Home visits

A home visit is a scheduled service during which the professional comes to care for the pet and then leaves. The duration, frequency and tasks performed are agreed before the service.

Depending on the pet and service chosen, the visit may include meals, water, litter or habitat maintenance, an outdoor break, playtime, interaction and a general check of the pet’s condition and behavior.

During a home visit, the professional stays for an agreed period and then leaves. This service may be suitable when the pet can remain alone between visits and its needs can be organized around scheduled visits.

In-home pet care, by contrast, involves the sitter spending a longer period in the home and may include evening or overnight stays. It is therefore important to check exactly what type of service is offered before booking.

Home visits can be arranged for cats, dogs and different companion animals when their needs are compatible with periods without a person present between visits. The necessary frequency depends on the species, age, health, temperament and routine of each pet.

A very young, elderly or ill pet, an animal requiring close monitoring or one that does not cope well with being alone may need a different arrangement. The choice between visits, extended presence or another care option should therefore be adapted to the individual pet.

There is no single visit frequency suitable for every pet. It should be determined according to feeding, outdoor and toileting needs, interaction, habitat maintenance and any particular care instructions.

The duration should also allow the agreed tasks to be completed properly without rushing. Before booking, explain what needs to be done during each visit so that an appropriate service can be chosen.

Prepare the necessary food and explain the portions, schedules and feeding habits of each pet. Mention known allergies, prohibited foods and any rules concerning treats.

The professional should also know where bowls and food supplies are kept, how to refresh water and, when several pets live together, how meals should be organized if they have different diets.

For a cat, a visit may include litter tray maintenance. For other pets, tasks may involve the habitat, feeding equipment, certain accessories or a visual check of the environment.

Explain exactly what should be checked or maintained and where the necessary supplies are located. Because needs differ considerably between species, tasks should be specifically agreed rather than assumed.

When the service includes a walk or outdoor break, explain what equipment is used, your pet’s normal routine and any particular precautions. For a dog, mention its leash behavior and possible reactions to other dogs, people or situations.

Clear instructions should also be provided regarding doors, gates, gardens and other access points to reduce the risk of escape during the visit.

A home visit does not necessarily consist only of filling a food bowl. Depending on the pet’s needs, time may be spent playing, providing calm interaction, going outside or simply offering companionship.

The pet sitter can also observe appetite, water intake, activity, behavior or other visible changes and inform you if something appears unusual.

If your pet is receiving treatment, check before booking that the professional is willing and able to provide the required care. Medication should be accompanied by precise instructions concerning dosage, timing and administration.

A pet sitter should not independently change a treatment or improvise medical care. If a health concern arises, the instructions agreed with the owner and veterinarian should be followed.

Write down the essential information: pet identification, feeding, schedules, routines, walks or outdoor breaks, litter or habitat maintenance, particular behaviors and any treatments.

Also provide your contact details, those of a trusted person available while you are away, as well as your regular veterinarian’s details and, where necessary, an emergency veterinary service.

Before leaving, decide what the professional should do if they notice an injury, significant behavioral change, refusal to eat or another concerning problem.

The professional should know who to contact if you cannot be reached and which veterinarian or emergency service to use if the situation requires prompt attention.

Home visits require giving the professional a way to access your property. Before leaving, agree on how keys, access cards or other necessary means of entry will be provided and returned.

Also explain precautions concerning doors, windows, gates and areas accessible to the pets. If a pet tends to hide or tries to escape, this information should be clearly communicated.

A meeting before the first service allows you to introduce the pets to the professional, show them around the home and review important instructions together.

You can show them where food, accessories, litter supplies, necessary products, walking equipment and any medication are kept. It is also an opportunity to make sure your pet’s needs and the scope of the service are clearly understood.

Ask about their experience with the pets concerned and clarify exactly what is included in a visit: duration, feeding, maintenance, possible walks, playtime, updates and other tasks.

Explain your pet’s particular needs before booking. If those needs are complex or require significant monitoring, make sure the visit format and the professional’s experience are genuinely suitable.

You can agree with the professional to receive a message, photo or report after visits. This can confirm whether the pet has eaten, whether the planned tasks were completed and whether anything unusual was observed.

Also define the situations in which you want to be contacted immediately rather than waiting for the usual update.

Requirements applying to professional pet sitting and home visit services can vary according to country, territory, species and services offered. You can check any qualifications, insurance, authorizations or other requirements that may apply in your area.

Prousty & Co allows you to search for professionals offering home visits for different companion animals.

Review profiles and contact professionals to discuss dates, visit frequency and duration, pets concerned and required tasks before choosing a service.