What Your Pet Sitter Actually Needs to Know Before You Leave - Complete Guide (Most Pet Owners Only Cover Half of It)

Sitters need more than your pet's name and breed. They need to understand your pet as an individual.
Species, breed, age, weight — basics, but don't skip them
Microchip number — if the pet escapes, this is critical
Photo — recent, clear
Allergies and intolerances — food and environmental. "No chicken" and "no fabric softener near her bedding" are both important.
Medical conditions — what your pet has, what it means day-to-day
Current medications — name, dose, frequency, how to administer
Behavioral notes — this is where most owners under inform. Does your dog bark at the doorbell? Does your cat go under the bed when scared and mustn't be pulled out? Is your rabbit a flight risk? Does your dog lunge at other dogs on lead? Your sitter will make dozens of small decisions while you're away. The more behavioral context they have, the better those decisions will be.

Vague feeding instructions create anxious sitters.

Don't say: "She eats twice a day, morning and evening."
Say: "Royal Canin Thyroid Support, 30g dry + ½ a pouch of wet food. 7:30am and 6:00pm. No fish. No milk. Her felimazole tablet goes into the wet food at each meal — she won't take it any other way."

The difference matters. A sitter who's nervous about getting it right will either overfeed (because they're worried the pet is hungry), underfeed (because they're not sure of portions), or skip a medication because no one told them where it goes.

What to include:
Food brand and specific product name
Exact portions — in grams or cups, not "a scoop"
Feeding times
What they absolutely cannot eat (allergens, human foods to avoid)
Treat rules — allowed, how many, what kind
Fresh water — does the bowl need topping up, is there a fountain, how often?
Any special feeding equipment (slow feeder bowl, puzzle feeder, raised bowl)

Pets are creatures of habit. A sitter who understands your pet's routine will produce a much calmer animal than one who's winging it.
Walk schedule: how many times, what time, how long, which route or areas to avoid
Toilet habits: indoor, outdoor, litter box location and how often to clean it
Rest times: does your dog sleep after the morning walk? Does your cat go out at dusk?
Enrichment: toys they love, games they play, TV they find calming (yes, some pets have preferences)
What to do if they won't eat, won't settle, or seem unwell

This is non-negotiable.
Your phone number — the one you'll actually answer abroad
A second contact — someone local who knows the pet and can physically help if needed
Primary vet: name, number, address, opening hours
Emergency/out-of-hours vet: name, number, address (open 24/7)
Pet insurance details: provider name and policy number
Tell your sitter explicitly: "If you're ever unsure whether something is serious enough to call the vet — call the vet. Always."

This is the section most owner’s skip. Don't skip it.
Write out — in plain, calm language:
What to do in a medical emergency (call you first, then go to emergency vet, address is X)
What to do if the pet escapes or goes missing (microchip number is X, lost pet flyer is in X location)
What to do if the pet refuses food for more than 24 hours
Any conditions that are known to flare up and what to do: "She may have a thyroid episode — symptoms are X, call the vet, here's the number"
Anything the sitter should not do even with good intentions: "Don't give her any treats from your bag — she has food allergies”

Knowing what to do in advance is the difference between a sitter who panics and one who acts.

Pulling all of this together manually before every trip is time-consuming — and it's easy to forget something.
CalmPaws™ includes a dedicated Caregiver & Pet Sitter Handover page built into the system. It pulls automatically from your Pet Profile, Medication Log, and Feeding database. When you update a medication or change a feeding schedule, the handover page updates too.
Before you leave, you share a single Notion link with your sitter. Everything they need is in one place — formatted, up to date, and clear.
No voice notes. No sticky notes. No "I meant to write that down."
You can also export or print it for sitters who prefer a paper copy.

The best thing you can do for a pet sitter isn't to find someone you trust — it's to give them the information they need to do the job well.
Most sitters want to do a good job. They're limited by what they know.
A complete handover is how you bridge that gap.

👉Get the free CalmPaws™ emergency sheet Enter your email and it lands in your inbox immediately.
👉 Or get the full system with auto-updating Caregiver Handover page

CalmPaws™ — Set it up once. Feel calm for years.