Top Tips for Finding a Pet Sitter for the Holidays

What’s more challenging than shopping for the entire family for Christmas? Choosing a pet sitter to care for your beloved fur kid while you’re jetting off for the holidays! Making sure your dog or cat is well looked after while you’re away during the Christmas period will help put your mind at ease. If your pet enjoys the comfort of their home and routine, then a pet sitter may be the perfect solution.

Read on for tips on how to find a reliable pet sitter for your dog or cat over the holiday period.

Why should you consider a pet sitter?

Hiring a pet sitter means that your dog or cat will be in surroundings they’re familiar with – home sweet home – and will have companionship when you’re away. There are a number of factors that can contribute to separation anxiety in pets including being left alone for the first time, being left alone too often or a change in routine.

You want to avoid putting your pet under more stress than is necessary, right? Enter the good ol’ Aussie pet sitter. A pet sitter who knows how to deal with an unsettled pet (whether they suffer from separation anxiety or not) is vital if your pet is going to pine for you while you’re away.

Home or away – which is better?

The big difference between pet boarding and pet sitting is that the sitter will come to your home to care for your pet. Depending on their other commitments, they’ll do that with whatever frequency you’d like as long as you’re willing to pay for it. You might even find a pet carer who does house sitting too, which could nab you a discounted fee.

Pet sitters are also good holiday care options for cats or dogs who like to be around people but prefer to follow their usual routine. Cat owners, for example, prefer pet sitters because their cats are more comfortable in their home environment. Birds, rabbits, fish, and guinea pigs who can’t access external boarding can also benefit from pet sitting services.

They’re obviously a great idea for cats and dogs who don’t enjoy the cattery or dog kennel experience, too.

While you’re away…

Speaking of enjoyment, are you as crazy about cats as we are and want to know all about what makes your fur kid purr? Find out how long cats live and why sleeping with your cat can be beneficial for your health.

Need more to read while you’re away for your holiday? Get the latest scoop on dog DNA tests – it’s one of our most popular pet-related articles. Or maybe you’re an ugly cat breeds kind of holiday reader.

Finding a good pet sitter: your must-knows

You’ll want to find a reliable pet sitter with a solid reputation and plenty of experience. But how?

You can ask your neighbours and friends for recommendations if you need a cat or dog sitter during the Christmas holidays. It may also be possible to find competent, reliable pet sitters through your local veterinarian.

If you Google how to find a ‘good pet sitter near me’, you’ll likely come across several options for professional pet sitting businesses in your area. In choosing between them, ask for several references. Why several? It’s a broader pool of customers to glean insights from and because what works for someone else may not work for you.

Professional pet sitters should also undergo a Police Background Check (PBC). It’s not a good idea to allow anyone with a criminal record into your home, is it?

Have you heard of Pet Sitters Australia? It’s a fully registered pet sitting business operating for over 12 years. All of their pet sitters have completed their training and induction – which includes a PBC, Animal First Aid Training Course and an Animal Behaviour Basics Training Course. They’re one pet sitting business option, obviously. There are plenty more to explore.

Questions to ask a potential pet sitter

To help you decide if someone will be good pet sitter over Christmas for your dog or cat, meet in person with your pet present. You’ll want to observe how they engage with your pet in addition to how well they answer your questions. A good pet sitter will ask you questions, too. They

Take your time to find the most qualified and well-suited candidate for the position. You’re leaving your precious fur kid in their hands so those hands need to be capable.

To prepare for the interview, here are some questions to ask:

• Can you tell me about your pet sitting experience – length of time, types of pets, how you care for the pets?
• How do you charge – hourly, per visit, other?
• How often will you visit?
• Is pet health and behaviour something you’re knowledgeable about? Tell me about that.
• Please share with me a challenge you’ve faced as a pet sitter and how you handled it.
• During your time caring for my pet, how will you ensure he or she is comfortable, happy, and healthy?

Further factors to consider when choosing a pet sitter

Researching for the best dog or cat pet sitter over the Christmas period could stretch on forever. So many factors can be taken into account. However, these are three key additional requirements you should strongly consider as crucial:

• A business license (if required where you live). Having industry-specific business insurance demonstrates professionalism.
• Pet first aid and CPR. Training like this could be useful during an emergency or unexpected situation. Check out our article on cat and dog CPR for more information.
• References. Contacting previous employers may be a good idea to find out if they were reliable or if there were any issues.

Ensure your pet sitter understands your needs

Ideally, you’d organise a longer visit when you find the right pet sitter so they can become more familiar with your home and pet. Explain where things are, how your pet’s routine works, and any behavioural details they should know. They’ll likely have more questions at this stage too, because they’ll soon be the one responsible for your precious fur kid.

If you’ve decided to leave your dog with a sitter over Christmas, make sure to give them all the necessary information, including what to do in case of an emergency, before you take off. This list should include:

• Your contact number.
• Details about the place(s) you’ll be staying.
• Your vet’s contact number in case of a medical emergency.
• Your furball’s routine, health, medication, food, etc., plus anything you may have forgotten to mention.
• The contact details of a trusted family member or friends in case you can’t be reached.
• Emergency information for plumbing, electrical and maintenance problems.

You might also want to learn more about finding a great puppy training school once the New Year kicks off.

Holiday or not, keep your pets safe

Once you’ve figured out how to find a good pet sitter, you’ll still need to ensure your pet is safeguarded well. What’s another way to help keep your pedigree, purebred or perfectly mixed breed dog or cat safe, whether you’re at home or away?

Pet insurance. PD Insurance can help cushion your financial fall in a medical emergency, giving you added peace of mind.