Matchmaking: 5 Tips for Finding the Right Pet Sitter
Since I was a kid, my family would go on two-week-long road trips across the country. We lived in New Jersey and would travel to Colorado every year taking a different route each time. Due to these creative routes, I have been to 46 states! I still have North Dakota, Arizona, Hawaii, and Alaska to see.
It was never simple leaving home though. I had over 40 animals at the time on my hobby farm. My little farm included rabbits, goats, a pig, a yak, chickens, ducks, etc. Finding a pet sitter was easy for me at that point. We had a great community of family and friends that would take on the challenge.
Fast forward some years, now I don’t have quite as many critters, but to most people’s standards I still have a “zoo!” We have our three cats, a snake, two geckos, and the icing on the cake is our dog who cannot be left alone due to her separation anxiety (she’s come a long way but we don’t want to push it when we travel.)
The difference now is that we live in Wisconsin, away from the community that I had built and trusted for years. Some would decide that travel was completely out of the question in my situation, but I am an avid traveler with severe wanderlust.
However, we all know that if the match between you and your pet sitter is not perfect, then you will be stressed the whole trip.
Are the animals okay? Are they happy?
That’s where finding the perfect match comes in.
We originally found two out of three of our pet sitters on care.com. Since we had moved to Wisconsin and didn’t have a large support group (at first), we chose to check out that website.
Enter Michelle, Elizabeth, and Hannah
These three lovely ladies have been a staple in our life because they used to stay with our dog every time my fiance Rob and I were both out of the house. They were at my house daily.
We went through several pet sitters who were not a good match. Some chose to use obedience to punish my dog instead of comfort her when we left, others just didn’t fit well in our situation.
Rob and I just got back from a road trip across the country.
We decided to leave all of the animals behind on this trip as we were going to be in some secluded areas without vet care and the heat.
As we went on the trip, I was impressed as always with Michelle’s care. These are the qualities that I look for in a pet sitter, even though Michelle is family at this point.
To get a pet sitter or not?
We don’t recommend just leaving food out for the cat while you leave, even if it’s for only a couple of days. This can cause severe distress in your cat which can lead to behavioral problems such as inappropriate urination, and stress-related health issues.
One of the biggest recommendations is to have a pet sitter who can replicate your pet’s regular schedule. Michelle lives with them full time while we are gone so that she can monitor their behavior and keep up with their regular feedings, activity schedules, etc. If your cats eat twice a day, we recommend that they have at least two visits a day to keep them on their schedule.
Trust and Reliability
Being away from home can be stressful for both you and your animal family. Change is hard on animals, especially cats who can be sensitive to meeting new people. It’s important to find someone who you trust so that you don’t need to worry about whether they will show up, follow your instructions, and care for your beloved pets properly.
While you are traveling, the last thing you want is to worry about whether your animal’s needs are being met. The mark of an excellent sitter is being able to let go and relax while you are away.
Animal Approval
Since we love to travel, an important part of our socialization process when we get a new animal is making sure that they meet their extended pet sitter family when they are young. Introducing your animals to your pet sitter early on makes the sitters a natural part of their lives.
Even if you have recently adopted an older cat or have had your pets for a long time, it’s worth having your new sitter come over for coffee. This allows your animals to get to know this person while you are still home. You can tell if they are comfortable with this new person, show them how your animals like to play, give them treats, and maybe even do a few tricks!
Understanding Animals
I don’t expect my sitters to be behavior experts, but I’m much more comfortable with someone who understands how to read animal body language and signs of illness.
Your animal is already in a sensitive state, they may be a bit nervous when you leave. Your sitter needs to be able to recognize the signs that your animal is having a hard time so that they can give them space or do an activity that will help them relax. This will help your animal cope with this new situation and keep everyone safe.
Check-ins
One of the nicest things about a wonderful pet sitter is that they will naturally check-in without you needing to pull teeth to find out how your animals are doing. Michelle is fantastic about this. She sends pictures and videos of our crew cuddling with her, going on walks, and even grooming her! They say a picture is worth a thousand words and it’s true! It takes the guesswork out of the process. For this trip, in particular, I was able to relax knowing that even our most sensitive cat was sleeping on Michelle and licking her!
A fantastic pet sitter allows you the freedom to travel without agonizing about whether or not your beloved pets are comfortable while you are away. This can be a life-changing experience for both you and your pets!