Even the most experienced pet sitter does not know your pet the way you do. A written information sheet bridges that gap. It helps the sitter follow your pet’s routine, spot problems early and act quickly in an emergency. It also saves you from trying to remember everything during a rushed handoff on the morning you leave.
Contacts first
Put the most important information at the top, where it is easy to find in a hurry:
- Your phone number and the best way to reach you while traveling
- A local backup contact who can make decisions or help if you are unreachable
- Your veterinarian’s name, phone number and address
- The nearest 24-hour emergency veterinary clinic and its address
- Your pet’s microchip number and the registry it is listed with
Before you leave, call your veterinary clinic and ask whether they need written permission for the sitter to authorize care. Some clinics keep a form on file. Discuss with the sitter how you would like them to handle costs and decisions if your pet needs treatment.
The daily routine
Describe a normal day in plain steps. Include when and how much your pet eats, where food is kept and whether it gets any treats or supplements. Note walk times, favorite routes and leash habits for dogs, and litter box cleaning expectations for cats. Mention where your pet sleeps and any bedtime habits. The more closely the sitter can stick to the routine, the more settled your pet will feel.
Health and behavior notes
List any medications with the dose, timing and how your pet best takes them. Note allergies, foods to avoid and any ongoing health conditions. Then add the behavior details that only you would know: your dog pulls toward squirrels, your cat hides under the bed when the doorbell rings, your dog should not greet other dogs on walks. Explain what is normal for your pet, so the sitter can tell when something is not.
Include a short list of signs that should prompt a call to the vet, such as not eating, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy or straining in the litter box. When in doubt, the sitter should call the veterinarian.
House notes and summer specifics
Show the sitter how to lock doors, set the thermostat and use any alarm. In summer, add notes about keeping the home cool, filling water bowls often and walking dogs in the early morning and evening. Tell them which windows can be opened and which must stay closed for the cat’s safety. If you expect thunderstorms or fireworks while you are away, explain how your pet reacts and where its safe space is.
Keep it current
Save the sheet on your phone and print a copy to leave on the counter. Update it whenever medications, food or contacts change. A good information sheet takes an hour to create the first time and only minutes to refresh, and it gives every future sitter a head start.
