Options for sitting your dog or cat
You want to feel comfortable leaving your four-legged friend while on vacation, but you don’t know whom to turn to? Discover several solutions to entrust your pet with confidence.
Multiple options for dogs or cats
If you cannot take your faithful friend with you during your vacation and you have no one who can take care of him/her, please take note that there are multiple options for sitting. It’s up to you to choose the best for your animal!
Host families
A well-suited solution for pets who particularly need to be pampered and get along easily with other animals!
Advantages:
- Reassuring for the owner
- Family environment and daily interaction
- Easy to contact through specialized sites
Disadvantages:
- No professional training at all to run the business
- Limited capacity of hosting
Home visits or home care: “pet sitting”
This choice is ideal if your pet doesn’t cope well with a change of environment. The “pet sitter” can stay in your house and take care of your pet while you are away for a long period of time. If you will be away for a short period of time, home visits might be fine too, especially for cats who are mostly independent. Dogs would need regular visits to be let out and go to the toilet.
Advantages:
- Less disturbance for your pet
- Very suitable for cats
- Offering professional supervision
Disadvantages:
- Demands a high level of trust
- Run a test prior to validating your choice
Boarding facilities
Boarding facilities are places which are specifically established to accommodate your dog or cat. Your pet is looked after by certified professionals who will feed and care for them during your absence.
Advantages:
- Offering professional supervision and management
- Ideal for pets with health concerns
Disadvantages:
- Offering less walks & can be more stressful for your pet
Other types of care
A new trend from the United States: hotels for dogs or cats are becoming more and more popular. Pet sitting exchanges are also becoming more common.
Preparing for your dog or cat’s care
In order to best prepare your four-legged friends prior to your departure, have them visit the place where they’ll spend their vacation and meet the people who will be looking after them. If possible, make a test by leaving them there for a few hours so they can get used to it.
If your pet will be staying away from home, take the time to pack them a suitcase! Depending on the type of care chosen, you may need to provide their food, their favorite toys, their “blankie” or stuffed animal. Include their usual skincare products (shampoo or rinse-free cleanser, pipettes, paw pad balm…), and if they are taking any medication, be sure to include that as well! The use of a pillbox can make it easy to organize your pet’s medication for each day of the week. It’s always a good idea to put together a list of important information on your pet for the carer, such as habits, preferences, things to avoid, etc.
Make sure that your dog or cat is up-to-date with his/her vaccinations, especially if he/she is being kept with other animals. Include their vaccination information and the telephone numbers of people to contact in case of emergency (veterinarian and a family member if you can’t be reached).
Is your pet anxious? Help him/her relax with products made of calming pheromones or relaxing essential oils. Our advice: leave behind with your pet a piece of clothing that has your scent on it. This will help him/her feel safer and calmer.
