Part of our Pet Sitter Instructions guide
Pet Sitter Instructions Template, With a Filled-In Example
"Feed twice a day" sounds clear until a sitter is standing in your kitchen holding a scoop and wondering how full it should be.
A good pet sitter instructions template has five parts: a profile for each pet, feeding and medication details, the daily routine, house access and rules, and an emergency page with your vet, a 24-hour clinic, and a poison control number. Fill it in with exact amounts and times, then walk your sitter through it.
Below is a simple template you can copy by hand or print, followed by a filled-in example for a made-up dog and cat so you can see the level of detail that helps a sitter most. There is also a quick quiz: can you spot what a sitter would get wrong?
Did you know? The ASPCA says grapes and raisins can lead to kidney damage in dogs. That is why every template on this page has a "never feed" line: a kind sitter sharing a snack is one of the easiest pet emergencies to prevent. ASPCA: People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets
What does a pet sitter instructions template include?
The template follows the same categories the American Animal Hospital Association recommends: who each pet is, what and when they eat, what medicine they take, what their day looks like, how the house works, and who to call in an emergency. Each section has blanks for specific facts, not general notes like "feed twice a day."
Pet sitter instructions template
Trip details. Dates away: ______ Return date and time: ______ My phone: ______ Backup contact: ______
Pet profile (one per pet). Name and nicknames: ______ Age and breed: ______ Microchip number: ______ Personality and fears: ______ Hiding spots: ______ What calms them: ______
Feeding. Food and amount: ______ Times: ______ Where food is kept: ______ Treat rules: ______ Never feed (for example grapes, raisins, chocolate, xylitol): ______
Medication. Name and dose: ______ Time: ______ How to give it: ______ If a dose is missed or refused: ______
Daily routine. Walks or litter: ______ Play and alone time: ______ Bedtime and crate: ______ Off-limits areas: ______
House. How to get in: ______ Alarm: share in person ______ Wi-Fi: ______ Trash day, mail, plants: ______
Emergency. Regular vet: ______ 24-hour emergency clinic: ______ ASPCA Animal Poison Control: (888) 426-4435 Pet insurance: ______ Nearby backup person: ______ First aid kit and carriers are kept: ______
Call me if. ______
Tip: to print just this template, use your browser's Print option. Our site hides menus and buttons when you print.
Download the pet sitter instructions template (PDF)
Want it ready to print? The free PDF version of this pet sitter instructions template is one US Letter page with every section above and blank lines to fill in by hand. Print a fresh copy for each trip, fill it in with exact amounts and times, and leave it on the fridge.
Download the free template (PDF)
Add one page per pet from our free pet medical records template so the sitter has the microchip number, vaccines, and medicines if a vet visit comes up.
What does a filled-in example look like?
Here is the template filled in for two made-up pets, Biscuit the dog and Pepper the cat. Notice the exact amounts, times, and locations. Specific details like "one level cup" and "pill hidden in cheese" help a sitter far more than general notes, and they keep care the same as when you are home.
| Section | Biscuit (dog, example) | Pepper (cat, example) |
|---|---|---|
| Profile | 6-year-old beagle mix. Friendly, scared of thunder. Hides under the bed in storms. | 9-year-old short-hair. Shy with new people. Hides in the closet. |
| Feeding | 1 level cup dry food at 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. Food bin in pantry. | Half a can wet food at 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. Dry food bowl always half full. |
| Medication | Joint chew with breakfast. | Thyroid pill at 7 a.m., hidden in a pill pocket. |
| Routine | Walk 7:30 a.m., noon, and 6 p.m. Harness only, he slips collars. | Scoop litter once a day. Keep the basement door closed. |
| Call me if | Skips two meals, limps, or gets out of the yard. | Not seen for a full day, misses her pill, or stops using the litter box. |
Here is Biscuit's side as a single printable page, the way it would look taped inside a kitchen cabinet:
How do I make the template work for my pets?
Write numbers instead of general words, put the most urgent facts at the top, and add a short reason for any unusual rule, such as "harness only, he slips collars." Keep one page per pet so nothing gets mixed up, and update the pages before every trip, since food, medicine, and phone numbers change over time.
Quiz: what would a sitter get wrong?
Tap each note to see what is missing.
"Feed her in the morning."
Missing: how much and what time. Try "Half a can of wet food at 7 a.m."
"He's fine with other dogs."
Missing: the exceptions. Try "Fine with small dogs. Cross the street if you see a big dog off leash."
"Meds are in the cabinet."
Missing: which medicine, the dose, and how to give it. Try "1 thyroid pill at 7 a.m., hidden in a pill pocket. If she spits it out, try once more, then text me."
"Call the vet if needed."
Missing: the number, the hours, and what counts as needed. Add the vet, the 24-hour clinic, and a "call me if" list.
Tap to tick, your progress saves on this device
Want this on paper with room to write? See what's inside the Pet Sitter Handoff Pack.
Should I use a printed template or an app?
Either works, and many families use both. A printed sheet on the fridge never needs a charged phone, a password, or Wi-Fi, and anyone who steps in, like a neighbor or relative, can read it right away. An app or shared note is handy for daily updates and photos. Keep the emergency facts on paper either way.
For the full list of what a sitter needs beyond this template, from house access to a self-check you can run before you leave, see what to leave for a pet sitter. Our pet sitter instructions guide collects everything on this topic in one place, including free printable pet sitter notes with a daily log for your sitter. Leaving a cat? Our cat sitter instructions add the cat-only details, like hiding spots, the litter box, and the holiday lily warning.
Frequently asked questions
Can I copy this pet sitter template for free?
Yes. You are welcome to copy the template on this page by hand, retype it, or print the page for your own household. If you would rather have finished, large-print pages with a meds grid, emergency page, and daily log already laid out, our Pet Sitter Handoff Pack does that for a few dollars on Etsy.
How long should pet sitter instructions be?
Most households fit the essentials on two to four pages: one page per pet, one page of routines and house access, and one emergency page. Put the most urgent information first. A sitter should be able to find the vet number, feeding amounts, and medicine times in a few seconds without reading everything else.
Is it safe to write my alarm code on the instructions?
Many owners prefer to share alarm codes and lockbox codes in person or by text, and leave a blank on the printed sheet. If you do write them down, keep the pages inside the home, such as on the fridge, and never tape them to a door or window. Change temporary codes after your trip.
What is a "call me if" list?
A call me if list tells your sitter which situations need an immediate phone call instead of a text later. Common examples are a pet not eating for a full day, repeated vomiting or diarrhea, limping, a missed medication, a pet that cannot be found, or any sign that seems wrong. It removes guesswork for nervous sitters.
Is there a printable PDF version of this template?
Yes. The free pet sitter instructions template PDF has the same sections as the template on this page, with blank lines for trip details, each pet, feeding, medicine, routine, house access, and emergency contacts. Print one copy per trip. For daily notes from your sitter, use our free pet sitter notes page.
Please note: This page is for general education only. It is not veterinary, medical, legal, or financial advice. Official guidance and phone numbers can change, so confirm them on the official sites linked here. We are not affiliated with any agency or organization we cite.
Sources
- AAHA: Preparing for the Unexpected: Essential Pet Sitter Instructions (April 2025)
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control, (888) 426-4435. A consultation fee may apply
- Ready.gov: Prepare Your Pets for Disasters
- ASPCA: People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets. Source for grapes, raisins, and xylitol on the never-feed line
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Keep reading
- What to Leave for a Pet Sitter: A Printable Checklist
- Pet Sitter Instructions: start here
- Cat Sitter Instructions: What Your Cat Would Want the Sitter to Know
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