Get recommendations Unless you have family, a friend or a neighbour who can care for your pet when you’re away, you’ll need to find a pet-sitter you can trust. You may simply need someone to pop in to feed your animal several times a day, or a sitter who will move into your home for the duration of your trip. Word of mouth is one of the best ways to find a dependable person. Start by asking for recommendations from friends, the local community or your vet, and search for them on your area’s Facebook page, pet-sitting groups and community sites such as Nextdoor. Sites that list profiles and reviews of local sitters include Gudog, Rover, Care.com, Cat in a Flat and We Love Pets, which also covers other small pets such as rabbits. Prepare for a surcharge Costs vary widely depending on the sitter’s experience, the location, the length of stay and how much they need to do for your pet. Overnight dog care costs anything between £25 and £70 a night, while cat-sitters charge about £10 to £15 a visit. You are likely to pay a surcharge over bank holidays. Tails and Trails Pet Services in Pudsey, West Yorkshire, charges £18 for two daily visits with a 50% surcharge on bank holidays, and The Dog Walker, also in Yorkshire, charges double on some days. This includes Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Sites such as BorrowMyDoggy put owners in touch with local animal lovers willing to walk and care for dogs. Owners pay £48.99 a year for the service, which includes messaging, insurance and a 24-hour vet helpline. The “borrowers” usually offer walks but may also take dogs overnight or for longer stays. TrustedHousesitters can be a good way to find a reliable sitter if you’re going away. You pay an annual fee of £199 for the standard service to find animal lovers who are willing to take care of your pets in return for a free place to stay. Read reviews … Publicly available reviews, such as those on Google, can be a great resource, as they tend to be open and honest. Personal references, along with any official reviews on pet-sitting sites, can also be helpful. Livi Parkins, who runs Wirral Whiskers, says: “I recommend looking for public reviews rather than relying on the sitter’s own site, as business owners can’t control what is posted there. Personal recommendations are also valuable, as one bad review could impact my reputation and income as a sole trader.” … but check too Pet-sitting is largely unregulated in the UK, aside from dog boarding, so anyone can set themselves up without needing qualifications or insurance. It is essential that you do your own checks. One pet owner, who doesn’t want to be named, says: “Despite her five-star reviews, we had a nightmare experience with a dog sitter who had a drinking problem. She fell asleep, leaving one dog outside for hours while the other was inside, howling. My brother discovered the situation when he arrived to collect a key.” Julie Maxted, from The Pets Homes & Gardens Company, says: “Any person who is thinking of employing a pet-sitter should check they have public liability insurance, and also ask for a DBS [Disclosure and Barring Service] certificate.” These provide reassurance – particularly if the sitter will have a key and access to your home. Lisa Ravenscroft, who runs the dog boarding business Woofington House, says: “Public liability insurance is a must for a dog sitter, along with a local council licence if they’re providing dog boarding or daycare in their home.” A local council licence generally means the sitter has undergone inspections for home safety and insurance validation. Basic pet first aid can also be a plus. “I also have a canine first aid level 2 certificate,” Ravenscroft says. Meet in person Before leaving your pet in someone else’s care, meet them in person – ideally at your home if they will be visiting or staying there. This gives you the chance to see whether you trust them, and how they interact with your pet. Positive body language, patience and care are some of the signs that the sitter is comfortable around animals. Building trust between the pet-sitter, owner and pet is important, says Patricia Salcedo of Pato’s Pet Care, which is based in Grays, Essex. She founded the business after moving to the UK from Argentina with her husband and their cat, Apollo, a rescued black American shorthair. “We offer a complimentary meet-and-greet visit to connect with both the owner and pet while gathering essential information on any special needs your pet may have,” Salcedo says. This takes place in the owner’s home and includes dietary preferences, vaccination records, and any quirks. If an in-person meeting isn’t possible, try to arrange a video call, though this may be less ideal. Ask questions Prepare a list of questions before the meeting. For example, have they handled similar breeds or personalities? If they are taking your pet for an overnight stay, how long will they be out during the day? How would they respond to emergencies? It’s also worth asking about their daily routine while caring for pets, such as how often they’ll walk your dog or have time to play with your pet. Ask about their experience and how they handle specific situations, such as a sudden illness. This helps you gauge whether they’re right for your pet. Ask whether they provide regular updates, such as photos or messages updating you, which can be reassuring if you are away on a longer trip. Protect your home If your sitter will be at your home, check your home and pet insurance policies for any exclusions. “If you’re planning to have a pet sitter staying at your property while you’re away, you should always check your insurance policy to confirm your cover before making any plans,” says Alicia Hempsted, an insurance expert at MoneySuperMarket. Home insurance policies typically only cover theft if there is evidence of forced entry, meaning a claim may not be approved if a pet-sitter leaves a door unlocked. Similarly, certain providers may not cover damages caused by a pet-sitter. You may want your own public liability insurance to protect you if your pet causes injury to someone while under the sitter’s care. This is particularly important for owners of large or potentially aggressive animals. Do a handover note Once you have chosen a sitter and made the booking, do a thorough handover. “I always recommend that owners make a detailed list of instructions, including schedules and routines,” Salcedo says. This list should cover everything from feeding schedules to medication, emergency contacts and any behaviour issues. Check the sitter has the necessary supplies – food, toys, and any medication – to keep your pet happy and healthy while you’re away. Parkins says: “Be open and honest with your pet-sitter. I am happy to do what you need for your pet to your liking, but please tell me all your requirements and routines. “No request is too strange – I’m happy to help. From feeding wild birds so the pets could watch from inside, to hand feeding a wild squirrel, to a glass of water for the cats, I’ve been asked for all sorts.”