Journal
How to prepare your home for a pet sitter
There's a particular moment I see a lot: the night before a trip, an owner standing in the kitchen at 11pm, suddenly unsure whether they mentioned the boiler's temperamental streak, or where the spare litter actually lives.
A bit of preparation in the days before you go makes a genuinely large difference to how smoothly everything runs, for your pet, your home, and whoever's staying in it.
What I actually need to know
This is what your care pack is for, and it's worth being thorough rather than brief:
- Feeding times, exact amounts, and where the food lives
- Medication, dosage, timing, and how your pet actually takes it best
- Walking routes, favourite parks, and anything they react to
- Litter habits, and where the extra litter is kept
- Your vet's name and number
- An emergency contact who isn't you
- The quirks, from thunderstorms to a favourite settling toy
None of this needs to sound polished. It needs to be complete.
Sorting the keys
Decide this properly, not at the last minute. Some owners hand keys over at the meet & greet; others prefer a lockbox, or leaving a set with a neighbour. Whatever you choose, have a backup in case the first plan falls through.
What to stock up on before you leave
- Enough food and treats for the whole trip, plus a few days' buffer
- Litter, poo bags, and whatever gets used daily
- Full medication for the length of the sit
- Something for accidents, muddy paws, or spills
- Bin bags, and a note of collection day
The bits people almost always forget
- The WiFi password
- Alarm codes, and what to do if it goes off by mistake
- Bin day and parking instructions
- How to work the temperamental boiler, shower, or blinds
- Whether your neighbours know someone will be coming and going
Questions I get asked before a sit
How far ahead should I put the care pack together? A few days before is ideal, early enough to double-check, current enough that nothing's changed.
What if I forget something after I've left? Just message me directly. Far better than leaving something unsaid.
Do I need written instructions if we've talked it through? Yes. Written means nothing relies on memory, yours or mine.
Where I cover this
In-home sitting, daycare, and overnight house sitting are available across the London neighbourhoods I cover, including Chelsea, Kensington, Knightsbridge, Islington, Westminster, Hampstead, Clapham, Balham, Battersea, Dulwich and Brixton.
Dog walking and drop-in visits are local to Honor Oak, Forest Hill and the surrounding SE23 area.
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Related notes from the Journal
Getting ready for a sit?
If there's a trip coming up and you want to talk through what to prepare, I'm happy to help, even before you've booked anything.