What to Look for in a Pet Sitter: A Pet Parent’s Guide

There's no lack of people willing to pet sit these days. People advertise in local Facebook groups, there are app-based platforms, professional pet care companies, and even the neighbor kid down the street offers to watch your pets and mow lawns for spending money. Finding someone willing to pet sit is easy. Finding someone you trust to keep your babies safe, love them, and respect your home in the process takes a little more research.

The basics of pet care may seem pretty simple. Feed them, walk them, scoop the litter box, give them some love. But there’s a lot more to trusting someone with your pets. Will they reliably show up? Can they recognize when something isn’t right? And do they know what to do when something doesn’t go according to plan?

Maybe the neighbor kid is perfect for your easygoing Lab who thinks everyone is his best friend, but you're not quite as comfortable leaving your persnickety senior cat with them. Different pets and different situations call for different levels of experience and care.

Here are a few things to look for when choosing the person you’ll trust with your pets and your home.

Look Beyond "I Love Animals"

Loving animals is important, but there should be more behind the care than that.

Ask about experience, insurance and bonding, training, and continuing education. What does this person actually know about animal care, behavior, and body language? Do they have pet first aid and CPR training? Do they know how to keep your pets and themselves safe?

These aren't just things pet parents should be asking about. Pet Sitters International (PSI) includes insurance, animal-care knowledge, pet first aid and CPR training, safe handling, emergency preparedness, and continuing education in its Global Standards for Professional Pet-Sitting and Dog-Walking Businesses.

That doesn't mean your sitter needs a wall full of certificates. But there is a big difference between loving or owning animals and intentionally learning how to safely care for other people's pets.

Ask About the "What Ifs"

No one expects something to go wrong, but you want your sitter to have a plan if it does.

What happens if your dog won't eat? What if your cat gets sick? What happens if the sitter can't get into your house, severe weather hits, or they have an emergency of their own?

If you're hiring a solo sitter, ask what happens if they're unable to make a visit. If you're hiring a pet care company, ask how backup care works and how the team makes sure everyone has the same instructions.

A good pet sitter doesn't need to have experienced every possible situation. They should, however, have thought about what they'll do when a visit doesn't go exactly according to plan.

Pay Attention During the Meet & Greet

A Meet & Greet should be more than showing someone where you keep the food and handing over a key.

Pay attention to the questions the sitter asks. Do they want to know about medications, routines, hiding spots, fears, triggers, or escape risks? Just as importantly, watch how they interact with your pets.

A good sitter shouldn't expect every animal to immediately want attention from a stranger. Sometimes the best first interaction, especially with a shy or fearful pet, is giving them some space and letting them decide when they're ready to approach.

And don't be alarmed if a sitter brings up a safety concern or tells you they're not comfortable doing something a certain way. Someone who says yes to absolutely everything isn't necessarily the person you want making decisions when you're out of town.

Your Pets Get a Vote, Too

You may really like a sitter, but pay attention to what your pet is telling you, too.

Some pets are never going to greet a new sitter like a long-lost friend. That's okay. What matters is how the sitter responds. Do they recognize when your pet is uncomfortable? Do they slow down and give them space? Are they willing to adjust rather than forcing an interaction?

This is especially important for pets who are anxious, fearful, senior, medically complicated, or have behavioral challenges. The right sitter for your neighbor's dog may not be the right sitter for yours.

Do Some Sleuthing

Reviews and referrals can tell you a lot, but don't stop at the star rating. Read what people actually say.

Are clients repeatedly mentioning reliability, communication, or attention to detail? Are there reviews from people who have trusted the same sitter with their pets for years?

And don't automatically skip the less-than-perfect reviews. Those can tell you just as much. Did the sitter genuinely make a serious mistake? Is there a pattern of similar complaints? Or is the complaint about a policy, a safety boundary, or something the sitter wasn't willing or able to accommodate?

If the sitter responded, read that too. How someone handles criticism can tell you a lot about their professionalism.

A Little Homework Goes a Long Way

Whether you find your sitter through a referral, an online marketplace, social media, or a professional pet care company, ask questions and find out how they operate.

The cheapest sitter isn't automatically a bad sitter, the most expensive isn't automatically the best, and a sitter with a perfect five-star rating isn't automatically the right person for your pet.

There isn't one type of pet sitter that's right for every family. What matters is finding someone whose experience, approach, and level of care make you comfortable with handing over the leash and walking out the door.

Think Buckaroo Buddies might be the right fit for your herd? 

Take a look at what to expect as a new client, including how we get to know you and your pets before their first visit.