How to Create a Pet Sitter Backup Plan (And Why You Need One)
Picture this: You finally booked that dream vacation. Bags are packed, boarding passes ready, pets prepped… only to find out that your regular sitter isn’t available. Do you frantically start texting friends? Begging neighbors? Cancel the trip? Or do you calmly pull out your backup plan?
Having a backup sitter plan is one of the best ways to keep the stress low (for you and your pets) when life happens. Here’s what you need to make it work:
Backup Sitters
I advocate A LOT for using the same sitter as your go-to. And I stand by it. Pets thrive on routine and familiar faces. But even the best sitter can’t be everywhere at once. Sitters get booked, have family emergencies, or even (gasp!) take a vacation (I, myself, am writing this from Atlanta’s airport on my way home). Most of us work on a first-come, first-served basis and can’t hold dates “just in case”.
That’s why it’s smart to have one or two trusted “pinch-hitter” sitters. Rotate them in every once in a while so they stay warmed up and your pets stay comfortable with them. That way, if your primary sitter is unavailable, you’re not scrambling, you’re just switching to Plan B.
Emergency Information
Things can and will go wrong sometimes. That’s just life. Planning ahead makes all the difference.
Just like with your regular sitter, leave your “pinch-hitter” with:
Emergency contacts (friend, neighbor, family member, etc)
Vet info and preferred emergency clinic
Health notes & red flags. For example, “if she skips more than one meal, call the vet”.
And don’t just tell them once. Write it down and leave a copy somewhere easy to find. That way your sitter isn’t relying on memory if something stressful happens.
General Information
Your backup sitter won’t know your home or pets as well as your regular sitter, so make it easy on them:
Label where things are (food, leashes, meds, litter supplies, etc.)
Write out feeding, exercise, and medication routines
Note quirks (the door that only locks on the third jiggle, the cat who hides under the bed until offered a treat)
You don’t want to be answering texts from an airplane or halfway across the country. A little preparation upfront means fewer interruptions for you and smoother care for your pets.
Bottom Line
Your pets deserve continuity of care and you deserve peace of mind. A solid backup plan means no frantic texts, no last-minute cancellations, and no guilt about leaving. Because the only thing you should be worrying about when you travel is whether your dog will forgive you for leaving (they will) and not whether someone remembered to feed them.