For pet owners · Pet care
What should I leave for my pet sitter?
Leave your pet sitter written feeding instructions, labelled medications with a schedule, your vet’s details and written permission to seek treatment, emergency contacts including a local backup, and house notes on keys, alarms, utilities and hazards. Add your pet’s normal habits so the sitter can tell when something is wrong.
In 60 seconds
- Write feeding instructions with exact amounts, times and brands, and leave more food than you think the trip needs.
- Leave medications in original labelled containers with a written dose schedule and a demonstration before you go.
- Give your vet clinic written permission for the sitter to seek care, and agree on a spending limit and who approves costs.
- List emergency contacts: you, a local backup person, your regular vet and the nearest emergency animal hospital.
- House notes should cover keys, alarm codes, thermostat, water shut-off, and anything your pet must never reach.
- Describe what is normal for your pet so the sitter can recognize when eating, litter or behaviour changes need a vet.
What feeding instructions should I leave a pet sitter?
Leave written instructions with the exact food, amount, times and bowl for each animal, plus treats allowed and foods that are off limits. Pre-portion meals if you can, and leave extra food in case your return is delayed. Note any food your pet refuses or eats too fast.
- Brand and type of food, with photos of the bags or cans
- Amount per meal and meal times for each pet
- Treats allowed and how many per day
- Foods and plants that are dangerous to your pet
- Where extra food is stored and where to buy more
- Water: how often to refresh bowls or fountains
How should I leave medications for my pet sitter?
Leave medications in their original labelled containers with a written schedule showing drug, dose, time and how to give it. Show the sitter in person how you give each dose. Leave enough for the trip plus a few extra days, and tell them what to do if a dose is missed or refused.
A simple check-off sheet on the fridge helps the sitter record each dose and helps you see afterward what happened. If your pet needs injections or has a condition that can turn urgent, such as diabetes, choose a sitter who has done this before and ask your vet what warning signs to share.
Do I need to give my pet sitter permission to take my pet to the vet?
Yes, you should. Call your vet clinic before you leave, tell them who the sitter is, and ask what written authorization they need for the sitter to bring your pet in and approve care. Agree with the sitter on a spending limit, who decides beyond it, and how the bill gets paid.
As the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association notes, veterinarians in Canada fall under provincial governance, and clinic policies differ too, so ask your own clinic rather than assuming. Leave the sitter a copy of your pet’s vaccination record and a short health summary, including allergies and past problems.
Which emergency contacts should I leave for a pet sitter?
Leave your own phone number and travel details, a trusted local backup who can step in or make decisions, your regular vet clinic, and the nearest 24-hour emergency animal hospital with its address. Add building management or a neighbour with a spare key, and a pet poison helpline if one serves your area.
Put the list in writing in two places, and make sure the backup person knows they are on it and has a way into your home. A backup who has never met your pet or does not know where the key is will not help much in the middle of the night.
What house notes should I leave for a pet sitter?
House notes should explain how to get in and secure the home, how the heat and water work, where cleaning supplies and pet gear are, and any rules about the house. Include anything your pet must not get into, such as a room with medication or a gap under a deck.
- Keys, lockbox or door codes, and alarm instructions
- Thermostat settings, especially in winter or during heat waves
- Location of the water shut-off and electrical panel
- Where leashes, carriers, litter, bags and cleaning supplies are kept
- Escape risks: doors, windows, gates and fences to check
- Garbage, recycling and compost days
- Wi-Fi password and any cameras in the home
What should my pet sitter watch for while I am away?
A sitter should know what is normal for your pet so they can spot changes early. Describe appetite, litter or bathroom habits, energy, and where your pet likes to hide. The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association notes cats are adept at hiding symptoms, and lists signs such as being unable to urinate as emergencies.
Tell the sitter to call your vet if unsure. When in doubt, the cautious choice is to seek care. For cats, the CVMA cat code of practice says each cat should be assessed at least once every 24 hours, so make sure your sitter actually sees each cat on every visit, not just full bowls.
Clear notes also protect the sitter. In British Columbia, for example, anyone with custody or control of an animal counts as a person responsible for it under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and must care for it. Other provinces have similar laws with different wording.
Does Maple Care provide a pet sitter checklist or agreement?
Maple Care has a free, optional care agreement template you can ask our team for at [email protected]. It helps you write down schedule, duties and payment terms with your sitter. Maple Care is not a party to that agreement and does not handle payment, so you and the sitter agree the details directly.
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Frequently asked questions
Should I leave cash for my pet sitter?
Only if you have agreed on it. Some owners leave a small amount for unexpected supplies. Agree in advance on what the sitter may buy, how they will show receipts, and how larger costs such as vet bills will be approved and paid so no one is surprised.
How much food should I leave for my pet sitter?
Leave enough for the whole trip plus several extra days in case your return is delayed by weather or travel problems. Store it where the sitter can find it and tell them where to buy the same food locally if it runs out.
Should my pet sitter have my vet records?
Yes. Leave a copy of vaccination records and a short health summary with allergies, conditions, medications and past emergencies. If your pet needs to see an unfamiliar emergency clinic, that information helps the staff treat your pet faster and more safely.
What if my pet sitter cannot reach me?
Name a local backup person who can make decisions, and give your vet clinic written authorization before you go. Agree on the most the sitter may approve for treatment without reaching you. That way a delay in reaching you does not delay care.
Where should I put the checklist for my pet sitter?
Keep a printed copy somewhere obvious, such as on the fridge or beside the food, and send the same file by text or email so the sitter has it on their phone. Update both copies if anything changes, and tell the sitter which version is current.
Is a written checklist really necessary for a short trip?
Yes, even for a weekend. A sitter may be tired, distracted or new to your home, and a short written sheet with feeding, medication, contacts and door-locking steps prevents the most common mistakes. It also gives a backup person everything they need if the sitter cannot come.
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