Quick answer: Good pet sitter instructions fit on a few pages and cover five things: who to call (you, a backup and the vet), what your pet eats and when, any medications, the daily routine, and house details like keys, alarm codes and where supplies are. Leave signed permission for the vet to treat your pet in case you can't be reached.
1. Contacts and emergencies
- Your phone number, and where you will be.
- A local backup contact who can make decisions if you can't be reached.
- Your regular vet, and the nearest 24-hour emergency clinic with its address.
- An animal poison control number.
- Your pet's microchip number and insurance details.
- Signed permission for the vet to treat your pet, with a spending limit.
2. Food and water
- The exact amount per meal and the times, not just the brand.
- Treats allowed, and foods to avoid.
- Where food is stored, and enough for the trip plus a few extra days.
- How often to refresh water and clean bowls.
3. Medications
For each one: name, dose, times, with or without food, how your pet takes it best, and what to do if a dose is refused or missed. A tick-box chart for each day prevents double doses when more than one person is helping.
4. The daily routine
- Walk times, how long, and harness or leash notes. Can your dog be off-leash anywhere?
- Litter box: how often to scoop and where the spare litter is.
- Where your pet sleeps, and the bedtime routine.
- Play, grooming and anything your pet expects each day.
5. The house and your pet's quirks
- Keys, alarm code, wifi, and which doors must stay shut.
- Where the leash, cleaning supplies and carrier are.
- Fears and triggers: thunder, other dogs, the vacuum, strangers.
- Escape habits, and hiding spots a scared cat uses.
- Signs your pet is unwell that the sitter might not know are unusual for them.
Ask your sitter to keep a daily log
A short note each day (fed, walked, meds given, pee and poop normal, mood) gives you peace of mind and catches problems early, especially for older pets or those on medication.
Frequently asked questions
What should I include in instructions for a pet sitter?
Your contact details and an emergency contact, your vet and the nearest 24-hour clinic, feeding amounts and times, medications and how to give them, the daily routine, house details like keys and alarm codes, and your pet's quirks and fears. Add written permission for the vet to treat your pet if you can't be reached.
Should I give my pet sitter permission to take my pet to the vet?
Yes. Leave a signed note authorizing treatment up to a set spending limit, and call your vet in advance to tell them who is looking after your pet and how payment will work.
How much food should I leave for a pet sitter?
Leave enough for the whole trip plus a few extra days in case your return is delayed, and write the exact amount per meal, not just the brand.
What should I tell a pet sitter about medications?
The name of each medication, the dose, the times, whether to give it with food, how your pet takes it best (in a treat, crushed, by hand), and what to do if a dose is missed or refused.
Print it instead of writing it from scratch
Our Pet Sitter Instructions printable has all of this as fill-in pages: contacts, emergency authorization, feeding and medication, routine and house notes, and a 14-day log for your sitter. Going away often or have several pets? The Pet Emergency & Guardian Binder adds care-at-a-glance cards and a lost pet plan.
Are you a pet sitter yourself? The Pet Sitter & Dog Walker Client Kit has intake forms, a service agreement checklist and visit report cards.
Can't find what you need? Tell us in the Suggestion Box.