Arranging care for your pets while you are away is one of the most important jobs before a holiday, and one that needs sorting well in advance. Knowing your options helps you choose what is best for your pet and your peace of mind. This guide explains what to do with your pets while you are away. Tailor the choice to your pet's needs, your trip and your budget, so your animals are well cared for while you enjoy your holiday.
Plan ahead
Sorting pet care needs to be done well in advance, as good options get booked up, especially in peak holiday periods, and your pet may need time to get used to an arrangement. Leaving it late limits your choices. Our guide on the before-you-go checklist places this among the early jobs. Arranging your pet's care early, rather than at the last minute, ensures you can secure a good option and that your pet is properly looked after, which is far less stressful than scrambling to find someone at short notice.
Know your options
There are several options for pet care: a pet sitter who comes to or stays in your home, boarding at a kennel or cattery, leaving your pet with a trusted friend or family member, or daycare-style services. Each suits different pets and situations. Understanding the main choices, and that the best one depends on your pet's temperament, needs and your circumstances, helps you decide. Knowing the options available means you can weigh them up and choose the arrangement that will keep your pet happy and well cared for.
A pet sitter at home
A pet sitter who visits or stays in your home lets your pet remain in familiar surroundings, with their own routine, which suits many animals, particularly those who find change stressful. It also helps keep your home occupied. Choosing an in-home pet sitter, where it suits your pet, means they are cared for in the comfort of home rather than an unfamiliar place, which can be less stressful for them. This option keeps your pet's environment and routine consistent, which many animals appreciate while you are away.
Boarding kennels and catteries
Boarding at a reputable kennel or cattery means your pet is cared for in a dedicated facility with staff and other animals, which suits some pets and gives you reassurance of professional supervision. Visit and check reviews before booking. Considering a good boarding facility, where your pet would cope well with the environment, provides professional care and company, though some pets find it more stressful than home. Choosing a well-regarded, suitable establishment and checking it in advance ensures your pet is in safe, capable hands.
Friends and family
Leaving your pet with a trusted friend or family member who knows them can be a comfortable, often free option, provided they are willing and able to care for your pet properly. Make sure they understand the commitment. Asking someone your pet knows and trusts to look after them, whether in your home or theirs, can work well and reassures both you and your pet. Just ensure they are genuinely able to meet your pet's needs and you provide clear instructions, so the arrangement works smoothly for everyone, including the pet.
Pet daycare and hotels
Some areas offer pet hotels or daycare-style services with more facilities and attention, which can be a good middle ground for certain pets and owners. These vary in what they offer and cost. Looking into pet hotels or similar services, where available and suitable, may provide a higher level of care and activity for your pet. As with boarding, check the facility and reviews and ensure it suits your pet, as these options can offer good care but vary considerably, so choose one that matches your pet's needs.
Choose the right option for your pet
Choose based on your pet's temperament and needs, your trip length, and your budget, as what suits a relaxed, sociable dog may not suit an anxious cat. The right choice keeps your pet as happy and unstressed as possible. Matching the care option to your individual pet, rather than just picking the cheapest or easiest, ensures their wellbeing while you are away. Considering how your particular pet would cope with each option helps you choose the arrangement that is genuinely best for them, which is the priority.
Book early
Once you have chosen, book early, as the best sitters and facilities fill up quickly, especially during school holidays and peak travel times. Securing your arrangement well ahead avoids disappointment. Booking your chosen pet care as soon as you can, rather than assuming it will be available, ensures you get the option you want for your dates. Good pet care is in high demand at popular times, so early booking is the way to secure a quality arrangement and avoid being left without suitable care.
Prepare instructions and supplies
Prepare clear instructions and enough supplies for whoever cares for your pet, including feeding routines, medication, habits, do's and don'ts, and sufficient food and any necessities. Good information helps them care for your pet properly. Leaving detailed instructions and adequate supplies means your pet's carer can follow their routine and meet their needs accurately. Providing everything they need to know and have, rather than leaving them to guess, ensures your pet is looked after exactly as they should be while you are away.
Leave vet and emergency details
Give your pet's carer your vet's details, your contact information, and what to do in an emergency, so they can act quickly if your pet becomes unwell or there is a problem. This is an important safeguard. Ensuring whoever looks after your pet knows how to reach your vet and you, and what to do if something goes wrong, means any emergency can be handled promptly. Leaving these details, and perhaps authorising emergency treatment, gives both the carer and you reassurance that your pet will be cared for whatever happens.
Help your pet settle
Help your pet adjust to the arrangement where you can, such as a trial stay, introducing them to the sitter, or leaving familiar items like bedding and toys. Familiarity reduces stress. Taking steps to ease your pet into the care arrangement, particularly for an unfamiliar sitter or facility, helps them feel more comfortable while you are away. A little preparation to make the experience less strange for your pet, like a meet beforehand or their own belongings, supports their wellbeing during your absence.
Other pets and animals
Remember pets beyond cats and dogs, such as small animals, fish, reptiles or birds, which also need suitable care, whether a knowledgeable sitter, a trusted person, or appropriate arrangements for their specific needs. Considering the particular requirements of all your pets, not just cats and dogs, ensures every animal is properly looked after. Different pets have different needs, so arranging care that suits each one, from feeding to environment, means none is overlooked and all are cared for appropriately while you holiday.
In short
To care for your pets while away, plan ahead and know your options: an in-home pet sitter keeps them in familiar surroundings, boarding offers professional care, and a trusted friend or family member can help. Choose based on your pet's temperament, needs and your budget, book early, and prepare clear instructions, supplies, and vet and emergency details. Help your pet settle, and consider the needs of any other animals. Sorting this early ensures your pets are well cared for.
Explore more in our Packing & Before You Go guides.