Leaving your pet with a sitter is stressful — not because you don’t trust them, but because there are so many small details to remember. Here’s a complete checklist of what to prepare, so your pet is cared for and your sitter isn’t guessing.
1. Contact information
Your sitter needs more than your phone number. Leave a contact sheet with:
- Your phone number and the best time to reach you
- A local backup contact (friend or family member)
- Your veterinary practice, address and phone number
- An out-of-hours / emergency veterinary contact
2. Feeding instructions
Be exact: food type, quantity, and timing. Note where the food is stored, which measuring tool to use, and anything your pet must not eat.
3. Daily routine
Walks, toilet breaks, litter routine and rest times. Pets are calmer when their routine stays familiar.
4. Medication and care
If your pet takes medication or needs special care, write it down and leave the veterinarian’s instructions with it. Never rely on verbal instructions alone.
5. Home access and boundaries
Keys, alarm codes, which rooms are off-limits, and where the supplies are kept.
6. An escalation plan
Tell your sitter who to contact and in what order if something goes wrong.
Make it easy with a printable template
Rather than writing all of this out from scratch, a structured printable keeps everything in one place and is easy to hand over. Download our free sample page, or get the full six-page Pet Sitter Handover Pack (A4 + US Letter) with a contact sheet, pet profile, home notes, visit record and return handover.
This checklist is general information, not veterinary advice. Always follow your veterinarian’s instructions.