress and might even regress if they are boarded at kennels for any significant period of time.
Hiring a pet sitter for your young dog or cat is preferable to boarding for many reasons. Small puppies and kittens could be at an even higher risk of injury and illness at kennels because of their size compared to other animals and underdeveloped immune systems.
When you let your pet stay home, our sitters can continue any training efforts you have been focusing on with your puppy or kitten so that its progress continues in your absence.
Is Pet Sitting Better Than Boarding for Medically Complicated Pets?
Regardless of age, dogs and cats can have complicated medical needs that put them at a greater risk of getting injured or sick when boarded with other animals. Make sure your medically complicated pet gets the special attention it needs by hiring our pet sitters instead of taking it to a kennel.
Because our pet sitters are only focused on your pet during visits, we can administer all daily medications properly and at the right times. Kennels might be less consistent with daily medications because there are so many animals to look out for. Reduce the risk of your pet missing its daily medications or receiving the wrong dosages by enlisting our pet sitters in Georgia.
In-Home Pet Sitters Serving the Atlanta, GA Area
To learn more about the pet sitting services we offer in Georgia, or to start scheduling an appointment, call Critter Sitters today at (404) 793-6178.
