The 12 Best Questions To Ask Your Pet’s Prospective House Sitter

Finding a house sitter who can look after your pet can feel like an enormous task. You’re entrusting them with caring for your critters and letting them into your home, so the stakes are high. Prepping yourself with questions and non-negotiables can go a long way toward easing some of that anxiety. But what questions should you ask potential house sitters?

A good vetting process will include a clear list of questions about what is important to you when it comes to caring for your pets in your home. The best part is that once you’ve found someone you can trust, you can rely on them for future house-sitting needs. Plus, you’ll have all your prep work ready for the next time you need to find a new sitter.

Here are our favourite questions, sourced from our Rover community and our own experiences. As we go through the list, we’ll break down why each question is important and provide examples of good and bad answers for reference.

1. What’s your daily schedule like when house-sitting?

Knowing how many hours per day your sitter will be in your home will help you determine whether their availability aligns with your pet’s daily routine, so it can stay relatively the same while you’re away. If your cat or dog is used to having someone at home for most of the day, they might not do well with a sitter who just drops in occasionally.

Good answers show your sitter is flexible, committed, and understands the importance of being present with your pet. Look for answers that show:

• Availability that matches key parts of your pet’s routine, like meals, walks, and medications
• Transparency around the times they won’t be available or will need to leave your pet alone
• Flexibility to accommodate your pet’s routine

Bad answers reveal the sitter is stretched too thin with personal life or other clients. That could look like:

• Vagueness about when your sitter will and won’t be in the home with your pet
• A shifting schedule that doesn’t permit consistent routines

2. What’s the longest you’ll be away from home? How will you handle absences?

The maximum hours you want your pet to be alone will depend on their individual temperament and needs. For instance, older dogs and puppies will likely require breaks every few hours, whereas many adult cats can tolerate longer periods alone. Getting this question out in the open will help you confirm if your sitter is trustworthy, transparent, and proactive.

Good answers demonstrate honesty and foresight, including:

• Providing a solution for any potential conflicts, like having a backup sitter in case of an emergency
• Openness about their schedule and reassurance that it won’t impact the care of your pet

Bad answers are vague, dismissive, and could look like: 

• Confusion around the total time they were expected to be with your pet
• Inability to plan ahead and prioritise tasks

3. What kind of experience do you have looking after pets like mine?

When vetting a new sitter, this question will help you evaluate how well-prepared they are to care for your specific pet, taking into account factors such as age, breed, size, behaviour, and health needs. Knowing this information is particularly crucial if you have a pet that requires special care, like a senior cat who takes daily medication.

Good answers will provide specific instances of working with pets similar to yours or an openness to learn, such as: 

• Examples of working with pets who have similar breed needs (like Frenchies with breathing sensitivities)
• Knowledge around any behavioural, health, or exercise needs your pet may have
• Experience with pets at ages that require special care, like puppies, kittens, or seniors
• Willingness to learn and follow your specific care routine

Bad answers will lack detail and show the sitter is inexperienced. That could look like:

• Being dismissive of your concerns
• Generalising all pets and their care
• Being vague about their experience (“pets love me!”)

4. Would you be able to provide enough daily exercise for my pets?

Exercise needs vary, so you’ll want to confirm they have the physical capabilities and time to meet your specific pet’s daily requirements. You may want someone who can handle your large 35-kg dog pulling on a lead when excited, or perhaps you’d like a sitter who has the patience for multiple rigorous play sessions with your high-energy kitty.

Good answers show the sitter is familiar with animal- or breed-specific needs and prioritises safety. This could look like:

• Acknowledging they understand your pet’s usual exercise routine and can follow it while you’re away
• Indicating that they have the physical capabilities to handle your type of pet, whether that’s stamina for long walks or the strength to handle large pets
• Giving examples of working with your pet’s specific breed to meet their exercise needs safely, such as playing Frisbee with your Border Collie without overstimulating them

Bad answers are vague and generic, indicating that the sitter is unprepared. Be on the lookout for: 

• Misunderstanding the full scope of your pet’s physical needs
• Answering yes to everything without asking details (often a red flag that they don’t understand and are just appeasing you)
• Shrugging off your concerns or acting as if exercise is the same for all pet types

5. Are you comfortable handling my pet’s medical or behavioural needs?

Not all aspects of working with pets are easy and fun. Asking your potential house sitter this question assesses whether they’re competent to handle relevant medical needs and behavioural issues—like separation anxiety, reactivity, or resource guarding.

Good answers will demonstrate that the sitter is confident and experienced in handling your pet’s health and behavioural needs. Look for answers that:

• Provide examples of working with your pet’s specific need, like volunteering with anxious pets at a shelter, or giving daily pills to their own senior cat
• Show a willingness to handle challenging situations, like taking walks with a reactive dog or cleaning up after a cat with incontinence
• Indicate an openness to understand and follow your directions
• Provide evidence of qualifications like an iPET Network Level 3 Award in Dog Walking and Pet Sitting for Professionals or a City & Guilds Level 2 Certificate of Technical Competence in Pet Sitting

Bad answers will show the person’s lack of experience and understanding of the issues at hand, such as:

• Dismissing your concerns or the seriousness of your pet’s needs
• Insisting on using their own methods of managing behavioural issues and not following instructions
• Saying “yes” to everything without giving examples or asking follow-up questions

6. What is your philosophy on positive reinforcement and discipline?

This is one of the most crucial questions you should ask a potential house sitter, as it shows they have a humane and science-backed understanding of how animals learn. Asking them how they’d handle specific instances—such as barking at another dog, digging in the garden, or spraying outside the litter tray—shows whether they’re aligned with your preferred training methods.

Good answers will show a sitter who is well-versed in positive reinforcement and willing to follow your specific instructions. Green flags include: 

• Noting that they have a good handle on animal body language and stress signals
• Showing that they’re empathetic and curious about the “why” behind certain behaviours
• Asking follow-up questions about the way you prefer to handle behavioural issues

Bad answers will reveal the sitter uses outdated or aversive methods or isn’t very aware of animal behaviour, such as: 

• Holding onto the debunked “alpha” and “dominance” theory
• Insisting on using a firm hand and aversive discipline methods
• Giving vague answers like “I’m good with all dogs” or “I treat all pets like my own”

7. What kind of updates do you provide?

An experienced sitter will understand that part of their role is to keep you in the loop. How they answer this question will help you determine if they’re willing to communicate the way you’d like, whether that’s daily updates with pictures and photos or a quick check-in every other day. Making sure you’re on the same page regarding communication will give you peace of mind while you’re away from your pet.

Good answers will reveal that the sitter is professional and has a plan to keep you updated. Look for responses that:

• Are clear about the frequency and format of their updates (e.g., twice a day with photos and a short message or a recap at the end of the day)
• Show flexibility and a willingness to follow your preferred method of communication
• Indicate foresight, like a sitter who says they’ll contact you immediately if there are any behaviour changes

Bad answers will reveal that updates are an afterthought or an annoyance. Look out for:

• Reluctance to send photos, videos, or updates
• Vagueness about their plan to communicate with you
• Dismissiveness about your requests for constant updates (“we’ll be fine!”)

8. How can I reach you in an emergency?

While it may seem obvious, it’s worth asking. Before leaving your pet with someone new, you’ll want to have several ways to reach them in case one method isn’t working. You’ll also want your sitter to have a plan for contact in case of an emergency.

Good answers will offer clarity and reassurance that the sitter will be available in the event of an emergency, such as:

• Providing multiple contact methods
• Showing proactiveness, like assuring you they’ll always have their phone with them
• Asking to go over an emergency plan with you
• Asking for your pet insurance details and pre-written medical and insurance authorisation to handle veterinary emergencies on your behalf

Bad answers will be unhelpful or lack professional preparation, such as: 

• Only giving you one way to contact them
• Not having a plan in the event that something goes wrong

9. What’s included in your fee, and are there any extra charges?

Confirming house-sitting rates in advance helps avoid confusion, surprise expenses, and a strained relationship. A professional sitter will have a predefined rate structure and won’t quote prices on the spot. When vetting a new house sitter, clarify their base rate and what it includes, and discuss any factors that might increase the price, such as caring for puppies or kittens, administering complex medications, or providing 24/7 pet care.

Good answers are specific and transparent, providing clear examples of what the pet-sitting fee includes. Look for answers that: 

• Give a detailed itemisation of what their standard overnight or daily fee covers and what might warrant extra charges
• Clearly state if their rate is all-inclusive and covers all care for your pet
• Are upfront about potential charges, like an additional fee for holiday sitting or last-minute bookings

Bad answers are vague or evasive. Watch out for the following:

• Giving unclear answers about what the total price should include
• Avoiding the specifics about rates and saying it can be addressed as things come up
• Mentioning additional fees later on in the booking process

10. Can we agree on a written contract? And can you provide appropriate documents?

A written contract can help you assess the new sitter’s reliability and commitment. Someone who is open to using a contract signifies that they’re organised and take their responsibilities as a pet sitter seriously. A contract also solidifies everything you’ve discussed, including dates, duties, and fees, so there’s no confusion.

Good answers will showcase that the sitter values a clear agreement, such as: 

• Already having a standard contract ready that outlines their services
• Being willing to draft or sign one based on the terms and conditions you’ve discussed

Bad answers range from casually dismissing your request to flat-out refusing to use a contract. This could include:

• Pushing for a verbal agreement instead
• Defensive answers that try to make you feel guilty for not trusting them

A written contract enters you into a binding agreement with someone you’re trusting with a lot. For example, any property access codes or pet insurance policy details you hand over are covered by GDPR, as they’re operating a business. So a contract can help you to hold them liable should any breaches occur in the future.

In addition to a written contract, a responsible sitter should also have public liability insurance, which typically covers property damage, pet injury, or animal illness. Ask to see their Certificate of Insurance to confirm what’s covered under their policy and make sure both parties are protected.

They should also be happy to submit to a DBS or background check. If they push back on getting one, they may be concerned about what might come back, or they might not be willing to go the extra mile to prove they’re reliable.

 

11. Can you provide a few references?

Like with any service, asking for references from the person you’re considering hiring helps you know that others have hired them in some capacity and would do so again. Following up with these references allows you to ask questions about past experiences and fact-check answers your sitter has given during the vetting process.

Good answers will show that the sitter is confident and prepared to share references. This could include: 

• Already having a list of past clients for you to contact
• Offering a variety of references, like both long-term and short-term clients, or clients who have different types of pets
• Mentioning that they have reviews via a platform, which you can also reference

Bad answers are deflective and avoid accountability, including:

• Being evasive and suggesting you read their profile instead
• Not having a list of references or being unwilling to share contacts with you

12. What questions do you have for me?

Flipping the script and asking your potential sitter if they have any questions can reveal a lot about their attention to detail and genuine interest in your pet’s well-being. It gives them a chance to clarify anything they didn’t understand and touch on areas you might not have covered yet.

Good answers will show genuine thoughtfulness and curiosity about your pet, as well as problem-solving ability. This could include:

• Pet-specific questions, like details about their daily routine or their favourite activities
• Logistical home details, such as where to find cleaning supplies, when to take out rubbish, or where to put post and parcels
• Circling back to the information you’ve already provided for clarification—for example, asking how you typically manage your pet’s anxiety

Bad answers show a lack of interest or an overly casual attitude. These may include: 

• Asking no questions at all
• Asking about information you already covered in past conversations or notes
• Questions that only centre around their needs, like whether they can have friends over while watching your pet