Before going away, your pet sitter should know how your pet normally eats, sleeps, behaves and reacts to unfamiliar situations.
They also need clear information about medication, veterinary care, emergency contacts, access to your home and anything that could create a safety risk.
The goal is not to write a complicated manual. It is to make sure the sitter can follow your pet’s normal routine and respond calmly if something unexpected happens.
Start with your pet’s normal daily routine
The most useful information is often the most ordinary.
Tell your pet sitter what normally happens during a typical day.
This may include:
- Normal feeding times
- Where food is stored
- How much food to give
- Treats that are allowed
- Usual walking or toilet times
- Where your pet normally sleeps
- Favourite toys or activities
- When lights, heating or curtains are normally adjusted
- Any normal evening or morning routine
Small details matter because pets often notice changes more than people expect.
A cat may refuse food if it is served in the wrong place. A dog may become unsettled if its normal walking time changes. A nervous pet may hide if the sitter arrives too quickly or makes too much noise.
The sitter does not need every detail of your life. They need the details that help your pet feel safe and maintain a familiar routine.
Explain feeding instructions clearly
Feeding instructions should be specific enough that the sitter does not have to guess.
Include:
- Type and brand of food
- Exact portion size
- Feeding times
- Where bowls are kept
- Whether food should be refrigerated
- Whether water needs to be refreshed in a particular place
- Foods or treats your pet must not receive
- What normal eating behaviour looks like
Avoid instructions such as “give a small amount” or “feed as usual”.
What looks like a small amount to one person may be very different to someone else.
It is better to say:
Give half a pouch at 8:00 and the remaining half at 17:00.
Also explain what the sitter should do if your pet does not eat.
Some pets occasionally skip a meal. For others, refusing food may be unusual and important.
Your sitter should know the difference.
Include medication and health information
If your pet takes medication, provide written instructions.
Include:
- Name of the medication
- Amount to give
- Time it should be given
- How it is normally administered
- Whether it must be given with food
- What to do if a dose is missed
- Where the medication is stored
Do not assume that a sitter will automatically know how to give tablets, eye drops, injections or liquid medication.
Show the sitter beforehand where possible, and make sure they are comfortable with the task.
Also mention relevant health information, including:
- Allergies
- Mobility problems
- Sensitive stomach
- Previous seizures
- Breathing difficulties
- Anxiety
- Recent illness or surgery
- Any signs that should not be ignored
Your sitter does not need your pet’s entire medical history. They need the information that could affect care while you are away.
For medical emergencies or concerns, the sitter should contact your veterinary practice or an emergency veterinary provider. A written pet check is not a substitute for veterinary advice.
Give your veterinary details
Your sitter should know which veterinary practice you normally use.
Provide:
- Veterinary practice name
- Telephone number
- Address
- Emergency or out-of-hours number
- Your pet’s name as registered with the practice
- Any relevant insurance details
- Whether the veterinary practice has permission to discuss your pet’s care
You should also explain what you want the sitter to do if they cannot reach you.
For example:
- Contact your partner or family member
- Contact the veterinary practice directly
- Use an emergency veterinary service
- Authorise treatment up to an agreed amount
The sitter should not have to make these decisions without guidance during a stressful situation.
Describe your pet’s normal behaviour
Normal behaviour differs greatly between pets.
Tell the sitter:
- Whether your pet is confident or nervous
- Whether they normally hide
- Whether they dislike being touched in certain places
- Whether they guard food, toys or sleeping areas
- Whether they are frightened by noises
- Whether they try to escape through doors
- Whether they are comfortable with other animals
- How they usually react to visitors
- Which behaviours are normal and which are unusual
For example, hiding under a bed may be completely normal for one cat. For another, it may indicate illness or distress.
This context helps the sitter avoid unnecessary worry while still recognising genuine warning signs.
Explain walking and outdoor routines
For dogs, provide clear walking instructions.
Include:
- Normal walk length
- Preferred routes
- Harness or lead instructions
- Whether your dog can meet other dogs
- Whether your dog pulls, reacts or becomes frightened
- Roads or areas to avoid
- Whether your dog can be let off the lead
- Toilet habits
- Where waste bags and towels are stored
Do not ask a sitter to test a new route, new equipment or new training method while you are away.
The safest approach is normally to keep things familiar.
For cats and other animals with outdoor access, explain:
- Whether they are allowed outside
- Which doors or windows must stay closed
- Whether a cat flap should be locked
- Normal return times
- Escape risks
- Whether the pet must remain indoors while you are away
These details should never be left to assumption.
Explain access to the home
Your sitter needs reliable access instructions.
This may include:
- Key arrangements
- Alarm instructions
- Which doors should be used
- Where pet supplies are stored
- Which rooms the pet may enter
- Where cleaning materials are kept
- Bin or litter disposal instructions
- Heating or lighting instructions
- Parking information
Share security information carefully.
Only provide the information the sitter genuinely needs, and avoid leaving alarm codes or sensitive access details in an obvious or insecure location.
It is also sensible to test keys before you leave. A key that works badly for you may not work at all for someone unfamiliar with the lock.
Point out household and pet safety risks
Tell your sitter about anything that could create a problem.
Examples include:
- A door that does not close properly
- A cat that waits near the front door
- A dog that can open gates
- Toxic plants
- Food that must remain out of reach
- Electrical cables that a pet chews
- A pond or balcony
- A pet that hides inside cupboards
- A freezer or refrigerator containing pet food
- A room that must remain closed
The sitter should also know where to find:
- Spare leads or harnesses
- Towels
- Cleaning supplies
- Pet carriers
- Litter
- Waste bags
- Torch
- Fuse board or stopcock, when relevant
You do not need to produce a complete home safety manual. Focus on the risks that are realistic for your pet and property.
Provide emergency contacts
Your sitter should have more than one way to get help.
Useful contacts may include:
- Your mobile number
- Your partner’s number
- A trusted local contact
- Veterinary practice
- Emergency veterinary service
- Home maintenance or landlord contact, where relevant
Make sure the local emergency contact knows they have been listed.
Do not write down someone’s name and number without first checking that they are available and willing to help.
Explain how often you expect updates
Tell the sitter what type of updates you want.
For example:
- A message after every visit
- One daily update
- Photos
- Confirmation that medication was given
- Notification only if something is wrong
Clear expectations help both sides.
Some owners become worried if they do not receive photos immediately. Others prefer not to receive frequent messages while travelling.
Your sitter should not have to guess.
Common information owners forget
Pet owners often remember food and keys but forget smaller details.
These may include:
- Where the pet carrier is stored
- What to do if the pet refuses food
- Which behaviour is normal
- Backup contact details
- Emergency veterinary information
- Where cleaning materials are kept
- How to reset an alarm
- How to operate a complicated door lock
- What to do if travel plans change
- When the owner expects to return
Another common problem is providing too much unstructured information.
Several pages of messages, screenshots and handwritten notes may contain everything, but the sitter still has to find the important details.
Clear organisation is often more valuable than length.
Should you use a pet sitter instruction template?
A basic template can help you remember the main topics.
However, a generic template cannot identify every risk in your own situation.
A nervous cat, a dog with medication, an aquarium, an elderly pet or a home with complicated access arrangements may require additional information.
Use a template as a starting point, not as proof that everything important has been covered.
When a written Pet Home Check can help
You can prepare most pet sitter instructions yourself.
But it can be difficult to notice what is missing when you already know your own pet and home so well.
Something that feels obvious to you may not be obvious to another person.
The written Pet Home Check is designed for owners who want a second pair of eyes on their arrangements before they go away.
You provide the relevant information about your pet, routine and home setup. You then receive a written review highlighting practical points that may be unclear, incomplete or worth checking before someone else takes over the care.
It is a written online service, not a veterinary consultation, emergency service or live call.
The free guidance in this article can help you prepare. The paid check is for reviewing your own individual situation.
Final check before you leave
Before travelling, make sure your sitter knows:
- What your pet normally needs
- What could go wrong
- Who to contact
- What counts as an emergency
- How to access your home safely
- When and how to update you
Good instructions do not need to be complicated.
They need to be clear, practical and specific to your pet.