Cat Sitter Instructions: What Your Cat Would Want the Sitter to Know
A playful note from the cat that turns into a free cat sitter mini page, plus the holiday bouquet warning every sitter should know.
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Pet Sitter Instructions: What to Write Before You Leave
Pet sitter instructions are the notes that keep your pets' care the same while you are away. The essentials are a profile for each pet, feeding and medicine details, the daily routine, house access, and an emergency card with your vet, a 24-hour clinic, and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control number.
Did you know? ASPCA Animal Poison Control answers 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, at (888) 426-4435. A consultation fee may apply, so put the number on the emergency card before you leave. ASPCA Animal Poison Control
Whether you hire a professional, ask a neighbor to feed the cat, or leave the dog with grandparents, the same few pages make the handoff calm. Start with the checklist, copy the template, and use our printable pack if you want it done for you.
Free printable pet sitter notes
Our free pet sitter notes page fits on one US Letter sheet. The top half is for you: pet names, exact food amounts, feeding times, medicine, walks or litter, a never feed line, and who to call. The bottom half is a seven day log your sitter fills in, so you come home to notes instead of guesses.
Download free pet sitter notes (PDF)
Instructions for a dog sitter
Dogs need a few extra lines that cats usually do not. Write the walk times and the usual route, whether your dog wears a harness or a collar, how they act around other dogs and strangers, and any habit of slipping out the door or under a fence. Note crate and bedtime routines, and what a normal energy level looks like, so the sitter can spot a dog that seems off.
Keep your pet's health history on its own page, too. Our free pet medical records template puts the microchip number, rabies and vaccine dates, medicines, and allergies on one sheet the sitter can hand to a vet.
Where should I start?
- What to leave for a pet sitter: the full checklist of information, supplies, and emergency details.
- Pet sitter instructions template: a fill-in template and a free printable PDF, with a filled-in example for a dog and a cat.
- Pet medical records template: one page of health details for the sitter or an emergency vet.
- Cat sitter instructions: a note from the cat's point of view, the holiday lily warning, and a free printable mini page.
- Pet emergency kit checklist: what to have ready in case something bigger happens while you are gone.
Before you leave: a quick check
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Want this on paper with room to write? See what's inside the Pet Sitter Handoff Pack.
If you can, walk through the pages with your sitter in person before you leave.
Guides in this topic
Pet Sitter Instructions Template, With a Filled-In Example
A simple template you can copy, and a sample written out for a real-life dog and cat.
What to Leave for a Pet Sitter: A Printable Checklist
The information, supplies, and instructions a sitter needs, with a free checklist.
Printables for this topic
Pets
Pet Sitter Handoff Pack
Everything your sitter needs, on a few calm pages that live on the fridge.
$5.99 · 11 pages
Pets
Pet Parent Bundle: Emergency Binder + Sitter Pack
The long-term pet plan and the everyday sitter handoff, together.
$9.99 · 2 PDFs, 32 pages
Frequently asked questions
What are pet sitter instructions?
Pet sitter instructions are written notes that tell whoever cares for your pets exactly what to do while you are away: what and when each pet eats, which medicines to give, the daily routine, how to get into the house, and who to call in an emergency. Written notes keep care consistent and reduce worried phone calls.
Do I need written instructions if the sitter is a friend or relative?
Yes. Friends and relatives often know your pets, but they may not know exact food amounts, medicine times, alarm codes, or which emergency clinic is open overnight. A written sheet protects your pets and takes pressure off the helper. It also helps if a different person has to step in unexpectedly while you are gone.
Where should I keep pet sitter instructions?
Keep one printed copy in a visible spot inside the house, such as the fridge, and put the emergency card on top. Text your sitter a photo of each page as a backup. Do not tape instructions with alarm or door codes to an outside door or window where passersby could read them.
What should pet sitter notes include?
Good pet sitter notes have two parts. The owner writes exact food amounts, feeding times, medicines, walks or litter, a never feed list, and who to call. The sitter then jots a short daily log: what each pet ate, medicines given, walks, bathroom habits, and anything unusual. Our free printable has both on one page.
What instructions should I leave for a dog sitter?
For a dog sitter, add the walk schedule and route, leash or harness rules, how your dog acts with other dogs and people, crate and bedtime habits, and any door dashing or yard escape risks. Include feeding amounts, medicine times, your vet, a 24-hour clinic, and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control number.
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
Related topics
- Pet Emergency Plan: Kits, records, and evacuation plans for dogs and cats, based on official guidance.
- New Puppy Guide: Getting ready for pickup day, the first night, and the first 90 days.