Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Pet Sitter
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Handing over a house key and a pet’s daily care to someone you may have only just met is a big ask, whether it’s your first time hiring a sitter or you’re switching after a bad experience. Knowing the right questions to ask before hiring a pet sitter is the fastest way to separate a serious professional from someone winging it. A short conversation before booking tells you almost everything you need to know — here’s what’s actually worth asking.
Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Pet Sitter: Insurance and Bonding
This is the single most important question, and a legitimate sitter or pet sitting company will answer it immediately and specifically — not with a vague “of course.” Insurance covers you if something goes wrong in your home; bonding protects against theft. If someone hesitates or can’t explain the coverage, that’s worth pausing on.
How Do You Handle a Pet Emergency?
Ask what happens if your pet gets sick or injured during a visit while you’re unreachable. A good sitter has a clear answer: which vet they’d use, how much they’re authorized to spend before trying harder to reach you, and how quickly they’d act. If the answer is vague, that’s a sign the process hasn’t actually been thought through.
Will the Same Person Be Coming Every Time?
For companies with multiple sitters, ask directly whether your pet will see the same person for every visit or a rotating team. Some pets do fine with rotation; others get stressed by unfamiliar people in the house. Either answer can be fine — but you want to know which one you’re getting before you book, not after your pet’s already anxious.
How Do You Verify Visits Actually Happened?
GPS-verified check-ins and photo updates aren’t just a nice-to-have — they’re how you confirm a visit happened on time and how long it lasted, without having to take it on faith. Ask specifically how updates are sent and what they include. “I’ll text you” is a much weaker answer than a structured visit report with a timestamp and photo.
What Happens If They’re Sick or Unavailable?
Every sitter gets sick eventually. Ask what the backup plan is — a solo sitter with no backup means a scramble (or a missed visit) if they’re unexpectedly unavailable, while a company with a team can usually cover without disrupting your pet’s schedule. This is worth asking even if you never end up needing it.
Can I Get a Meet-and-Greet Before Booking?
Any legitimate sitter should welcome an in-person meet-and-greet before the first paid visit — it’s how they learn your pet’s routine and how you get a read on whether you trust this person in your home. Be cautious of anyone who tries to skip straight to booking without one.
Asking these questions to ask before hiring a pet sitter takes ten minutes and can save you a lot of regret. If you’re comparing options in the Phoenix area, see how Scritches’ pet sitting service answers each one, and cross-check any candidate against the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters‘ guidance on what to look for.
