Checklist before a dog sitter or cat sitter
Short answer
Prepare three things: everything the sitter needs to know about your pet, the practical details at home, and a clear agreement with the sitter. Go through the list below about a week ahead, meet the sitter if you have not met before, and write everything down so nothing depends on anyone's memory.
Before you book
The best preparation starts when you choose the sitter. Read the profile carefully and make sure the sitter takes your kind of pet and offers the service you need.
To do before booking
- Read the sitter's profile and reviews from other pet owners.
- Check that the sitter accepts your type and size of pet.
- Send a message and ask your questions through Pet Lounge.
- Arrange a meeting before the first overnight stay or a longer booking.
- Make sure your pet is vaccinated, treated for parasites and microchipped, as the pet owner agreement requires.
- Check that your dog is registered in the Swedish Board of Agriculture's dog register with up-to-date contact details.
If you are unsure which service fits, read our guide to dog sitter, boarding or day care first.
Information about your pet
You can fill in most of this on your pet's profile on Pet Lounge. The sitter you book sees it in the booking, so you do not have to write the same thing several times.
What the sitter needs to know
- Food, amounts and times, and anything your pet must never eat.
- Allergies and sensitive stomachs.
- Medication, dose and times, and how your pet usually takes it.
- Routines for walks, play, rest and sleep.
- How long your pet can be left alone.
- Behaviour: fears, resource guarding, reactions to other dogs, children or bikes.
- Commands and words your pet knows.
- For cats: the litter tray, indoor or outdoor, and hiding places.
Be honest about behaviour. A pet who growls when someone comes near the food bowl is not a problem if the sitter knows, but it can become one if they do not.
Health and emergencies
Contacts and details
- Your own vet's name, phone number and address.
- The nearest animal hospital that is open around the clock.
- Your insurer and policy number, if your pet is insured.
- A contact person who can make decisions if you cannot be reached.
- Clear instructions on what the sitter should do if your pet needs a vet.
Pet Lounge's Protection Fund can contribute to vet costs if a pet is injured in an accident during a confirmed booking, but it is not insurance and does not cover illness. We therefore recommend that you have your own pet insurance.
When the sitter comes to your home
For home visits, cat sitting or when a sitter stays in your home, the sitter needs to get in and find what they need.
Get the home ready
- Decide how keys are handed over and returned, ideally at the meeting.
- Show where food, treats, leads, bags and cleaning things are kept.
- Go through the alarm, door codes and any neighbours who might wonder.
- Put away anything your pet must not reach, such as medicines and cables.
- Stock up on food and cat litter so it lasts the whole period, with margin.
Packing list when your pet stays with the sitter
With overnight care, day care or cat boarding, your pet stays with the sitter. Pack so your pet feels at home:
What to pack
- Food for the whole stay plus a few extra days.
- Food and water bowls.
- Lead, harness and a collar with contact details.
- A bed or blanket that smells of home.
- A favourite toy.
- Medication in its original packaging, with the dosage written down.
- Poo bags, and for cats a carrier and cat litter.
The handover and during the stay
- Agree how often you would like updates and photos in the chat.
- Keep communication and every change on Pet Lounge. Everything stays in one place, and the booking is covered by the Protection Fund.
- Tell the sitter about any change in your pet's health or behaviour before the booking starts.
- Keep goodbyes short and calm. A long farewell often makes a pet more anxious.
- Collect your pet on time when the booking ends.
The first few hours are often the strangest for your pet. A dog may eat a little less or be restless on the first evening, and a cat may hide for a day or two before venturing out. That usually passes once your pet has settled. Tell the sitter how your pet tends to react to change, so they know what is normal and what is worth getting in touch about. Also agree how the sitter can reach you quickly if needed, for example if you are travelling in another time zone or have poor coverage. A short daily message that all is calm is often enough to let you properly relax.
After the booking
Check on your pet when you are home again and ask the sitter how it went. If something happened during the booking, it must be reported to Pet Lounge within 48 hours of the booking ending to be considered by the Protection Fund. Please leave a review; it helps other pet owners choose and gives the sitter a chance to improve.
To learn more about how sitters are vetted, read our guide on how safe it is to hire a pet sitter, or find a sitter near you.
Frequently asked questions
How far ahead should I book a pet sitter?
There is no fixed rule, but book well ahead for school holidays, public holidays and summer. That also leaves time to meet before the first booking.
Do we have to meet before the booking?
It is not required, but we recommend a meeting before the first overnight stay or a longer booking. Note that the Protection Fund does not apply during the meeting itself, only during confirmed booking dates.
What happens if my pet falls ill during the booking?
The sitter contacts you and, if needed, the vet, as you have agreed. The Protection Fund covers accidental injury but not illness, so your own pet insurance matters.
How do I hand over the keys?
The simplest way is to hand over keys at the meeting before the booking and agree how they will be returned. Do not share door codes or alarm codes in open channels.
Can the sitter give my pet medication?
Yes, if you add the medication, dose and times to your pet's profile and go through it with the sitter beforehand. It is worth asking whether the sitter has given the same kind of medication before.
Find a sitter near you
Read profiles and reviews, compare prices and send a message before you book.
More guides
How much does a dog or cat sitter cost? How pricing works
Sitters set their own prices, and a service fee plus VAT on that fee is added on top. Here is the calculation step by step, with examples.
Read the guideDog sitter, boarding or day care - what suits your dog?
How long you are away and how your dog feels about other dogs decide it. A comparison with a table and questions to ask yourself.
Read the guideHow safe is it to hire a pet sitter?
How sitters are vetted, why payment goes through the platform, what the Protection Fund covers and the questions to ask before you book.
Read the guide