The most useful pet-sitter instructions answer questions before they become problems. Feed normally is not enough. The sitter needs to know what normal means, what is unusual and who can make a decision when the owner cannot be reached.
Create one written plan and review it during the meet-and-greet. Keep a paper copy in an agreed location and send a digital copy. Update it before every booking; pets, medications and emergency contacts change.
Begin with a one-page pet profile
Put the essential identity information first:
- Pet's name, species, age and clear photo
- Microchip number and registry contact, if applicable
- Veterinary clinic and emergency hospital
- Known medical conditions and allergies
- Behavior or handling warnings
- Owner and local emergency contact numbers
For multiple pets, use separate profiles. Similar-looking animals should be clearly identified by markings, collar color or another reliable detail. Never rely on the sitter guessing which cat receives which medication.
Write the daily schedule in time order
A chronological plan is easier to follow than instructions scattered across messages. Start with morning care and move through bedtime. Include realistic time windows rather than exact minutes unless medication or medical care requires precision.
For each part of the day, list:
- Food amount, preparation and feeding location
- Fresh-water routine
- Walk, yard or litter needs
- Medication and veterinarian-approved administration method
- Play, enrichment and rest preferences
- Where the pet sleeps
- Doors, gates or rooms that must remain secured
Describe what happens when the normal schedule changes. If the dog refuses breakfast, should the bowl remain down? If a cat hides, how long is typical before the owner should be contacted?
Explain bathroom and litter habits
Write the dog's usual bathroom schedule, approved walking area and any command the dog knows. Note whether stool or urination changes are medically important. Provide waste bags and explain disposal.
For cats, list the number and location of litter boxes, litter type, scooping schedule and where waste goes. Tell the sitter what normal output looks like for that cat. Repeated straining, frequent unsuccessful trips or sudden failure to use the box can require prompt veterinary attention, so do not treat every litter issue as bad behavior.
Describe behavior with specific examples
A label such as friendly or nervous can hide important details. Explain what the pet actually does.
- Does the dog bark and back away from strangers?
- Does a cat hide under one bed but emerge for meals?
- Does a pet guard food, toys, furniture or doorways?
- Can household pets eat together safely?
- Does the dog react to other dogs, bicycles or children?
- Are there handling areas the pet dislikes?
- Has the pet ever bitten, snapped, escaped or damaged a crate?
Include cues and reward methods the pet already knows. Do not ask the sitter to test new training techniques during the stay.
Make medication instructions exact
List the medication name, pet, dose, time, route, storage and prescribing veterinarian. Keep it in the original labeled container. The FDA recommends secure storage and intact labels. Add the veterinarian's written instructions for a missed or vomited dose; the sitter should not invent an answer.
Explain how the pet normally accepts medication and what counts as a failed dose. If the pet may bite or panic, disclose that before booking. Not every caregiver can safely provide every medical task.
Define veterinary authority and payment
Write down which clinic should be called first, where the nearest emergency hospital is and who can authorize care if the owner is unreachable. Inform the clinic about travel when appropriate and ask what authorization or payment arrangements it accepts.
State what requires an immediate call, what can be included in the next update and what requires emergency care. The sitter should still use reasonable judgment in an urgent situation, but clear instructions reduce delays.
Include a household operating guide
List entry instructions, alarm steps, thermostat range, camera disclosure, Wi-Fi information if needed, trash day and any expected workers or visitors. Identify shutoffs and contacts for an HVAC failure, leak or power outage.
Explain which doors or windows cannot be opened around the pets. If a cat is indoor-only or a dog can jump a fence, place that warning near the access instructions.
Set communication expectations
Agree on how often updates will arrive and what they will include. Decide whether the sitter should call, text or email first. Provide travel details only as needed for contact and delay planning.
Updates should include completed care, eating and drinking, bathroom observations, medication, behavior and any home concern. A photo is helpful, but it should not replace a written report when something is unusual.
Add a delay and disaster plan
Flights, storms and illness can extend a trip. The CDC recommends planning for pet identification, medication, records, carriers or leashes and an emergency kit. State who can provide backup care, where extra supplies are stored and how long the sitter is authorized to continue.
Identify the safe interior area for tornado warnings and the evacuation carrier or equipment for every pet. Keep the plan practical enough to use quickly.
Review the plan out loud
Walk through the schedule with the sitter and ask them to repeat critical medication, door and emergency steps. Invite questions. Clear communication is more useful than a long document nobody understands.
If your pet needs care at home, see Tania's in-home dog sitting, cat sitting or shorter drop-in visits. The plan can be reviewed before care begins. If you would like to discuss fit and availability, request an appointment.