How much does a dog or cat sitter cost? How pricing works

Pet Lounge is a marketplace. The sitters are independent and decide for themselves what a walk, a home visit, a day or a night costs with them. That is why there is no single price for a dog sitter or cat sitter with us. The price is on each sitter's profile and in the booking.

Two things are added to the sitter's price when you book. The first is the 10 percent service fee. It pays for what makes the booking safe: the platform, secure payment, the chat with your sitter and our support. The second is 25 percent VAT, which is charged on the service fee only and not on the pet care itself.

So the calculation is always the same: the sitter's price, plus the 10 percent fee, plus VAT on the fee. Together that comes to 12.5 percent on top of the sitter's price. If a sitter charges SEK 100, you pay SEK 112.50.

The sitter receives their price minus a 10 percent commission, and the money is paid out only once the booking is completed. You never pay the sitter directly; everything goes through Pet Lounge.

The prices in this table are made-up, round examples that show how the calculation works. They are not average prices, because every sitter sets their own.

Take the week as an example. Seven nights at SEK 400 comes to SEK 2,800. The service fee is SEK 280 and the VAT on the fee is SEK 70, so the total is SEK 3,150. The same calculation applies to dog walking, cat sitting and every other service.

The table below is read directly from the sitters who currently appear in our search. It shows the range of sitters' lowest starting prices per service, before the service fee and VAT. When a sitter pauses their profile or leaves, their prices drop out, so the figures change over time.

Apart from the service itself, a few things can make two bookings with the same sitter cost different amounts. Each of these shows as its own line before you pay:

• The service and its unit. Dog walks are priced per hour or per walk, home visits per visit, day care per day and overnight care per night.
• The number of units, such as how many walks, visits or nights you book.
• Extra pets. A sitter can charge a supplement for each additional dog or cat in the same booking.
• Weekends and public holidays. A sitter can add a supplement for weekends and holidays.
• Extras you choose to add to the booking, such as additional services during a visit.
• Discount codes. If your sitter has given you a code, the discount is taken off before the total is worked out.

If your dog needs walks every week, a walk subscription can be easier than booking each time. Read more under dog walking.

Some bookings are carried out by Pet Lounge itself rather than an independent sitter. There is no service fee then, but because we are the ones selling the care, 25 percent VAT is added to the whole price. A home visit at SEK 250 then costs SEK 312.50. You always see which calculation applies before you pay.

You pay online through Pet Lounge, either straight away when you send the booking request or once the sitter has confirmed the booking. The money is not passed on to the sitter until the booking has been carried out, which protects you if something falls through.

How much you get back if you cancel is set out in the terms and the pet owner agreement. Cancel more than seven days before the start and you get everything back, minus any payment processing fees, three to seven days before and you get half back, and within 72 hours of the start there is no refund. If the sitter cancels, we try to find a replacement, and if that is not possible you get your money back.

• Compare the total, not just the sitter's price, and compare the same unit. A walk priced per hour and a walk priced per outing are not the same thing.
• Read what is included. Pick-up and drop-off, photos during the booking and how long a visit lasts make a real difference to what you get.
• Read reviews from other pet owners and look at experience with your kind of pet.
• Meet the sitter before the first longer booking. Sending a message costs nothing.

The cheapest option is rarely the best one for a pet who is staying away for a week. Find sitters near you and compare their profiles, then use our checklist before the stay once you have decided.