If you have pets and from time to time need a pet house sitter then you may need some advice. We are fortunate at Housesitmatch.com that Vet Matthew Bayliss prepares some very valuable top tips on pet care for our members. Read on to learn about how to prepare your home and pets for a live in pet house sitter.

Pet house sitter preparations

Vet Matthew Bayliss offers his expert advice on how best to prepare your pets and home for the pet house sitter. The pet sitter will be resident and caring for your fur family in their own home when you are away.  So it is important to ensure you brief the sitter well and prepare your home and pets for the new live in petsitter.

Tips on pet sitting – Your pets are creatures of habit

Dogs and cats are definitely creatures of habit. This becomes most evident at my dogs’ tea time. At 7pm every single night – if not a little before that – at about half six Bracken, the eldest, sits in front of me, puts her paw on my lap and barks until her evening meal is delivered. Evidently by magic, from the depths of the pantry her meal arrives

Tips on pet sitting – Dogs and cats prefer home environments

A pet house sitter is preferred

Obviously, a kennelled environment serves its purpose by providing a secure location to house your pet when you’re away on holiday. Dog boarding kennels can be very good, well man aged places and many might be local to your home for convenience.

However, being as dogs and cats prefer their home environment, there is another option; a pet house-sitter. This also brings the added comfort of knowing that a trusted individual is looking after your property as well as your pets.

Tips on pet sitting – Prepare your pets for the live-in pet sitter

For the initial period, before you go away try to get to know (if you don’t already!) your pet housesitter. This doesn’t apply just to you, but to your pets too – especially if they have anxiety around strangers. If they cannot come to visit before the petsitting assignment begins ask them to arrive a day or two early. That way you can brief them fully, they can experience one or two 24 hour home cycles. And what is most important the pets can get to know the sitter with you present.

Aside from the initial meet-up, it may be worth going on a couple of walks with the pet house sitter, making sure your dog can handle them, and vice-versa!

Tips on pet sitting – Prepare your home for the pet housesitter

In your home itself, prior to and during the vacation, it is advisable to use products such as Adaptil and Feliway for cats. Both of these products contain anti-anxiety pheromones for dogs and cats respectively.

They are available as plug-ins, sprays, and Adaptil as collars for dogs. In addition to this, it may be necessary to use other anti-anxiety products, such as Kalm-Aid, Zylkene, or Skullcap & Valerian tablets; talk to your vet about these and other products they recommend.

A final thought on preparing for your trusted house sitter

And finally, always make sure your trusted house sitter is insured or that you have pet insurance that covers. Prepare an information pack about your pets to brief your sitter. Make sure the pet house sitter has the number of your veterinary surgeon in case of any emergencies. This is in the unlikely event that may arise while you are away from home. It’s best to be prepared, for your animals’ sake.

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