As a pet owner, it’s natural to worry about your furry companions when you're away. Whether you're heading off on holiday or a business trip, ensuring your pets are comfortable and well cared for is essential.
Summer 2025 is just around the corner! If you're planning a holiday and need trusted pet care services in the Cotswolds or Wiltshire, now is the time to book a professional house and pet sitter before it’s too late.
If you live in or near Bath, Cheltenham, Chippenham, Swindon, Salisbury or Newbury (to name a few places), hiring a trusted local house sitter is a fantastic alternative to kennels or catteries. Professional house sitters in Wiltshire and the Cotswolds provide personalized, in-home care, allowing pets to remain in a familiar environment while maintaining their daily routines.
Engaging a House Sitter is the Preferred Choice for Many Pet Owners in the Cotswolds
Why Choose a Pet Sitter or House Sitter Instead of Kennels?
Many pet owners in Wiltshire and the Cotswolds prefer pet sitters or house sitters over traditional pet kennels or catteries. Why?
✅ Comfort & Familiarity: Pets stay in their home, reducing stress.
✅ Personalized Care: Unlike kennels, a house sitter follows your pet’s routine.
✅ Home Security: A house sitter ensures your home is looked after while you're away.
✅ One-on-One Attention: No crowded spaces or unfamiliar surroundings like in pet boarding facilities.
For pet owners, the demand for private in-home pet sitting has grown significantly as more people seek personalized care for their pets during travel seasons.
Here are some essential tips to ensure your pets thrive while you’re away and how local house sitting services in the Cotswolds & Wiltshire can make all the difference.
Housesitting a Shi Tzu in the Cotswolds
We House Sit All Shapes and Sizes
Pro Tip: Planning Ahead: Summer 2025 Pet Sitting & House Sitting in Wiltshire & the Cotswolds
With the summer holidays approaching, securing reliable pet care in the Cotswolds and Wiltshire should be a top priority. The best pet sitters, house sitters, and pet boarding services book up months in advance, so early reservations are crucial.
Questions to Ask When Booking a Pet Sitter or House Sitter
If you're considering hiring a pet sitter, ask the following questions as a minimum:
- Do they have experience with your pet’s breed and temperament?
- Are they trained in pet first aid?
- Can they provide references from other pet owners in Wiltshire or the Cotswolds?
- Are they able to adhere to your pet’s routine, including feeding, exercise, and medication?
- Do they have business insurance for house sitters?
A professional house sitter should also be comfortable handling minor household tasks, such as watering plants, collecting mail, taking the recycling out, and ensuring home security.
1. Routines are Essential
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 house sitter 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 house sitters 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 house sitter with clear, written instructions on feeding:
- Amounts,
- Times,
- Dietary restrictions / allergies
- Supplements
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 house sitter 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 house sitter 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 day-care 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.
Bonding with Cats is ALWAYS on Their Terms
Glenn with a Young Rhodesian Ridgeback out in the Cotswolds
6. Provide medical information and vet contact details
If your pets have any medical conditions, your house sitter 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 house sitter 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 behavioural issues. A professional house sitter 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 house sitter 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:
- Neighbours, 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 house sitter what situations would constitute an emergency and what they should do in each instance.
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.
Final Thoughts – Trusted Pet Care in Wiltshire & the Cotswolds
Whether you're going away for a summer holiday, weekend trip, or extended travel, ensuring your pet is cared for is essential. From Bath to Chipping Norton, to Salisbury, finding the right house sitter or pet sitter guarantees peace of mind.
✨ Why Choose A-Breed-Apart?
At A-Breed-Apart, we provide professional house sitting and pet sitting across Wiltshire and the Cotswolds, including:
✔ House sitting in Bath, Corsham, Chippenham, Sherston, Trowbridge, Westbury & Melksham (to name a few places).
✔ Dog sitting, cat sitting & small livestock care
✔ Personalized, in-home care to keep pets stress-free
✔ Reliable, experienced, and fully insured sitters
📆 Don’t wait until it’s too late! Contact us today to book your summer 2025 pet sitter or house sitter and enjoy your holiday with peace of mind.
House Sitting a Fox Red Lab in the Beautiful English Countryside
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Author Bio
Glenn Bauer is a trusted professional specializing in pet and house sitting for rural homes and estates across the Cotswolds and South West and South England. With years of hands-on experience in managing properties and animals, he offers tailored care and solutions. His expertise is reflected in consistent 5-star client reviews. Read Glenn's journey to professional pet and house sitter Glenn and Mandy: The Journey behind A-Breed-Apart
If you'd like to send Glenn a message, then visit his Contact Page.
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