You should leave detailed instructions and important information when you hire a pet sitter to watch your cat or dog for any period of time so that the sitter knows exactly what to do and how to treat your pet.
Leave your pet sitter with your contact information and the contact information of those you are traveling with, your vet’s contact information, your pet’s microchip number and vaccination documents, instructions for mealtimes, walks, administering medication, and where to find any additional supplies, such as food or litter. The more informed a sitter is about your pet’s personality and normal schedule, the better they can care for your furry friend.
Call (404) 793-6178 to schedule coverage with the Virginia-Highland pet sitters of Critter Sitters.
What Information Do You Need to Leave for Your Pet Sitter?
Leave your pet sitter with any and all information you think they need to give your pet the proper care and attention it needs.
Pet Owner’s Contact Information
Ensure your pet sitter can easily contact you at any time about your furry friend by providing your contact information. You can also give a sitter the name of the hotel or other accommodation where you are staying, as well as the phone numbers of those you are traveling with in case we cannot reach you directly.
Preferred Vet’s Contact Information
Always tell a sitter who your preferred veterinarian is, where their practice is located, and what their contact information is. You can also give us the contact information of an emergency veterinarian in your area who you trust.
Pet’s Information
Before going away on vacation, leave your pet sitter with your cat or dog’s information, such as their vaccination records and microchip number. Give details about your pet’s personality, likes, dislikes, and any unique quirks it might have that our sitters should be prepared for, such as food aggression or frequent accidents.
Mealtime Instructions
Your dog or cat might refuse to eat if its dining routine changes too much and its owner is out of town, so leaving your sitter with detailed meal instructions is important. You can even show the sitter how you prepare a meal before you leave town. Tell your sitter about any daily supplements you add to your pet’s food, where your pet typically prefers to eat, and what time you normally serve meals.
Be as detailed as you need to be with your mealtime instructions, and show sitters where they can find everything they need to make your pet’s breakfast, lunch, and dinner as you normally would if you were home.
Description of Daily Schedule
It’s always helpful when pet owners leave a description of their pets’ daily schedule. Knowing what your pet expects on a day-to-day basis helps Critter Sitters meet its needs and keep it comfortable when you are out of town. Include the usual timing of walks, meals, playtime, and anything else your dog or cat has come to expect during the day, like when it typically goes to sleep for the night.
Favorite Toys
Don’t leave your pet with a sitter without pointing out its favorite toys, which may be the best way for the sitter to bond with your dog, cat, or other pet in your absence.
Favorite Treats
Stock up on your pet’s favorite treats as well, and show your sitter where they can find them in your house. Tell the sitter how often you give your pet treats, if you take training treats on walks, or if there are certain treats that your pet should not have because of an allergy or medical condition.
Where to Find Supplies
Pet owners should always take the time to show pet sitters where they keep their pets’ supplies to replenish food, walking bags, treats, litter, and other items so that sitters don’t have to go searching for supplies themselves.
Medication Instructions
If your pet takes any prescription medication, leave your sitter with precise instructions about dosages, medication names, when to administer medication, and how to administer the medication, such as hiding it in peanut butter or your pet’s food.
Security Alarm Codes
To keep your home secure while you are out of town, leave your sitter with any security alarm codes and keys they need to enter your house and lock up behind them when they leave. We can set alarms and lock doors to maintain optimal home security while you are away.
Off-Limits Areas
Pet owners should be clear with sitters about any off-limits areas, such as bedrooms or entire second or third floors. Not only can we prevent your cat or dog from entering off-limits areas, but our sitters can also stay away from them out of respect for your privacy.
Household Maintenance Expectations
Out-of-town services are included in pet sitting visits, so you can leave instructions for watering plants, bringing mail and packages inside, taking out the trash, turning lights on and off, and other general household maintenance tasks.
What Information Should You Get from Your Pet Sitter?
Don’t hesitate to ask our pet sitters any questions you have about our services, and expect honest answers.
Starting Rates
The initial rate per visit for one dog or cat is $26, and there is an extra $4 for each additional dog and $3 for each additional cat.
Daily Visits
Your pet sitter should also answer all the questions you have about daily visits, such as the frequency and what happens during each visit.
Experience
Pet owners can always ask questions about a sitter’s experience before hiring them to watch their dogs or cats. Pet sitters should provide transparent, straightforward answers and be happy to talk about their previous experience.
Get Pet Sitting Coverage from Critter Sitters Today
Call Critter Sitters today at (404) 793-6178 to get help from our pet sitters.
