Leaving your pets behind while you travel can be stressful. You want to make sure they’re cared for the way you would do the job—and if your pets are anything like ours, that isn’t always easy. Most pets out there need some kind of individualised care, whether that’s meals prepared to tempt a picky palate, some sleight of hand with a pill, or a well-planned exercise schedule to get out the zoomies.
One of the best antidotes for worry is trusting that you’ve found a great pet sitter. Whether the care is in your home or a sitter’s home, or even just occasional drop-in visits, here are some green flags to help you spot excellent care.
1. Communicates Clearly and Promptly
Communication from your sitter is one of the most important parts of ensuring your pet gets good care while you’re away. An excellent sitter will provide regular updates on the schedule that you’ve agreed to, and they’ll talk with you about what other updates you’d like—for example, a note when your pet has successfully had their pill, or if they’re seeing signs of stress.
A sitter who replies to messages promptly is one who’s on top of your pet’s care and takes their job seriously.
What to look for on Rover: Scan reviews to see how other pet parents felt about communication. Consider how quickly your sitter responds to setup and scheduling questions as you go forward.
2. Has All Paperwork in Order
It might not be your favourite thing to do, but it’s important to check your pet sitter’s paperwork for green flags. That could include proof of public liability insurance, a DBS or background check, references, and any additional certifications, such as CPR, pet first aid, or a UK Rural Skills Certificate showing NarpsUK accreditation after completing their Pet Sitting and Dog Walking Course.
If you’re not seeing certifications that you think are important for your particular pet’s care, make sure to reach out to your prospective sitter to ask. If they’re new and haven’t yet undergone a DBS check, gauge their willingness to have one. If they’re proactive about it, that’s a great sign that they’re happy to stake their reputation on a government safety check.
Animal Activities Licence: When is it needed?
If they’ll be looking after your pet in your home, they won’t need an Animal Activities Licence (AAL). However, if they’re hosting a pet overnight in their home for money, they’ll need a licence from the local council. They should be able to provide documentation showing this on request.
This AAL documentation will also have a star rating showing whether they simply meet the requirements to legally operate from their home or exceed them. A four- or five-star rating is a great sign that your prospective sitter has been independently assessed as going above and beyond for the pets they look after.
Public liability insurance
Likewise, while it isn’t a legal requirement, a responsible sitter should have public liability insurance to cover them for legal defence costs and compensation if a pet escapes, is injured, or attacks a member of the public, or if the sitter causes damage to the property. Ask to see their Certificate of Insurance (COI).
What to look for on Rover: A sitter’s profile page on Rover, for example, will feature an icon indicating that they’ve undergone a background check or an enhanced background check.
3. Asks Detailed Questions About Your Pet
A knowledgeable sitter recognises that the more information they have about your pet’s habits, routines, likes, and dislikes, the better they can care for your pet. Questions about preferences, training, triggers, and health concerns in particular show a strong understanding of your friend’s needs.
Preferences
Honouring your pet’s preferences is one of the best ways to keep them happy while you’re gone. Great sitters will ask about things like:
- Sociability: Does your dog delight in meeting new people? Is your cat the first member of the welcome party? Or would your pets rather keep their distance from strangers?
- Play: What kinds of toys and games do your pets like best?
- Sleeping: What are your pet’s favourite snooze spots, and where do they prefer to settle at night?
Training
A smart sitter knows to ask about the cues your pet knows—and how reliable their recall is. A sitter who takes note of them is asking how to speak your friend’s language. They might also want to know about house rules and training you’d like them to continue to uphold in your absence (like no dogs on the sofa or no cats on the kitchen worktops).
Triggers
Certain sights, sounds, smells, words, gestures, and actions can trigger a dog. A great sitter will want to know if your dog is reactive to avoid potential problems. Should a problem arise, the sitter will also need to know what helps calm your dog down. It might be medication, treats, soft music, or simply a safe area.
Diet and health
A good sitter won’t just ask how much to feed and when. They’ll also want to know about your pet’s typical appetite and what steps they should take if your pet turns their nose up.
More questions will concern health and medications, especially signs that constitute a reason to alert you or head to the vet.
chendongshan via iStock
4. Shows Understanding of Animal Body Language
Dogs and cats speak volumes with their ears, tails, facial expressions, and posture. An experienced sitter will be great at reading pet body language.
It’s hard to gauge your sitter’s expertise in this area from messages alone, so consider scheduling a meet-and-greet and observing how your sitter responds. Pros will watch your pet closely for signs they want to interact before petting or handling them.
5. Expresses Empathy for Challenges
A pet sitter whom you can trust will express empathy, not dismay, about challenges your pet faces. A great cat sitter, for example, will want to know how to help a cat who sometimes speed-eats and loses their breakfast, and they’ll be prepared to console your dog through storm anxiety.
What to look for on Rover: Reviews are a good place to see how your sitter has responded to past challenges. It’s also okay to message a candidate to ask how they’d handle the specific challenges your pet might face.
6. Has an Emergency Plan
A plan of action in case of an accident or illness is essential. A good pet sitter will make sure they have information about your pet’s health needs, vet contacts, and your care preferences—plus who to contact if they can’t reach you.
What to look for on Rover: You can ask a prospective pet sitter what their plan is in an emergency—like how they’d get your pet to the emergency vet, including carriers and transport.
7. Has Positive and Specific Reviews
A good sitter will have good reviews—but a great one will have detailed, in-depth reviews in which pet parents discuss things like communication style, care skills, and the ability to handle unexpected challenges.
For the greatest peace of mind, consider looking specifically for reviews that mention needs like your pet’s, whether that’s regular medication doses, frequent grooming, or lots of exercise.
