Pet food, walking equipment and written instructions prepared for a pet sitter

Pet Sitter Preparation Checklist: What to Leave Before You Go

Updated August 2026

Preparing for a pet sitter involves more than leaving enough food and handing over a key.

Your sitter needs to understand:

  • Your pet’s normal routine
  • What is unusual for them
  • How to enter and secure your home
  • Who to contact during an emergency
  • What medication has been prescribed
  • How feeding, walks and toileting normally work
  • What should happen if your return is delayed

Clear preparation reduces uncertainty and helps your pet remain as close as possible to their familiar routine.

This checklist is designed for:

  • Overnight house sitting
  • Cat-sitting visits
  • Dog pop-in visits
  • Evening pet sitting
  • Puppy visits
  • Rabbit and small-animal care
  • Multi-pet households

You may not need every section.

Use the parts that apply to your home and animals, and discuss anything unusual during the meet-and-greet.

For a complete explanation of how I work, read my Finchley Dog Walker Welcome Pack.

Quick pet sitter checklist

Before leaving, make sure your sitter has:

  • Tested keys or confirmed key-safe access
  • Alarm and lock instructions
  • Your contact details
  • A second emergency contact
  • Your normal veterinary practice details
  • Emergency veterinary details
  • Written feeding instructions
  • Enough food, litter and essential supplies
  • Clearly labelled medication
  • Your pet’s normal routine
  • Behaviour and handling information
  • Walking equipment
  • Details of cameras and recording devices
  • Information about expected visitors
  • Heating, hot-water and basic household instructions
  • Your travel and return details
  • A plan for delays or cancelled transport

Do not rely solely on explaining everything verbally.

Go through the routine together and leave the important information in writing.

Arrange a meet-and-greet

A meet-and-greet allows your sitter to:

  • Meet your pet
  • See where food and equipment are kept
  • Learn the normal routine
  • Test home access
  • Discuss behaviour
  • Understand medication
  • Review emergency arrangements
  • Ask questions
  • Decide whether the booking is suitable

Your pet does not need to greet the sitter enthusiastically.

A nervous dog may need space.

A shy cat may remain hidden.

A rabbit may prefer to observe from their enclosure.

The purpose is not to force a quick friendship. It is to begin building familiarity while making sure the necessary care can be provided safely.

Some rescue, nervous or reactive pets may benefit from more than one introductory visit.

Leave your contact details

Provide:

  • Your full name
  • Mobile telephone number
  • WhatsApp number where different
  • Email address
  • Where you will be staying
  • Travel dates
  • Expected departure time
  • Expected return time
  • Flight or transport details where useful
  • The best way to reach you
  • Any periods when you may be unavailable

When travelling abroad, confirm:

  • Whether your normal number will work
  • The time difference
  • Whether WhatsApp is reliable
  • Whether someone else can make urgent decisions
  • How veterinary costs will be paid

Do not assume your sitter will know that you are on a flight, in a meeting or somewhere without reception.

Nominate a local emergency contact

Your emergency contact should ideally:

  • Not be travelling with you
  • Know your pet
  • Be available during the booking
  • Be able to reach your home
  • Have access to a spare key where appropriate
  • Understand that the sitter may contact them
  • Be able to help if your return is delayed

Ask the person before providing their details.

Leave:

  • Their full name
  • Relationship to you
  • Telephone number
  • Address or approximate location
  • Whether they hold a spare key
  • What decisions they may make
  • When they should be contacted

Your emergency contact should not simply be another person who is away with you.

Veterinary information

Leave the details of:

  • Your normal veterinary practice
  • Your preferred emergency veterinary provider
  • Your pet insurance company
  • Your policy number where appropriate
  • Any current medical conditions
  • Relevant previous illnesses
  • Allergies or known reactions
  • Current medication
  • Your preferred approach to emergency communication

Discuss what should happen when your normal practice is closed.

Your sitter should know:

  • Whether they have permission to contact a vet
  • Whether they can transport your pet
  • How treatment will be authorised
  • How veterinary costs will be paid
  • Whether an insurance excess applies
  • Who makes decisions when you cannot be reached

Do not expect a sitter to delay urgent veterinary attention while repeatedly trying to contact an unavailable owner.

Your written arrangements should make clear what they are authorised to do.

Veterinary payment arrangements

Practices may require payment when treatment is provided.

Before travelling, decide how an unexpected bill would be handled.

Possible arrangements include:

  • Leaving payment details securely with the practice
  • Confirming whether the practice can invoice you
  • Giving your emergency contact authority to pay
  • Providing access to an agreed emergency fund
  • Arranging direct contact between you and the practice
  • Confirming what your insurance provider requires

Do not expect your pet sitter to fund a large veterinary bill personally.

Any payment arrangement should be agreed before the booking begins.

Write down your pet’s normal routine.

What feels obvious to you may not be obvious to someone entering your home for the first time.

Write down:

  • Usual waking time
  • Feeding times
  • Toilet routine
  • Walk times
  • Normal walk length
  • Rest periods
  • Bedtime
  • Where your pet sleeps
  • When doors or cat flaps are opened
  • Normal play or enrichment
  • Medication times
  • Anything that helps your pet settle

Include useful details such as:

  • Your dog normally refuses breakfast until after their walk
  • Your cat expects the kitchen door to remain open
  • Your rabbit normally eats hay throughout the day
  • Your dog will not toilet when rushed
  • Your senior pet needs extra time to stand
  • Your puppy becomes frantic when overtired

Small details help a sitter recognise what is normal and what may be a change.

Feeding instructions

Leave written instructions covering:

  • Food brand and variety
  • Portion size
  • Feeding times
  • Where food is stored
  • How it is measured
  • Whether food needs refrigerating
  • Whether it should be warmed
  • Treat allowance
  • Supplements
  • Foods that must be avoided
  • Food allergies
  • What to do when a meal is refused
  • Whether pets must be separated for feeding

Leave enough food for:

  • The complete booking
  • An unexpected travel delay
  • Spillage
  • A damaged container
  • A changed return time

Where practical, divide food into clearly labelled portions.

Do not introduce a new food immediately before travelling.

A sudden dietary change can make it harder to establish whether digestive problems are caused by stress, food or illness.

Food storage and preparation

Show your sitter:

  • Which fridge or cupboard contains pet food
  • How opened food is stored
  • Where bowls are kept
  • Which pet uses each bowl
  • Where measuring equipment is kept
  • Whether food must be defrosted
  • How feeding equipment is cleaned
  • Where waste packaging should be placed

Clearly label food where several animals have different diets.

For example:

  • Molly: morning food
  • Alfie: evening renal diet
  • Rabbit greens: Tuesday
  • Training treats: maximum amount per day

Do not rely on bags or containers being recognisable to someone else.

Drinking water

Explain:

  • Where water bowls are kept
  • How often they are refreshed
  • Whether your pet uses several bowls
  • Whether a water fountain is used
  • How the fountain is refilled
  • Whether filters need changing
  • Whether a prescribed additive is used
  • Whether outdoor water should be removed overnight

Leave a spare bowl where possible.

Tell your sitter when increased or reduced drinking would be unusual for your pet.

Medication instructions

Medication must be discussed before the booking is accepted.

Leave:

  • The medication name
  • The prescribed dose
  • Administration time
  • How it is normally given
  • Original packaging where possible
  • The prescribing practice
  • Storage instructions
  • Known side effects
  • What to do when a dose is refused
  • What to do when your pet vomits afterwards
  • Whether doses can be given within a time window
  • Enough medication to cover a delay

Do not leave vague instructions such as:

  • Give this when they seem uncomfortable
  • Use this if they have an upset stomach
  • Give an extra tablet when needed
  • Use whichever medicine worked last time

A sitter should not be asked to diagnose a new symptom or independently decide whether medication is required.

I do not:

  • Alter prescribed doses
  • Start an unprescribed medicine
  • Repeat a dose automatically when absorption is uncertain
  • Give another animal’s medication
  • Use restraint I consider unsafe
  • Carry out procedures outside my experience
  • Diagnose illness

More complex medication or medical care may require a veterinary professional or another suitably experienced carer.

Keep medication clearly separated

Where several pets receive medication:

  • Label each medication
  • Store it in separate containers
  • Include the pet’s name
  • Use a written administration chart
  • Record when each dose is given
  • Explain any food restrictions
  • Keep medicines away from ordinary treats

Do not mix several unlabelled tablets in one container.

Human medicines should also be stored securely and away from pets.

Dog walking equipment

Leave the equipment your dog already knows and uses.

This may include:

  • A well-fitting harness
  • Flat collar
  • Fixed-length lead
  • Double-ended lead
  • Long line where agreed
  • Identification tag
  • Waste bags
  • Suitable rewards
  • Coat
  • Towel
  • Muzzle where positively introduced and normally used

Check before leaving that:

  • Clips work
  • Leads are not frayed
  • Harness straps are secure
  • Identification information is current
  • The collar fits properly
  • Coats and other equipment still fit

Do not buy unfamiliar equipment immediately before the booking and expect the sitter to introduce it.

I do not use:

  • Retractable leads
  • Prong collars
  • Choke or check chains
  • Electric collars
  • Other aversive walking equipment

Read about my Solo Dog Walking service.

Dog walking instructions

Explain:

  • Normal routes
  • Areas to avoid
  • Whether your dog can be walked after dark
  • How they respond to other dogs
  • Whether they chase wildlife
  • Whether they scavenge
  • Whether they guard objects
  • How they respond to cyclists or runners
  • Whether they react to vehicles
  • Any mobility restrictions
  • Recall reliability
  • Whether off-lead exercise is permitted
  • What rewards are normally used
  • How weather affects them

Be honest about behaviour.

Do not describe a dog as “friendly but sometimes funny” when they have previously lunged, snapped, guarded the door or redirected onto a handler.

Accurate information helps everyone remain safe.

Dogs who are nervous, reactive or rescued

Tell your sitter:

  • What causes concern
  • What distance your dog normally needs
  • Their early signs of stress
  • Whether they accept visitors entering
  • Whether they guard food, beds or doorways
  • How they respond to touch
  • Whether they are frightened by men, hats, umbrellas or uniforms
  • What helps them recover
  • Which situations should be avoided
  • Whether more than one introduction is needed

A nervous dog should not be forced to interact because the owner is leaving.

Your sitter may need to:

  • Enter quietly
  • Avoid direct eye contact
  • Allow the dog to approach
  • Use a familiar routine
  • Avoid certain rooms
  • Prepare food without touching the dog
  • Start with short visits

Read about my Rescue Dog Support in Finchley.

Puppy information

For a puppy, include:

  • Feeding schedule
  • Toilet routine
  • Where accidents are cleaned
  • Nap routine
  • Safe confinement arrangements
  • Items they are likely to chew
  • Current vaccination advice
  • Whether outdoor walks are appropriate
  • Harness and lead routine
  • How long they can comfortably be left
  • Normal signs of tiredness
  • What helps them settle

Leave enough:

  • Puppy food
  • Cleaning supplies
  • Waste bags
  • Puppy pads where used
  • Safe enrichment items
  • Bedding

Do not expect a sitter to continue a complicated new training programme that has not been discussed.

Puppy visits are supportive care rather than a substitute for owner involvement or professional training.

Read my Bringing a Puppy Home Guide.

Cat-care instructions

For cats, explain:

  • Feeding routine
  • Litter tray routine
  • Normal hiding places
  • Whether they usually greet visitors
  • Indoor or outdoor access
  • Cat-flap settings
  • When they must remain indoors
  • Grooming needs
  • Play preferences
  • Medication
  • Whether they live with other cats
  • How each cat normally behaves
  • Whether food must be separated
  • Whether the cat has previously gone missing

Leave:

  • Enough food
  • Sufficient litter
  • Waste bags
  • Litter scoops
  • Cleaning supplies
  • Favourite toys
  • Carrier
  • Medication
  • Spare bowls where possible

Do not force a shy cat to emerge for a photograph.

A sitter may confirm that the cat is present by:

  • Seeing them in a hiding place
  • Checking food
  • Monitoring litter use
  • Using an agreed camera
  • Observing changes around the home

Discuss how long it is reasonable for your cat to remain unseen before further action is required.

Read about Cat Sitting in Finchley.

Cat flaps and outdoor access

Confirm:

  • Whether the cat flap remains open
  • Whether it is microchip controlled
  • How it is locked
  • Whether a curfew applies
  • What happens when the cat fails to return
  • Which windows may be opened
  • Whether neighbouring cats enter
  • Whether food should be left outside

Outdoor access involves risks that a sitter cannot completely control.

Your instructions should be realistic and should not require someone to guarantee that an outdoor cat will return at an exact time.

Rabbit and guinea-pig instructions

For rabbits and guinea pigs, leave details of:

  • Hay
  • Pellets
  • Fresh food
  • Water
  • Normal eating
  • Toileting
  • Bedding
  • Enclosure cleaning
  • Indoor or outdoor access
  • Temperature management
  • Exercise space
  • Pair or group relationships
  • Safe handling
  • Medication
  • Carrier location
  • Exotic veterinary practice where relevant

Explain what normal droppings, appetite and activity look like for your animals.

Small animals may become unwell quickly, so reduced eating or toileting should never be treated as a minor inconvenience.

Leave clear instructions about when veterinary advice should be obtained.

Read about my Small Animal Care in Finchley.

Other small pets

For hamsters, gerbils, degus, birds, tortoises or other suitable animals, explain:

  • Species-specific diet
  • Feeding quantities
  • Water
  • Light and heating
  • Enclosure security
  • Cleaning
  • Handling
  • Escape risks
  • Normal behaviour
  • Warning signs
  • Veterinary arrangements

Confirm that the sitter is comfortable and experienced with the species before booking.

I do not provide care for snakes.

Keys and home access

Provide access early enough to test it.

Check that:

  • The key opens the correct door
  • It works from outside
  • The lock does not stick
  • The sitter understands every lock
  • Side gates are explained
  • Communal entrances are accessible
  • Entry fobs work
  • Key-safe codes are correct
  • The alarm code has been tested
  • A spare access plan exists

Do not leave an untested key immediately before travelling.

Where keys are handed over, label them in a way that identifies the booking without displaying your complete address.

Agree:

  • When keys are collected
  • Where they are stored
  • When they are returned
  • Whether the sitter retains a key for future bookings
  • What happens when a key is lost or damaged

Key safes

When using a key safe:

  • Test it before leaving
  • Check the code
  • Make sure the mechanism moves freely
  • Confirm the key fits inside
  • Protect it from weather where possible
  • Make sure the sitter can reach it
  • Explain whether the code must be scrambled afterwards

Have a backup plan.

A damaged or jammed key safe should not leave your animals without care.

Alarm instructions

Leave simple written instructions covering:

  • Alarm code
  • Entry delay
  • Exit procedure
  • Which doors trigger the alarm
  • Whether pets activate sensors
  • What to do after an accidental activation
  • Alarm company contact details
  • Passwords or security questions where needed
  • Which neighbour or contact may assist

Do not assume every alarm system behaves in the same way.

Test the process during the meet-and-greet.

Cameras and recording equipment

Disclose all active recording equipment before care begins.

This includes:

  • Video doorbells
  • Outdoor security cameras
  • Indoor pet cameras
  • Baby monitors
  • Smart displays
  • Audio-recording devices
  • Devices that can be activated remotely

Explain:

  • Where cameras are located
  • Whether sound is recorded
  • Who can access the footage
  • Whether cameras remain active overnight
  • Whether any device can move or track people
  • Whether temporary visitors can access footage

Cameras must not be placed in private areas used by an overnight sitter.

Secret recording damages trust and may cause a booking to end.

Read my Policies and Professional Standards.

Expected visitors

Tell your sitter about anyone who may enter the property, including:

  • Cleaners
  • Gardeners
  • Family members
  • Neighbours
  • Contractors
  • Delivery services
  • Other pet carers
  • Dog walkers
  • Landlords or managing agents

Include:

  • Their name
  • Expected date and time
  • Whether they have a key
  • Which areas they may enter
  • Whether they know a sitter will be present

Unexpected entry can frighten pets and create genuine security concerns.

Do not arrange another person to enter without informing the sitter.

Heating and hot water

Explain:

  • How the heating works
  • Normal settings
  • Thermostat location
  • Boiler controls
  • Hot-water system
  • Where the fuse box is
  • What to do when heating fails
  • Who manages repairs
  • Whether any room should remain closed

Do not expect a sitter to diagnose or repair a boiler.

Leave the contact details of:

  • Your landlord where relevant
  • Managing agent
  • Trusted plumber
  • Home emergency provider
  • Another authorised contact

Pets should have a suitable, dry and comfortable environment throughout the booking.

Hot-weather arrangements

During warmer weather, explain:

  • Which rooms remain coolest
  • Whether curtains should be closed
  • Whether fans or air conditioning may be used
  • Which windows can be opened securely
  • Whether your pet uses cooling equipment
  • Where extra water bowls are kept
  • Whether walks should be shortened or replaced
  • What your pet normally does during heat

My Extreme Weather Policy explains how walks and care may be adapted when conditions are unsafe.

Home safety

Before leaving:

  • Secure cleaning products
  • Put medication away
  • Remove accessible food
  • Empty unsafe rubbish
  • Secure garden chemicals
  • Check fences and gates
  • Remove damaged toys
  • Close unsafe windows
  • Protect trailing cables
  • Move items your pet may chew
  • Secure balconies
  • Check fire and carbon-monoxide alarms
  • Remove toxic plants where necessary
  • Make sure internal doors cannot trap your pet

Tell the sitter about:

  • Doors that close unexpectedly
  • Faulty locks
  • Windows that do not secure
  • Escape routes
  • Areas pets must not enter
  • Appliances that should remain unplugged
  • Any known household hazard

Do not leave a known problem without explaining it.

Cleaning supplies

Show your sitter where to find:

  • Kitchen roll
  • Pet-safe cleaning products
  • Waste bags
  • Mop and bucket
  • Dustpan and brush
  • Vacuum cleaner
  • Spare bedding
  • Towels
  • Laundry supplies
  • Litter equipment
  • Bin liners

Explain where soiled bedding or towels should be placed.

Do not expect a pet sitter to provide a full domestic cleaning service.

Reasonable cleaning connected with routine pet care may be included, but extensive household cleaning should be discussed separately.

Bins and waste

Explain:

  • Bin collection days
  • Which bins are used
  • Where bins are stored
  • Whether food waste is collected
  • Where pet waste should go
  • Whether gates need opening
  • Whether bins must be returned

Leave enough:

  • Bin liners
  • Waste bags
  • Litter bags
  • Puppy pads
  • Suitable cleaning supplies

A short bin task may be included where agreed, but complicated waste arrangements should not reduce the time available for your pet.

Post, deliveries and parcels

Tell your sitter:

  • Where post should be placed
  • Whether expected parcels may be accepted
  • Whether any delivery needs refrigeration
  • Whether a parcel contains pet food or medication
  • Whether a neighbour may collect something
  • Whether deliveries should be declined

A sitter cannot guarantee that every delivery will arrive while they are present.

Avoid ordering expensive or time-sensitive items without discussing them.

Plants

A few simple plant-watering tasks may be agreed.

Leave:

  • Clear instructions
  • A suitable watering container
  • Information about which plants should not be watered
  • Safe access
  • Pots with suitable drainage and saucers
  • Any restrictions involving pets

Pet care remains the priority.

I cannot guarantee plant survival or provide specialist garden maintenance.

Large gardens, complicated watering systems and substantial plant collections should be handled separately.

Wi-Fi and household information

For overnight or longer evening sitting, leave:

  • Wi-Fi network
  • Password
  • Television instructions where relevant
  • Heating instructions
  • Cooker instructions where use is permitted
  • Shower instructions
  • Parking information
  • Bin arrangements
  • Areas that are private or out of bounds

Make space for the sitter to:

  • Store food
  • Charge a phone
  • Use a clean bathroom
  • Sleep comfortably
  • Sit with your pets
  • Follow the agreed routine

Your home does not need to be perfect, but it should be safe, reasonably clean and suitable for someone to stay in.

Sleeping arrangements for house sitting

Confirm:

  • Which room the sitter will use
  • Whether bedding is provided
  • Where clean towels are kept
  • Whether pets normally sleep in the room
  • Whether pets sleep on furniture
  • Whether doors should remain open
  • Whether a dog needs a late toilet break
  • What normally happens during the night

Do not assume a sitter will share a bed with your pet.

Sleeping arrangements must be discussed in advance.

Read about my House Sitting and In-Home Pet Care service.

Your departure

On the day you leave:

  • Exercise your dog appropriately
  • Allow time for toileting
  • Follow the normal feeding routine
  • Avoid a dramatic goodbye
  • Put supplies in their agreed places
  • Confirm access
  • Send any final travel update
  • Check that medication is available
  • Remove rubbish likely to attract pets
  • Secure windows, gates and doors
  • Leave calmly

Do not introduce a new bed, diet, pet camera, walking device or medication routine at the last moment unless necessary.

Familiarity usually helps pets settle.

Your return

Tell your sitter:

  • Expected return date
  • Approximate return time
  • Whether they should remain until you arrive
  • Whether the final visit is still required
  • Where keys should be left
  • What should happen when you are delayed

Contact the sitter when:

  • A flight is cancelled
  • Your train is delayed
  • Your return date changes
  • Someone else will arrive first
  • An additional visit is needed
  • Overnight care may need extending

Do not assume that the sitter can automatically remain longer.

They may have another confirmed booking.

Leave extra essential supplies

Leave enough food, litter and medication to cover a reasonable delay.

A useful buffer may include:

  • Additional meals
  • Extra litter
  • Spare waste bags
  • Additional hay
  • Extra bedding
  • A few additional medication doses where supplied by your vet
  • Backup cleaning supplies

Do not leave an excessive quantity of medication loose or unlabelled.

What your sitter does not need

Avoid leaving:

  • Complicated handwritten notes scattered around the house
  • Unlabelled medicines
  • Expired food
  • Damaged walking equipment
  • Unsafe homemade toys
  • Several conflicting versions of the routine
  • Instructions from different family members that contradict each other
  • Unannounced visitors
  • Hidden cameras
  • An untested key
  • A pet requiring care outside the sitter’s experience

One clear care document is more useful than several incomplete notes.

Final check before leaving

Pet care

  • Food is available and labelled
  • Water arrangements are clear
  • Medication is labelled
  • Bedding is clean
  • Walking equipment is ready
  • Litter and waste supplies are available
  • Carriers are accessible
  • Enclosures are secure
  • Routines are written down

Contacts

  • Owner’s details are current
  • Emergency contact has agreed
  • Vet details are correct
  • Emergency vet is identified
  • Insurance details are available
  • Payment arrangements are clear

Home access

  • Keys have been tested
  • Key-safe code works
  • Alarm instructions are clear
  • Gates and locks have been explained
  • Backup access is arranged

Household

  • Cameras have been disclosed
  • Visitors have been listed
  • Heating instructions are available
  • Bins have been explained
  • Cleaning supplies are accessible
  • Plants have clear instructions
  • Unsafe items have been secured

Travel

  • Departure is confirmed
  • Return time is confirmed
  • Delay plan is in place
  • Sufficient supplies have been left

Frequently asked questions

What information should I leave for a pet sitter?

Leave your pet’s routine, feeding instructions, medication, behaviour information, veterinary details, emergency contacts, home-access instructions and travel plans in writing.

Should I leave written instructions when I have explained everything in person?

Yes.

Discussing the routine in person is useful, but written instructions reduce the risk of important details being forgotten.

How much food should I leave?

Leave enough for the booking and a reasonable travel delay.

Clearly label portions where practical.

Should I leave money for veterinary treatment?

Agree a realistic veterinary payment arrangement before travelling.

Do not assume the sitter can personally pay a large veterinary bill.

Can a pet sitter decide when to give medication?

A sitter should follow clear, agreed instructions for prescribed medication.

They should not be expected to diagnose symptoms, alter doses or decide independently when an unprescribed medicine is required.

Should I leave a spare key?

A workable backup-access plan is sensible.

This could involve a spare key, a reliable key safe, or a trusted emergency contact.

Do I have to disclose indoor cameras?

Yes.

All active cameras and recording devices should be disclosed before care begins.

Recording equipment must not be used in private areas provided to an overnight sitter.

What should I do when my pet is nervous around visitors?

Arrange calm introductions before travelling.

Do not force interaction, and provide honest information about barking, hiding, guarding, handling and previous behaviour.

Should I leave my cat indoors?

That depends on your cat’s normal routine and the arrangement you accept.

Discuss cat-flap use, curfews and what should happen when an outdoor cat does not return.

What should I leave for a rabbit sitter?

Leave hay, food, water instructions, fresh-food guidance, bedding, cleaning supplies, enclosure information, emergency veterinary details and a clear description of normal eating and toileting.

Can I ask the sitter to water plants and put out bins?

A few simple household tasks may be agreed where they do not reduce the care provided to your pet.

Substantial cleaning, gardening or property-management work should be arranged separately.

What happens when my journey home is delayed?

Contact the sitter immediately.

Additional visits or an extended stay depend on availability and may incur an additional charge.

Should I leave the Wi-Fi password?

For overnight or longer evening sitting, providing Wi-Fi access is normally helpful.

How early should I prepare?

Begin several days before travelling.

This gives you time to test keys, collect supplies, check medication and correct anything that has been missed.

Preparation helps everyone

A good pet sitter can provide calm, reliable care, but they still need accurate information and suitable supplies.

Before leaving:

  • Write down your pet’s routine
  • Label food and medication
  • Test access
  • Provide veterinary and emergency contacts
  • Explain behaviour honestly
  • Disclose cameras and visitors
  • Leave enough supplies
  • Agree what happens when you are delayed

The aim is not to produce a perfect folder full of unnecessary detail.

It is to make the important information easy to find when it is needed.

For full details about my booking process, care standards, keys, emergencies and professional boundaries, read the Finchley Dog Walker Welcome Pack.

Need pet care while you are away?

I provide:

Please send me:

  • Your postcode
  • Travel dates
  • Type and number of pets
  • Care required
  • Any medication or behavioural needs
  • Whether you need visits, evening care or overnight house sitting

Contact Del about pet sitting