As a pet owner, you’ll naturally worry that your pets are happy and healthy while you’re away on holiday. Whether you've retained a professional housesitter or family member, taking time to prepare ahead will keep things running smoothly for both your pets and whoever is looking after them. Here are some practical tips to ensure your pets thrive while you're away.
1. Routines are gold
Pets, especially cats and dogs, thrive on routine. Feed, play, and walk schedules can help reduce their anxiety at being left at home. An experienced housesitter will know this and ask for a detailed schedule of your pets’ mealtimes, bathroom breaks, walks, and even bedtime. The more your pet's day mirrors its usual routine, the more relaxed it will be. This is a big reason many of our clients elected to use housesitters rather than kennels, catteries or home-boarders.
2. Provide familiar items
Pets often have a favourite toy or blanket and quite a few have their own toy chests! Leave these familiar items out for your pet. They’ll carry your scent, providing an additional comforting presence in your absence. Cats especially are sensitive to changes in their environment, so having their own safe space and familiar items around can make a big difference to how they settle while you're away.
3. Create a calm environment
If your pet is sensitive to loud noise or easily stressed, let your housesitter know where your dog or cat likes to retreat to if they feel overwhelmed. Some of our clients' dogs are accustomed to having talk radio played while others are used to white noise. I've noticed that a lot of our charges also relax when the TV is turned on! It's not that they're are addicted to telly (I'd hope!), rather that they're used to it being turned on in the evenings when their owners settle after dinner.
4. Leave clear instructions for feeding
Your pets will agree that food is a crucial part of their well-being. Again, consistency is key. Provide your housesitter with clear, written instructions on feeding: amounts, times, dietary restrictions or supplements, even where they’re normally fed. We ask if dogs are required to sit and stay before being allowed to eat. We feel it’s extremely important to carry through with this routine while we’re looking after your pets, especially for younger dogs still in training. Whenever I think about this aspect of dogs’ meals, I recall one good boy who’s will power and training was really put to the test when I was distracted after placing his food in place and neglecting to give him the appropriate ‘eat’ command. When I’d dealt with the distraction (yes, the cat) two minutes later, I noticed him sitting still as a statue, eyes glued to his dinner 3 feet from him, and a rapidly expanding pool of drool at his feet. On the subject of feeding, it’s a good idea to check you’ve stocked enough food for your pets to cover the entire duration of your trip, especially if they have special dietary requirements such as food for renal issues.
5. Ensure your pets get the right amount and type of excercise
For dogs, physical exercise is great for their physical health and mental well-being. Here it’s important to check your housesitter is able to maintain the levels of activity your dogs are used to, including regular walks, playtime, and outdoor exploration. Most of our regular clients live in rural areas and their dogs are used to multiple daily walks with at least one long walk. We still always ask what the dogs’ activity level is as distance and duration often drops off considerably for older dogs. Likewise, let your housesitter know if your dogs are especially susceptible to heatstroke. One good boy we care for regularly, suffered heatstroke when he was a puppy in the care of a doggy daycare outfit and since then really suffers if the mercury goes higher than early 20s (centigrade). For cats, mental stimulation and playtime are equally important. Leave a selection of toys that will encourage active play to keep them entertained and engaged. On one sit, we were forced to make a feather on a string rod for a kitten we were caring for to save our hands and give the dog some peace from the relentless ambushes.
6. Provide medical information and vet contact details
If your pets have any medical conditions, your housesitter needs to know how to manage them. Give detailed instructions (verbal and written) on how to administer medications - a demonstration is helpful too, including showing where syringes should be filled to. Let your sitter have your vet’s contact details, as well as the details of the nearest 24-hour emergency vet clinic. Also, let your Vet practice know a housesitter will be caring for your pets while you are away.
7. Keep your pets' area clean and comfortable
Cats are particularly sensitive to cleanliness, and a dirty litter box can lead to stress or behavioral issues. A professional housesitter will want to know how often the litter is usually changed, not just to keep up the hygiene aspect, but so they can gauge if there are any tummy issues. Provide more than enough litter, cleaning supplies, and poop bags for the duration of your time away.
8. Provide an emergency contacts list
While your housesitter will likely be capable of managing most usual situations, it’s good practice to leave them a list of emergency contacts just in case. The list should include:
- Neighbors, family, or friends who are familiar with your home and pets.
- Vet practice and after hours number
- Your usual maintenance providers (electrician, plumber, facilities, gardener)
- Security company
- Landlord
- Emergency contact number for your home insurance provider
- Locksmith
- Emergency contact details for your utility company
These contacts can assist your sitter with unexpected issues, and knowing they have support will help put both your sitter and you at ease. While on this topic, it’s a good idea to discuss with your housesitter what situations would constitute an emergency and what they should do in each instance.
Final thoughts
Taking a few extra steps to prepare for your pets' care while you’re away can make all the difference in their well-being. By maintaining their routine, providing familiar comforts, and leaving clear instructions for their care, you’ll ensure your pet has a stress-free experience while you can relax on your own trip.
At A-Breed-Apart, we understand the importance of personalized pet care and the peace of mind that comes with knowing your pets are well cared for in your absence. If you’re planning a trip in the near future, consider booking an experienced housesitter through Running Duck Pet Services to ensure your pets are happy, healthy, and safe while you’re away.
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