Choosing a Pet Sitter Is About More Than Who’s Available

When people start looking for a pet sitter, it often feels like a simple decision. You need someone to stop by while you’re at work, or check in while you’re gone for a weekend or longer. Your pets are easy, right?

Most of the time, they are. Until they aren’t.

What many families don’t realize is how differently pets can behave once their people leave—and how quickly small issues can turn into bigger ones if no one is trained to notice them early. That’s where professional pet sitting really matters.

What Changes When You’re Gone

One of the biggest differences between a professional pet sitter and someone “helping out” is observation.

Experienced sitters aren’t just there to refill bowls or open doors. They’re watching for subtle changes—signs of stress, discomfort, illness, or behavior that’s just slightly off from normal. Those early signs are easy to miss if you haven’t seen them before.

Cats, in particular, are masters at hiding stress. A cat who isn’t eating may seem fine at first, but appetite changes can become serious quickly. In some cases, not eating for as little as 24 hours can start affecting major organs. That’s why daily check-ins are so important, even for cats who aren’t especially social. Many cats don’t want to be held or played with by someone new—and that’s okay. What they do need is fresh food and water, clean litter boxes, and a calm presence checking that everything is working the way it should.

Automatic feeders, fountains, and litter boxes can be great tools, but they’re not foolproof. They can malfunction, tip over, or stop working altogether. Having a person physically there provides an important layer of safety.

Why Many Dogs Do Better at Home

For dogs, staying home is often less stressful than boarding. Familiar smells, routines, and spaces can make a big difference—especially for dogs who don’t do well in loud or busy environments.

That said, dogs don’t always behave the same way when their family is gone.

A dog who is friendly and relaxed with their people may bark, hide, or show stress behaviors when a new person enters the home alone. This surprises a lot of families, and it’s one of the reasons planning ahead matters so much. Meeting a pet sitter once—sometimes more than once—before a trip gives dogs time to build familiarity. Short visits with you present and without you present can help create positive associations and reduce stress when the sitter arrives on their own. A professional pet sitter is trained to recognize when a dog needs more space, a slower approach, or a different strategy altogether. That awareness can prevent situations where care breaks down because a dog is too overwhelmed to allow someone inside.

Your Home Is Part of the Care, Too

Professional pet sitting also means someone is regularly checking on your home. That might look like bringing in the mail and packages, making sure doors and gates are secure, or noticing something that doesn’t seem right—like a leak, an unusual smell, or a tripped breaker. These aren’t things people always think about when they hire a sitter, but they’re often the things families are most grateful for afterward. They think ahead on another way in the house if the main way in isn’t working (key broke, batteries died in the keypad lock, garage door isn’t working).

Food, Medications, and Stress Responses

It’s also very common for pets to eat less—or not eat at all—when their family is away. This isn’t usually a training issue or stubbornness; it’s stress. A professional pet sitter plans for this. During the initial consultation, they’ll ask about food preferences, sensitivities, and what has or hasn’t worked in the past. They’ll have multiple ways to encourage eating and know when a change is something to watch versus something that needs attention.

The same goes for medications. Experience matters when it comes to giving pills, managing schedules, and knowing what’s normal for each individual pet.

Why Experience Makes a Difference

People sometimes ask why they shouldn’t just hire a neighbor, a teen, or someone offering to help for extra money.

The biggest difference is experience under pressure.

A professional pet sitter has likely cared for more animals in a single year than many people will in their entire lives. They’ve seen pets who refuse to eat, pets who escape harnesses, pets who suddenly don’t feel well, and pets who behave in unexpected ways. They’re trained in pet CPR and first aid, know how to triage emergencies, and have a plan if your regular veterinarian is closed. They’re prepared to transport a pet if needed and to make judgment calls if they can’t reach you right away. These details should always be discussed during the consultation—preferred veterinarians, where carriers are kept, and what decisions you want made in an emergency. (Pet parents are, of course, responsible for veterinary costs.)

When Pets Are Stressed, Someone Should Notice

Stress can show up in many ways: not eating, changes in bathroom habits, lethargy, or withdrawal from activities a pet normally enjoys. A professional pet sitter brings those changes to your attention instead of hoping they resolve on their own. If something similar has happened on past trips, they’ll ask what worked before. If it’s new, they’ll help you decide whether it’s time to involve a veterinarian. Fear Free Certified Sitters have learned additional training and tools. This training is to reduce stress, work at a pet’s comfort level, and avoid pushing interactions that could make anxiety worse.

Safety, Communication, and Peace of Mind

Professional pet sitters also take safety seriously. That includes preventing escapes, using proper equipment on walks, and being mindful of doors, gates, and routines that keep pets secure.

Pet sitters should have insurance coverage that includes care, custody, and control, which is specific to pet care providers and not included in all business insurance policies. This is not something most you’ll find on an app will have so make sure you ask. Read the fine print when using an app to find a sitter. Check what’s covered and what isn’t if something goes wrong.

Clear communication matters, too. Families should expect regular updates—daily—along with photos and notes about how their pets are doing. If something seems off, a professional sitter will let you know so you can decide together what to do next.

Reliability Is Part of the Job

Professional pet sitting isn’t a casual side favor. It’s a commitment. Many sitters miss holidays, family events, and weekends so pets can stay on their routines. They don’t cancel because something more fun came up. Pets are relying on them—and families are trusting them.

If you’re hiring someone to care for a member of your family, it’s worth taking the time to ask questions, understand their experience, and make sure they’re prepared. Your pets deserve that level of care.

Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Pet Sitter

Do your due diligence. Ask:

• Are you insured (including care, custody, and control)?
• Are you Pet CPR and First Aid certified?
• Do you belong to professional organizations (like Pet Sitters International or National Association of Professional Pet Sitters)?
• Is pet sitting your full-time job?
• What is your backup plan if you’re injured or ill?
• How do you prevent escapes?
• What additional training or certifications do you have?

Your pets are family. Choosing the right sitter matters.
This is the kind of care we offer Kansas City families at Loving Arms Pet Services—professional, thoughtful pet sitting and positive-reinforcement training you can trust.