@KittySitter Exactly! I agree — there’s a significant difference - it’s quite interesting actually. Never seen or experienced a listing where the host insists on you arriving days before they leave their cat.
There’s another post now where the host wants a full week of “slumber party” before departing — wild! Someone in the comments had a great workaround though, in terms of early flights and departures : If requested they arrived the day before, and the host simply headed off afterwards and spent the night at an airport hotel.
Perfect solution, and that’s literally what airport hotels are for✈️
Hi Erconwald, I find that at least 80% of sits I do that I stay the night before. It is more reassuiring for the owner that you are actually there, rather than stressin g on the day if you will turn up in time and not stuck in traffic etc. It also gives the pet owners a chance to get to know you and show you any walks they do, if it is a dog or dogs. I always find it nice if I am shown the area. I juit find it more relaxing all round, rather than a rushed telling you things and then being given the key and they are off. Good Luck.
We’ve now happily completed 49 sits, with very many requiring us to arrive the day before, usually because the HOs have an early flight scheduled. We’d never agree to arrive 2 days early, unless separate guest accommodation was available, since that length of time is simply not necessary for us to get the measure of things (if this is a requirement, do please state it clearly in your listing so that only sitters who are comfortable with this arrangement will apply).
We’ve done sits where a handover of an hour or two is sufficient, and others where we’ve simply agreed to pick up the keys to access the property. Every case is different, so it’s a matter of assessing what works best for you and finding sitters who can confidently facilitate those needs.
Do include any buffer days in your sit dates and be transparent in the listing. You’ll soon recognise which applicants appeal to you and which don’t, so it’s best for everyone if you make quick response and decline anyone you feel doesn’t fit the bill (with a note of thanks, to be polite) and arrange video chats with those who potentially do. At that point, a phrase which is used extensively on here - for both pet parents and sitters - is to ‘trust your gut’, and it’s good advice; if you have any reservations when reading an application or speaking with prospective sitters, then decline. Likewise, when your instincts are that you’ve found a good match, act quickly to secure the sitter.
Sitters should be considered guests in your home, so a good match will leave you feeling happy, confident and relaxed. And please do remember that sitters will be assessing you in much the same manner during video chats, since this is intended to be an equally beneficial exchange.
How does this work between you and the pet? This is the question that has been really bothering me since thinking of joining. I am a new pet parent. I am looking for sitters for my small dog for just 3 nights-4 days in York in July. I have to catch an early train on the Friday. Does this mean I leave the poor dog alone and fretting in the house only to have complete strangers turn up later and let them themselves in!? I hope you can help. What do you usually do with pet parents leaving early?
If you have the room you can invite the sitter to stay the evening before. That way you and the dog get to meet the sitter and you can relax and leave early the next morning.
If you don’t have the extra space to accommodate the sitter it may prove more difficult. Also some sitters prefer not to share the space with the homeowner.
York is a great city but it is a relatively short sit and short notice. Make your listing the best it can be to attract sitters. Clarify whether the dog is happy to explore with the sitter or how long your dog can be left after a walk so that the sitter can explore on their own for a few hours.
Specify how far you are from amenities, public transport etc. and fully complete the amenities section.
If you use the spyglass at the top of the page you can search for tips on creating a great listing.
I only sit cats, and have never met a cat who cared whether the pet parent was there or not. Cats disdain new humans regardless. Invariably once they discover I’m the one who feeds them, they become quite a bit friendlier. On my current sit, both cats completely ignored me on day one. By day two, one was sleeping with me in the bed. Now on day three, they take turns sitting in my lap much of the day. I very much doubt the progress would have been different had their parents been around.
You reference pet parents leaving early - I do not want them to leave early. They can leave precisely on time for their journey. If they want me to arrive early, I need a private place to be prior to their departure. And by private I mean either alone in their house, or alone in a hotel - that can be their choice. I joined this site to hang out with cats. If I wanted to hang out with humans I would have signed up for Couchsurfing.
In this situation with an earlier departure it would be best to have the sitters arrive the evening before for a handover . Then you can go to and stay in a hotel near the station and catch your train in the morning knowing your dog is in safe hands .
Alternatively you could book a hotel room for the sitter to stay in that night .
Or if you have a guest room offer that - but make it clear in the listing that there will be an overlap with them staying with you on the first night . If you are going to do this , most hosts would prepare a meal for the sitters or take them out for a meal .
Start the sit dates on the day you need the sitter to arrive .
Hi @Eleanor.in.York
If doing a dog sit we happily come the day before and stay over, get taken on the dogs favourite walk and share a meal with the owner.
Some people hate this, some love it and some are ambivalent, look for what you want, just make sure you are clear in the listing about arrival and departure times of both you and the sitter.
We have stayed in the house with the homeowner, and also been put up in a BnB by the homeowner if they don’t have the space. We have also paid for our own accommodation if we have chosen, for our own peace of mind, to arrive early. We would object to being requested to arrive early and pay for our own accommodation however.
You might have trouble finding a sitter for such a short sit. We typically will not do any sits less than 7 nights.
In your listing, I would be very specific about what you need, and what you are willing to do for the sitter.
For example, “I need to leave my house by 7 am on Friday, July 11, so I would like the sitter to arrive by 8 am that day in order to care for my dog. Ideally sitter can visit my home on Thursday, July 10, in the afternoon for a handover, and then stay nearby overnight (I will pay for X hotel).”
“I will return around 8 pm on Monday, July 14, and I would like the sitter to stay in my home until I return. I will pay for X hotel that night as well.”
You should consider paying for a local hotel for the sitter for the night before you leave, and for the night you get home, if you are unable to house the sitter in a guest room.
Alternatively, YOU could stay in a hotel on the night before you leave and on the night you get back, and the sitter would start on Thursday (afternoon) and leave on Tuesday (morning).
Maybe you will get lucky and find someone local to help you, so they can arrive early and stay late without any need for alternative accommodation.
I agree — there’s a significant difference - it’s quite interesting actually. Never seen or experienced a listing where the host insists on you arriving days before they leave their cat.
Invariably once they discover I’m the one who feeds them, they become quite a bit friendlier. On my current sit, both cats completely ignored me on day one. By day two, one was sleeping with me in the bed. Now on day three, they take turns sitting in my lap much of the day. I very much doubt the progress would have been different had their parents been around.