Pet Sitting Santa Cruz
Book a pet sitter to stop by your home a few times a day to feed and play with your pet.

Over 656 pet parents in Santa Cruz have booked pet sitting
Santa Cruz, Find top rated pet sitting
Prices are estimates per visit for 1 dog. Pricing may vary based on your search and includes a booking fee of 11%.

About: I’m a 21 year old college graduate looking to fulfill her hopes of pet setting once again! Being a full time student meant busy weeks, leaving no time for pet care. Something I actively did before transferring to UCSC. But with this newfound, post-graduate freedom, I’m eager to get back into the gig. Besides caring for my own kitties, I’ve worked with 7 clients over the past four years. All of which have been dog sitting gigs, with one job including an additional 3 cats (if that makes sense haha). And in my time as a sitter I’ve had four consistent clients. Additionally, I’m more than willing to sit for most dogs/ cats regardless of age, size, energy level, etc. It is my job (and such a privilege) to ensure their needs are met! Worth a mention - I’ve not had any experience in pet training, but I’m committed to being the best companion to the little loves! I can’t wait to connect with you and your fur-babies! I’m hoping to fill my week days (which are fairly open as of late) with pet care! Connecting with animals is truly such a rewarding job. Knowing I can make your life easier, and also that your pets are happy fills my heart with oodles of joy. My housing agreement unfortunately states that I can’t allow pets on to the premises. However, I’m extremely comfortable staying in/ visiting other spaces. Being respectful of your space is one of my top priorities.

“Kai did a great job cat-sitting for me! He was very gentle with Rose (which she needs as a slightly timid cat) and made sure to document her food intake as I requested. Rose is on the shyer side, but from Kai’s photos it looks like she really warmed up to him! Kai also went above and beyond in fully cleaning Rose’s food mat, which is a task I know I need to take on more often myself.”


About: I’ve got experience dog-sitting, and dog-walking, as well as living with dogs and love when I get the chance to take care of them. I’ve had a dog my entire life until her recent passing and have loved and cared for all animals even before I got one. I’m incredibly comfortable with dogs of all sizes, types, and temperaments. This includes sick dogs with medication, senior pups, and various exercise needs. I have saved my dog from a life-threatening attack and provided intensive care, so I work well in a potentially contentious environment. I’m a full time student but my schedule is incredibly loose. I get to choose when I work on my senior project and go to class so I’m available whenever essentially. I only have to be in class Monday and Wednesday from 5-7! Other than that feel free to schedule me. I have a wonderful medium sized fenced yard and live close to Westlake park which has ample grass and play area. My roommates do live with me but are comfortable with the situation and all dog-friendly!
About: I raised my dog from a puppy by myself and trained her to be a nice respectful playful dog. I took care of all her needs so I am more than ready for anything the job entails. I am a Robotics Engineering Student at UCSC, I have class for a few hours midday, but other than that I am free to take care of your pets. I have a dog back home and I miss being around her, It would be a joy to take care of your pets, hang out with them, make sure they are well-fed, taking them on walks, and much more.

About: I currently have 5 amazing big dogs that I’ve been taking care of since I was in middle school. I am patient, responsible, friendly, and caring. I am available for pet walking and drop ins Monday through Thursday at any time just before 4pm! I am also available every other weekend! I have 5 dogs myself who I care for everyday. I run or walk them multiple times a week and play with them at the house!
“Miranda was absolutely the best rover! My cats were well cared for and I didn’t doubt they were in good hands. The photos and updates were very much appreciated. Would absolutely hire Miranda again.”

About: Hi there! I love dogs and would love to have one of my own but have to settle for dog sitting since I don’t have a big place for any right now. I have had my account rover account in the past that I’d be happy to share. Made a new account since sin moving locations. Please reach out with any questions! I’m part-time in college, so I have plenty of time. I’m free basically all day everyday. I’d be happy to dedicate my time to your cutie :). I enjoy taking long walks, which I’m sure your fur baby would be happy to tag along. In your house, I can drop by whenever you need, or even stay for long periods of time if needed.
About: I’ve been around dogs my whole life and caring for them is something I truly love! I especially enjoy getting dogs outside, whether it’s a relaxed walk or a fun, active adventure, I’m always happy to match their energy. I’m reliable, trustworthy, and I understand how much dogs mean to their families, so I treat every pup like my own. I pay close attention to each dog’s personality and needs to make sure they feel safe, comfortable, and happy. You can expect lots of walks, playtime, and plenty of tail wags! 🐾 I am currently a full-time student, which gives me a flexible schedule and plenty of time to care for your pup. I’m available throughout the week for walks and droppins and the weekends for sitting, and I can adjust my schedule to fit your dog’s needs. I’m reliable and make sure to stay consistent with routines so your pet feels comfortable and cared for. I am committed to caring for your pet like my own, whether in your home or out on walks and adventures. I prioritize safety, trust, and comfort by following your pet’s routine, keeping a clean and secure environment, and giving them plenty of attention and playtime. I make sure your pet feels relaxed and happy while you’re away, and I’m always attentive to their individual needs and behavior. You can count on me to be responsible, communicative, and to provide updates so you always feel confident your pet is in good hands.
About: One of my core memories of my childhood was pet sitting my neighborhood dogs and making hand made beds for them in my free time! Dogs are a huge part of my life and bring me so much joy. Im a student at UCSC studying for a degree in environmental studies! I’m pretty flexible and am always willing to help out when I can! I am pretty well experienced with any size dog, always make sure leash’s are safe and follow protocol as necessary, and do well under pressure in case of emergency!
About: Hello! My name is Leo, and I have been in and out of dog-related jobs since I was fifteen years old. I am only twenty years old and a college student; however, my passion for animals (specifically dogs) is what drives me the most, and I would be as committed as necessary to your pet in all cases. I would provide your pet with premium care to the fullest extent! I worked at AlphaDog Lodging (a dog boarding/daycare) for just under two years, followed by a 9-month unpaid intership at Camino Alto Veterinary Clinic. I have also recently been dog-sitting quite a bit, my longest stay being two weeks. My experience in animal care is to achieve my ultimate goal of becoming a Veterinarian, and Rover gives me the opportunity to keep working hard for you and your pet! June 23rd - July 26th: Free every day, anytime. July 28th-August 28th: Downtown Santa Cruz, available all day Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat, Sun. Unfortunately, gone from 9am-4pm on Tues and Thurs (can stop by at noon though). Can do any night, if you are comfortable with your dog being alone for four hours at a time. August 28th-September 23rd: Downtown Santa Cruz, free any day, any time! Santa Cruz: I live in a studio attached to a house with a large front and back yard. Our backyard is fenced in and quite exciting for dogs to explore. We get lots of birds and squirrels, and sometimes a neighbor's cat comes by to visit. I would have your pet stay in my room on a cot, bed, or crate (I only have a cot and a small dog bed here). Kenwood: I live on a large property with my parents, where I could bring your pet home, and they could run forever. Everything is fenced in here; however would prefer bringing a smaller dog home. I am very open to staying in your home as well, for a greater price.
“Mámoo is great with my husky, and getting her to play and fetch. Mámoo is definitely one of my dog’s favorite rovers. I like that they take feedback and adjusted the session to push my dog a little more to exert more energy. Great rover.”

“Jade is terrific! She did a drop-in twice daily. She was always on time. She did exactly what I needed done for my beloved dachshund. She was is a very caring young woman and I will definitely ask her to are for my dog. Try her out, I promise you won’t be disappointed.”


About: I’ve taken care of neighbors’ and family members’ pets since I was little, and been a reliable and trustworthy caretaker. I have been caring for dogs for five years, including elderly, deaf, and blind dogs. I understand the nuance to earning trust of shy or elderly pets. I have always loved animals and I have repeat clients that find me reliable and loved by their pets. My schedule is very open right now, so I have plenty of time to spend with your pets and give them the attention and love they deserve. I have pets of my own at my home where I live with my parents, so I will care for your pets in your home, either staying at the house or doing drop-ins. I am clean and respectful and I love spending time with animals, respecting and getting to know them on their terms.
About: I have taken care of both dogs since I was 12 and I am now almost 22 so I have 10 years of experience caring for dogs. I love dogs so much and have always had one of my own and have experience taking care of older dogs particular, but have walked and sat for dogs of all different ages and energy levels. I am a very active person and a runner, so I can also take your dogs on runs ranging from 2-10 miles. I work in the mornings from 8-1 at a day care and am ready and able to care for your pets anytime before or after those times on Sunday-Friday and some occasional Saturdays. I do not care for pets in my own, but I will provide attentive, loving care to your pets in your own home. I am great at following the directions you will give me about your pets and bring both playfulness and responsibility into my help with your pets.
“Jennifer did very well with my extremely shy young dog. This was the first time that I had someone take care of him while my husband and I had a 2-day getaway. I was so happy he got used to her quickly, and she could put his coat on and off and take him for several walks. She was very patient and communicated with me well! I would definitely recommend her.”


About: I’ve been caring for animals since I began working in horse stables at age 11, and I’ve been dog and cat sitting since my teenage years. Animals have always held a very special place in my heart! I have experience with drop-in visits, dog walking, house sitting, and caring for nervous pets who need extra patience and reassurance. I’m also a runner and would love to take active, leash-trained dogs on runs—with your permission and at a pace suited to their needs. I’m comfortable with litter box maintenance, accident cleanup, and light housekeeping to keep your home tidy while you’re away. As a pet parent to two wonderful cats, I understand how important it is to find someone dependable who will treat your pets like family. I’ll give them plenty of love, attention, and thoughtful care—and keep you updated so you can enjoy peace of mind while you’re away. I am an early morning runner, so I could take your dog with me for a run in the morning. I have a flexible schedule and could feed cats/dogs, take dogs out I have two cats that I keep indoors and let out under supervision only. We play a lot, my kitties love the spring toys! They love to look out the open window and make the "eck eck" at little birds and squirrels in my yard.
About: I’ve always had dogs and cats growing up. Being with animals is a passion of mine! I am currently working at Animal Hospital of Soquel as a kennel tech. I Wouldn’t mind caring for other kinds of pets! I am currently working at Animal Hospital of Soquel as a receptionist, currently working Monday through Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, they are 8 hour shifts, if this schedule works for you, awesome! I will update my schedule as much as I can! 🫶✨ If you have a certain schedule you follow at home, I can follow that no problem! Just let me know what needs to be done and I can do that for ya!
The median cost per visit for pet sitting in Santa Cruz is $28
Pet parents share their Rover experiences - Santa Cruz
Trina C. is an angel! It was wonderful to travel and have no worries about my cats. Trina worked with them before. She did a fantastic job then and now. She even handled surprise situations, and handled them well. My cats and I are very happy. I highly recommend Trina C!

I was very pleased with Tyler and how she took good care of our 19 year old cat, Sushi. She came over everyday and made sure she had food and clean water. Also scooped her little box. She gave Sushi the attention she craved, too. For the first time in 35 years we have had an issue with fleas. Unfortunately, they liked Tyler! Even though we use preventatives and home remedies, they still found their way to Tyler. For that, I’m so sorry! I’m working on a way to eradicate them once and for all. Thanks again to Tyler for being there when Sushi needed her.
Kai did a great job cat-sitting for me! He was very gentle with Rose (which she needs as a slightly timid cat) and made sure to document her food intake as I requested. Rose is on the shyer side, but from Kai’s photos it looks like she really warmed up to him! Kai also went above and beyond in fully cleaning Rose’s food mat, which is a task I know I need to take on more often myself.

Susie was great! She was incredibly responsive from the very beginning, got back to me within minutes of my initial message, and was easy to communicate with throughout the whole process. She also took the time to set up a meet & greet beforehand so she could meet Ausi and Lilo and make sure everyone was comfortable and it was a good fit. Everything went smoothly with her drop-in visit, and I felt very comfortable knowing the dogs were in good hands. We’re already looking forward to having Susie back for a longer house-sitting stay next month!

Anna was great! She checked in on our cat over several days and did an amazing job keeping up with her special diet and making sure her space stayed clean and she was happy and healthy. She was always prompt, kept us updated after every visit, and sent lots of great photos. We came home to a very happy cat and would definitely book again!

I'm so grateful we found Jasmine! I felt very safe leaving our pets and home in her care during a longer oversees trip. She is an excellent communicator, and has lots of experience with lots of animals and was confident with my picky eater and a cat who needed medication. She even ended up dealing with an ant infestation, and was resourceful and professional. We'll definitely work with her again.

Dylan was great looking after our pets while we were away on holiday. He’s a great communicator, we received daily updates, and he was very consistent with their care. Our dogs immediately liked him, and he took them on daily walks. Even our shy cat and moody rabbit warmed up to him. We felt at ease during our holiday, knowing our pets were safe and well taken care of. We look forward to using Dylan’s services in the future again, and would recommend him to other pet owners.

Deanna was absolutely wonderful! She was incredibly communicative and kept me updated the entire time, sending lots of photos and letting me know how my pups were doing, which gave me so much peace of mind while I was away. She was reliable, attentive, and truly went above and beyond to make sure they were happy and well cared for. I really appreciated how on top of everything she was and would 100% trust her with my dogs again. Highly recommend her! ❤️

Jennifer did very well with my extremely shy young dog. This was the first time that I had someone take care of him while my husband and I had a 2-day getaway. I was so happy he got used to her quickly, and she could put his coat on and off and take him for several walks. She was very patient and communicated with me well! I would definitely recommend her.

Book with peace of mind
- Screened pet sitters have passed a third-party background check and show verified reviews from other pet parents, like you.
- Every booking is backed by the Rover Guarantee, which includes up to $25,000 reimbursement for eligible vet care. Learn more
- 24/7 support from the Rover team–here to help if you ever need someone to talk to.

Why Choose Rover?
Cashless payments
Book and pay through Rover’s secured platform—no cash or checks required.
Reservation protection
It doesn’t happen often, but if your sitter has to cancel, we’ll work with you to find a new sitter.
World-class support
We’re friendly, knowledgable, and total pet fanatics. You can get in touch with us anytime.
Meet local sitters who will treat your pets like family

1. Search
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Schedule a free in-person Meet & Greet to find the perfect fit
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Popular requests for pet sitting - Santa Cruz
Select a filter and find qualifying sitters offering pet sitting.Sitters in Santa Cruz average 6 repeat pet sitting clients
FAQs for Pet Sitting - Santa Cruz
Frequently asked questions about Rover
The average cost for Pet Sitting in Santa Cruz on Rover is $22.47 per visit (as of September 2026). However, all sitters set their own rates based on experience, location, and availability.
Rover makes budgeting the cost of Pet Sitting easy. As long as your dates and pet profiles are correct, the price you see before you book is the same price you pay for Pet Sitting. For more information on service fees, click here .
As of September 2026, there are 4,789 sitters on Rover offering Pet Sitting across Santa Cruz. Enter your ZIP code to see which available sitters are closest to your home.
A pet sitter can provide focused care sessions, help your pet’s routine stay on track, or keep you updated on your pet’s mood and energy levels.
Whether you’re at the office for the day or traveling for a few nights, a pet sitter can offer potty breaks during a Santa Cruz stroll, cleaning the litter box, or making sure your pet has on-time food or water refills. For daytime services like walking and drop-ins, you can also request sitters to send a report card with every visit.
Tip: You can discuss your specific arrangements with a pet sitter on Rover to what fits you, your pet, and your sitter’s needs. To find what their special skills are, look at the "Skills" and "Pet care experience" sections on their profile.
If you would like updates while you’re away, you can discuss with your sitter how many or how frequent you’d like those updates to be. The Rover app allows sitters to send photos, videos, and messages about your pet, including how many pee or poop breaks occurred. You can message your sitter at any time through the app and our support team is available 24/7 by email or chat if you have concerns.
The personalized, in-home nature of pet care through Rover can mean more individual attention for your pet.
Many pet parents provide a spare key or arrange a lockbox. You can also exchange keys during the Meet & Greet and show your walker how to use digital fobs or personalized codes. It helps to arrange access to your home, from spare keys to concierge introductions, before pet care begins.
If you live in an apartment or condo, don’t forget to discuss details like buzzer access, codes, or elevator etiquette. These details can help a pet sitter feel more comfortable going in and out of your building.
Every sitter on Rover is required to pass a background check before listing their services. This process confirms their identity and indicates they are not on the Department of Justice’s National Sex Offender Public Website or have any disqualifying offenses.
Beyond ID checks, you can review each sitter's star rating, read verified reviews from other pet parents, and see how many repeat clients they have. Every booking is backed by the Rover Guarantee, which includes up to $25,000 in eligible veterinary care. For more details, visit Rover's Trust & Safety page .
The Rover Guarantee is Rover’s commitment to your peace of mind every time you book. It includes 24/7 customer support, sitter access to advice from qualified veterinary professionals for diagnostic issues, and a reimbursement program for eligible veterinary care in the rare event something goes wrong.
All bookings are backed by the Rover Guarantee , which provides up to $25,000 in eligible veterinary care reimbursement.
Yes, you can find sitters who have experience with handling special pet needs in Santa Cruz. On Rover:
- 92% of sitters can help with special care needs
- 96% can help with giving oral medications or injections
- 94% can help with daily exercise
You can also find pet sitters on Rover who accept only one pet at a time, which is ideal for anxious puppies, kittens, or senior pets who move at a gentler pace. Some sitters will also list availability for 24/7 care, also known as constant care, in their profiles.
Use the search filters to narrow down sitters whose specific experience or environment meets your pet's needs. When reaching out to your sitter, outline your pet's care routine and use the Meet & Greet to walk your sitter through your expectations.
A Meet & Greet is a short introductory meeting between you, your pet, and a sitter. It can take place in person or virtually, although we recommend in-person so that your pet can get to know your sitter or the new environment. During the Meet & Greet, you will have a chance to walk through your pet's routine, medical needs, and unique quirks. Take the time to ask your sitter questions about their skills and expertise, and make sure the fit feels right for everyone. Most pet parents and sitters on Rover welcome Meet & Greets because the process can give confidence and peace of mind for service experiences, especially for longer stays or first-time bookings.
Sitters on Rover set their own cancellation policy, which you can find on their profile under their calendar availability.
Cancelling before a booking begins and before the sitter's cutoff time qualifies you for a full refund. Same-day cancellations for walks, day care, and drop-ins follow the full refund policy. Otherwise, for dog boarding and house sitting, you will receive a 50% refund for the first seven days of the booking and a 100% refund for the remaining days when you cancel the same day a booking should begin.
If your sitter needs to cancel within seven days of the booking's start date, then our reservation protection will kick in. This means our support team works with you to find a replacement sitter.










