The Complete Guide to House Sitting for Pet Owners

TL;DR

House sitting is the ideal care arrangement for pets that are stressed by new environments, multi-pet households, and owners on extended trips. Your pets stay in their own home with a sitter who lives there temporarily, maintaining routines and providing security for your property. Prepare a detailed home guide, set clear house rules, do a thorough meet-and-greet, and choose a sitter based on trustworthiness, experience, and your gut feeling.

What Is House Sitting and Why Choose It?

House sitting is an arrangement where a pet sitter stays in your home for the duration of your absence. They live in your house, care for your pets, and maintain your property — collecting mail, watering plants, taking out bins, and keeping the house looking lived-in.

It is distinct from other pet care services in one crucial way: your pets never leave home. For many animals, this is the single biggest factor in reducing stress during their owner's absence.

When House Sitting Is the Best Option

House sitting is typically the right choice when:

Your pet does not travel well: some dogs are car-sick, some cats are terrified of carriers, and some pets simply shut down in unfamiliar environments
You have multiple pets: boarding three dogs and two cats separately is expensive, logistically complex, and stressful for animals that are used to being together
Your pet is elderly or has health issues: senior pets and those with chronic conditions benefit from the stability of their home environment
You have specific home care needs: fish tanks, aviaries, chickens, gardens, or pools that need ongoing maintenance
You will be away for an extended period: for trips longer than a week, house sitting provides a more sustainable level of care than daily drop-in visits
Your pet has separation anxiety: for dogs with separation anxiety, the combination of a familiar environment and a constant human presence is the least disruptive option

Benefits of House Sitting

For Your Pets

Zero environmental stress: your pet stays in the home they know, with their own bed, their own food bowls, their own garden, and their own routines
Maintained social dynamics: if you have multiple pets, they stay together and maintain their established relationships
Consistent routine: walk times, feeding times, and sleeping arrangements can be replicated exactly
Reduced health risk: no exposure to unfamiliar animals or kennel-borne diseases
One-on-one attention: the sitter is dedicated to your household, not splitting attention across multiple boarding guests

For Your Home

Security: a lived-in home deters opportunistic burglars far more effectively than an empty one
Property maintenance: mail collected, plants watered, bins managed, and any issues (burst pipe, alarm trigger) handled immediately
Climate management: heating or cooling kept running for your pets also protects your home from extreme temperature damage
Peace of mind: you are not worrying about an empty house while you are away

For You

No transport stress: you do not need to drop off and pick up pets at a boarding facility
Flexible departure and return: you can leave at any time and return at any time without coordinating with a facility's operating hours
Comprehensive updates: the sitter can send photos and videos of your pets in their normal environment, which is far more reassuring than seeing them in an unfamiliar kennel

Preparing Your Home for a House Sitter

Preparation is what separates a smooth house-sitting experience from a stressful one. The more clearly you communicate, the less the sitter has to guess.

The Home Guide

Create a written document — printed, not just digital — that covers everything the sitter needs to know. This should include:

Property Basics:

WiFi network name and password
Alarm system instructions (codes, arming, disarming, what to do if it triggers)
Key locations (spare keys, which locks need which keys)
Heating and cooling controls
Hot water system operation
Fuse box location
Water main location and how to shut it off
Bin collection days and recycling rules

Appliances:

Washing machine and dryer operation
Dishwasher (where to find tablets, any quirks)
Oven and stovetop (especially if they are non-standard)
Any smart home devices and how to use them

Household Maintenance:

Garden watering schedule (if not automated)
Pool maintenance (if applicable)
Indoor plants — which ones, how often, how much water
Mail collection and what to do with packages

Emergency Information:

Your contact details (phone, email, messaging app)
A local emergency contact (neighbour, friend, family member)
Plumber, electrician, and locksmith contact numbers
Home insurance policy number and insurer contact

Pet-Specific Preparation

In addition to the home guide, prepare a separate pet care document:

Complete feeding instructions: brand, amount, timing, location, any supplements
Walk schedule: times, routes, lead/off-lead locations, dogs or situations to avoid
Medication schedule: the detailed medication table approach from our packing guide works well here
Vet details: regular vet and emergency after-hours vet, including addresses and phone numbers
Behavioural notes: what scares your pet, what comforts them, how they react to visitors, delivery drivers, storms
Pet insurance information: policy number and how to make a claim

Stock the House

Before you leave, make sure the sitter has everything they need:

Pet food: enough for the full duration plus one week extra
Litter (for cats): full supply plus spare bags
Medications: full supply plus spare doses
Cleaning supplies: for pet-related messes (enzyme cleaner for accidents, lint rollers, towels)
Basic pantry items: tea, coffee, milk, and basic provisions for the sitter (many owners stock the fridge as a courtesy)
Poo bags: a full supply for the entire stay

Setting House Rules

House rules protect your home, your pets, and the relationship with your sitter. Be explicit about:

What Is and Is Not Allowed

Visitors: can the sitter have guests? Overnight guests? Specify clearly.
Smoking: if your home is non-smoking, state this explicitly
Alcohol: some owners prefer no alcohol in the home, others are fine with it — communicate your preference
Use of specific rooms: if certain rooms are off-limits, say so
Use of your car: if the sitter needs transport for vet visits, discuss whether your car is available
TV, streaming, internet: generally included, but clarify if there are data limits or restricted accounts

Pet-Specific Rules

Where pets sleep: on the bed, on the couch, in their crate, in a specific room
What pets eat: strictly their own food, no human food, or specific permitted treats
Who pets interact with: can the sitter take your dog to a dog park? Can they have their partner meet the cat?
Exercise boundaries: how far can the sitter walk your dog? Are there off-limit areas?
What to do in case of illness or emergency: when to call you, when to go straight to the vet, spending limits for veterinary treatment

Choosing the Right House Sitter

House sitting requires a different skill set than other forms of pet care. You are not just choosing someone who is good with animals — you are choosing someone you trust in your home, with your possessions, and with your pets simultaneously.

What to Look For

Maturity and reliability: house sitting requires consistent, responsible behaviour over days or weeks. Look for sitters who communicate clearly and follow through on commitments.
Previous house sitting experience: a sitter who has successfully completed multiple house sits understands the responsibility involved
References from other homeowners: reviews that specifically mention house sitting (not just pet boarding) are most relevant
Comfort with your specific pets: a dog-specialist sitter may not be the best choice if you also have cats, birds, or fish
Local knowledge: a sitter familiar with your area knows where to walk dogs safely, where the vet is, and how to navigate the neighbourhood

The Meet-and-Greet

For house sitting, the meet-and-greet is even more critical than for other services because the sitter needs to learn both your pets and your home. Plan at least an hour and cover:

A full home tour with the written guide as reference
Introduction to each pet and their individual needs
A practice walk of the dog's usual route
Demonstration of any non-obvious systems (alarm, heating, pool pump)
A frank conversation about expectations, communication, and house rules

During the Sit: Communication and Updates

Agree on a Communication Rhythm

Before you leave, agree on:

How often the sitter will update you: daily is standard, twice daily if you prefer
What format: photos, messages, video calls, or a combination
What constitutes an emergency contact: distinguishing between "your cat threw up once" (message is fine) and "your dog is limping and not putting weight on their back leg" (call immediately)
Your availability: if you are in a different time zone or have limited connectivity, let the sitter know

Trust the Process

One of the hardest parts of house sitting is resisting the urge to micromanage from afar. If you have chosen well, prepared thoroughly, and communicated clearly, trust your sitter to handle the day-to-day. Constant messaging asking "Is everything okay?" can become exhausting for both parties. Receive the daily updates, enjoy your trip, and save detailed conversations for genuine questions or concerns.

After the Sit

The Return Handover

When you return, allow time for a brief handover:

How did the pets behave? Any changes in appetite, behaviour, or health?
Were there any household issues (plumbing, appliances, neighbour complaints)?
Is there anything you need to address (vet visit recommended, maintenance item spotted)?
Return of keys and any access devices

Leave a Review

Your review helps the sitter build their reputation and helps other pet owners make informed decisions. Be specific: mention how they handled your pets, the condition of your home on return, their communication quality, and whether you would book them again.

Finding a House Sitter on The Pet Sitter

On The Pet Sitter, you can search for house sitting specifically, filtering by your location, dates, and the type of pets you have. Every sitter profile includes their experience, reviews, and the services they offer.

Because we operate on a 0% commission model, sitters set fair rates that reflect their actual value — not rates inflated to cover platform fees. And pet owners pay exactly what the sitter charges, with no hidden service fees at checkout.

If you are a sitter interested in offering house sitting services, visit our become a sitter page to learn more about joining the platform.

FAQ

How much does house sitting cost compared to boarding?

House sitting typically costs $30-70 per night depending on your location and the sitter's experience. This is comparable to quality boarding, but the value is significantly higher because you are getting pet care plus home security plus property maintenance in one service. For multi-pet households, house sitting is almost always cheaper than boarding each animal individually.

Can I have a house sitter if I live in an apartment?

Absolutely. Apartments are often easier to house sit than large houses because there is less maintenance to manage. The key considerations are dog walking logistics (does the building have easy outdoor access?), cat safety (are balcony doors secure?), and building rules (does your building allow non-residents to stay?). Check with your body corporate or building manager before arranging a house sit.

What if something goes wrong with the house during the sit?

This is why the emergency contact list matters. A good house sitter will handle minor issues (a tripped circuit breaker, a minor leak) themselves and contact you for anything significant. Your home guide should include tradesperson contacts (plumber, electrician, locksmith) and a clear indication of what spending level the sitter is authorised to handle without calling you first. Providing a small emergency fund or pre-authorising a spending limit gives the sitter confidence to act quickly if needed.

Should I give the house sitter a spare key or use a lockbox?

Either works, but a lockbox with a code is generally more practical. It means the sitter cannot be locked out if they misplace a key, and you can change the code after each sit. If you provide physical keys, give the sitter two sets and ask for them back at the handover. Never leave your only set of keys with a sitter — always retain your own set.

How do I handle tipping or gifts for a house sitter?

Tipping is not standard in the house sitting world, but small gestures of appreciation are common and welcomed. Stocking the fridge before you leave, leaving a welcome note, or bringing back a small gift from your trip are all thoughtful ways to say thank you. The most valuable thing you can give a house sitter, however, is a detailed and positive review on their profile.