Making Pet Care Clearer in Listings

[Mark_B]

Hi everyone!

Earlier this month, we shared that we’d be rolling out a few updates throughout December.

Today’s update is another small but important one. It’s not about adding something brand new, instead, it’s about making sure key pet care details are always included in listings, so owners and sitters can start every sit with clarity and confidence.

What’s changing?

From today, when owners create or edit a listing, a few existing pet care fields will now be mandatory rather than optional. These fields already exist; we’re simply making sure the most important information is always captured.

You’ll also notice that the “time alone” question has moved into the pet section, so all core pet care details live in one place.

By making this mandatory, it will show on the listing for sitters to view before applying for the sit.

Why this matters

We regularly hear from both owners and sitters that unclear or missing pet care details can cause frustration later on.

The most common gaps are things like:

• Feeding routines
• Exercise needs
• Medication
• How long pets can be left alone
• Day-to-day care expectations

In the first release today, you will see changes to medication and exercise needs. In the new year, we will make changes to make it easier for owners to share how to care for their pet.

By making these fields mandatory, we’re aiming to:

• Help sitters better understand what a sit will involve before applying
• Offer clearer care information from the very start

It’s a simple change, but one that helps build trust and avoid surprises on both sides.

What you’ll see as an owner

• When creating or editing a listing, you’ll be prompted to complete a small set of essential pet care fields
• These apply to new listings and existing listings when they’re edited
• If you’ve already included this information, there’s nothing extra to do, it’ll just be part of the flow

What this means for sitters

• Listings will include clearer, more consistent pet care details
• You’ll be able to apply knowing what daily care really looks like

Looking ahead

This is the first step in a wider effort to make listings easier to create, easier to review, and easier to understand. We’ll continue refining how pet care guidance is structured in the new year, and we’ll keep you posted as things evolve.

A quick reminder

These fields help set a strong foundation, but they don’t replace conversation. We always recommend messaging each other early to talk through routines, advice, and anything that needs clarifying before and after confirming the sit.

More updates will be shared in Trusted Times soon.

[Twitcher]

Will all members be advised of the above, not just the ones on the forum?

[Silversitters]

I am in favour of this update . Especially that it is mandatory to state if the pets require medication.

I‘ve seen this new feature on new listings today and surprisingly all the sits for cats say can be left only 6 hours - is this the maximum that host can choose or are there other options ?

All the cats sits that we have done with THS the cats could regularly be left alone for 8- 12 hours if necessary - so I am wondering why most hosts are picking 6 hours if there are other options ?

@Mark_B please can you confirm what the options are available for hosts to choose from ?

Also does this show on both the App and the website ?

[systaran]

@Silversitters I’m seeing that too for. Seems like it might be a default setting since these are sits that were already listed. Hopefully @Mark_B can shed some light on this.

[Maggie8K]

Glad to hear this.

[Mark_B]

Great questions!

@Twitcher

Will all members be advised of the above, not just the ones on the forum?

Yes, we’ll use Trusted Times to reach out to all members.

@Silversitters

all the sits for cats say can be left only 6 hours - is this the maximum

No, the options for how long a pet can be left alone include;

• Upto 2 hours
• Upto 4 hours
• Upto 6 Hours
• +6 hours

However, the final option currently appears as ‘Can be left alone for +6 hours’. We recognise that this can be made clearer (and it will be).

@Silversitters

Also does this show on both the App and the website ?

Just now the new fields are available on web only (the app update is expected in Jan)

Just now, ‘time alone’ is currently missing from app (this is expected to be updated in Jan) but they are all available for web.

Thanks all.

EDIT: changed last answer

[Marion]

I’m confused. When I joined there was a separate “about the pet section.” Then it disappeared on the web page and there were some instructions to include it in the responsibilities section. Then at some point I realized based on my also sitting, that on the app the separate information still exists. I realized this as a sitter because homeowners were sometimes surprised if I asked about a long-gone pet that is mentioned on the app but not on the website.

Was that fixed yet? Because it sure seems to me that should have been tackled before adding new stuff.

I think making sure the hours appears is a good idea.

I understand that some sitters will move on when they see medication requirements and some homeowners won’t discuss this, but given the realities of petcare, I don’t think a simple check off yes or no is useful. Here’s why:

As a sitter, I’ve often taken sits where a pet might not need daily meds but is on special diet which just mean feeding them one kind of food, but that food is technically presecription and/or adhere to that diet is super important to a homeowner. There are also a lot of OTC things homeowners might add which the pet could miss for a day or two but which are important. Not medicaitons, but there is a need for a sitter who will follow the directions.

I’ve been on sits where there have been regular meds required but the meds are put in the food or given in treats and it’s been extremely easy to do versus actually opening up an animals jaws and pilling them that way. It’s a big distinction.

There is also ALWAYS the possibility of something happneing, and while I haven’t been on sits where an animal got sick, I’ve been on sits where there is some medication a pet might need if certain symptoms returned.

As a homeowner, even though none of my cats take any pills regularly, I do regularly add a little laxative powder (OTC) to breakfast and dinner for one cat. That cat is also on a prescription diet for a different condition which has to be followed, so the cats need to be separated when they eat. All this is explained by me in the listing so there are no surprises for sitters during a chat, but none of them are covered by a yes/no medications question.

IMO it would be more useful to bring back “Petcare Resibilities” maybe with “Special health needs” as a section to ellicit information with some prompts regarding dietary needs, etc.

There are all sorts of pet quirks that may be deal breakers that won’t be covered by“medications.” For instance, I took a dog-walking gig at a neighbor’s. When I came for the meet and greet, I noticed the dog had a pee diaper. Small dog, not a big deal. The dog isn’t on meds but has mild cushings and or a behavior issue and needs to the diaper which the homeowner didn’t mention.

The current “yes” “no” business, might become a filter for sitters that don’t want “difficult” sits, but the information might not be so useful. It might cut out a lot of sits or owners whose animals have some special needs but don’t need medications may be more likely not to include that information.

[Debbie]

I agree with @Marion While knowing if a pet needs medication is helpful, it isn’t as simple as yes or no. I need to know how the medication is administered in order to decide whether I am comfortable to do it. For example if the pet was a cat

• medication added to food? Yes
• liquid medication administered orally? Yes if this can be done when the cat is eating or the cat is cooperative
• insulin injections? Yes
• holding an unhappy cat in a towel while trying to insert a pill? No thanks!
• applying topical cream / ointment? Maybe depending on the cat’s comfort with this

If I were presented with 2 otherwise identical listings, where one said the cat required medication and the other did not, and if there was no further information about the type of medication, method of administration and the cat’s comfort level with this (and comfort level around strangers), I know which I would apply for first.

Clear communication is so important, and there is only so much that can be conveyed through a checkbox.

[WeRPAWsome]

This feels like a really sensible step.

Clear pet care details upfront help everyone start on the same page — and avoid awkward surprises later. Making key fields mandatory (especially things like time alone, medication, and exercise) should make listings easier to assess and applications more confident.

I also like that these aren’t new questions — just ensuring the most important information is consistently captured and visible before applying.

Appreciate the reminder too that good listings don’t replace good conversation — but they do set a much stronger foundation.

Thanks for listening to ongoing feedback and tightening this up. Small changes like this make a big difference in day-to-day sits.

[temba]

Good to see these changes @Mark_B. I do have to agree with @Marion and @Debbie re more info is needed in relation to medication needs. It’s quite different having to give an insulin injection to sprinkling a powder into the food so I would expect owners need to clarify more in their listing re medication. Yes, communication is important but it would mean sitters have this vital information before considering whether to apply.
Hopefully one of the next fields to be included will be in relation to where the pets sleep.

[PVGemini]

Where pets sleep might be a good addition.

[SRG]

Not all dogs need to be walked although there does not seem to be an option to note that Especially true for dogs with health issues or direct access to large yards. This option could also be used if an HO uses a professional dog walker for this task. (This was discussed on another platform so thought I would share it here)

[GotYourBack]

@Mark_B

when owners create or edit a listing, a few existing pet care fields will now be mandatory

@Mark_B, great update. Will these fields be mandatory for all new listings? For example, if an existing Pet Parent reuses legacy listing then will they be required to populate this new data?

[idocsteve]

@SRG

Not all dogs need to be walked although there does not seem to be an option

We have 1 large dog and 2 smaller ones. Those 2 don’t need to be walked, they are content roaming the property. As there’s no option for “no walking” a sitter may think “wow 3 dogs to walk no thanks”.

[Mark_B]

@WeRPAWsome

Clear pet care details upfront help everyone start on the same page — and avoid awkward surprises later.

Exactly this.

@GotYourBack

great update. Will these fields be mandatory for all new listings? For example, if an existing Pet Parent reuses legacy listing then will they be required to populate this new data?

Yes. Once the ‘time alone’ section has been added out to the app too (January) all listings - including those being updated - will require these sections to be completed.

@SRG

Not all dogs need to be walked

That’s fair, I’ll pass that along.

@temba

I would expect owners need to clarify more in their listing re medication.

Absolutely. There are examples in our forum where a sitter hasn’t been informed on needing to administer medicine until they arrive. This small feature change alone may not include all the vital information, but it does make it harder for something to slip the hosts mind.

Every sit and every pet can be a little bit different. These subtle changes are not aimed at replacing clear communication, but aiding it.

[Oztravels]

Excellent update and great feedback from the community

[GotYourBack]

@Mark_B, thank you for thorough update.

If seek bonus points then feel free to extend this project to also include a section on pet sleeping location - “Where does pet typically sleep?” … human bed, pet bed/crate, furniture, other.

There are many THS Forum threads on related topics. Personally, given experience, it impacts our application criteria and confirmation decision.

[Mark_B]

@GotYourBack

If seek bonus points

I always do!

This feedback was also been shared alongside the ‘no walking’ feedback.
Tagging @PVGemini for visibility.