How Much Does a Pet Sitting Service Cost?

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When you're traveling, it's comforting to know that your pet is in good hands. But, you don't always want to burden friends or neighbors, and kennels can be costly and stressful for your pets.

Professional pet sitters are a great alternative. The service is affordable and your pet can remain in the comfort of your own home.

A pet sitter will feed your animals and exercise them. Many also offer services like grooming and nail clipping. Some will even take care of light tasks around your home such as collecting the mail and alternating lights. Specialized sitter companies will even offer horse sitting services.

About Pet Sitting Services #

Most pet sitting services require a minimum number of visits per day. For dogs, they usually require three visits. For cats, it's usually just one or two. You can work with the pet sitter in advance to establish the timing of visits to best coincide with your pet's schedule.

Most visits last between 20 and 30 minutes, although you can usually pay extra for extended visits lasting an hour or more. Many services also offer overnight sitting, but it will cost significantly more. Very few services offer full-day sitting.

Pet Sitting Service Prices #

• Most 20- to 30-minute visits cost between $10 and $20 for one or two pets.
• Multi-hour visits tend to run about $30 per hour.
• Overnight sitting typically costs $50 to $60.
• Administering medication often comes with a $5 surcharge.
• Excessive cleanup of pet accidents usually costs $5 to $10 extra.
• Grooming costs about $20 to $30, depending on the size of your pet.
• Nail clipping runs about $10.
• Shopping for pet supplies costs about $15 to $20 for a half hour, including driving time, plus the cost of supplies.
• Transporting your pet to a nearby veterinarian or groomer usually costs about $20.
• Key pick-up and drop-off could cost $5 or more per trip.

Choosing a Pet Sitting Service #

Some pet sitting companies are small, part-time operations while others are larger businesses with multiple locations. Either one is OK, as long as you feel comfortable with the person that will be taking care of your pet.

Most services will require an initial consultation to become acquainted with your pet. If they don't, ask for one. And make sure you hire a pet sitter that has liability insurance. Ask for proof of coverage before committing.