Whether you’re starting a third shift job, planning a vacation or there’s a family emergency that calls you away from home, there are many circumstances in which you may need to investigate overnight pet sitting. “Pet parents often prefer the sitter to stay overnight so that their pets are not alone,” says Lisamarie Monaco, who has been pet sitting for seven years in Blackshear, Georgia. “Most often, it will make the pet parent more comfortable knowing someone is there if God forbid something happens, such as an unexpected injury or illness.”
Another common reason for hiring an overnight pet sitter? Since the pandemic fueled an uptick in remote work, many furry friends have gotten accustomed to having at least one person at home with them at all times. “I have noticed an uptick in the amount of pets that got used to their owners being home 24/7,” notes Samantha Steiger of Pompano Beach, Florida, who has been a professional pet sitter since 2021. “The pets are happy to have someone around; it eases their separation anxiety.”
To ensure you are leaving your fur baby in the best hands, here are the most helpful questions answered by overnight pet sitting professionals and pet owners who’ve hired them.
Is an overnight pet sitter right for you and your pet?
If you’re going to be away from home longer than 24 hours, you may be debating between hiring a daytime pet sitter versus an overnight pet sitter. A few reasons why an overnight pet sitter might be preferable:
Your pet has anxiety
Whether it’s your fur baby’s first or fiftieth time being under the care of a pet sitter, it’s possible that your pet suffers from a bit of nervousness or anxiety, which requires additional love and patience. You know your pet best and can trust your intuition on whether they’d benefit from overnight care, notes Monaco.
If your pet barks, cries or howls when left alone, a pet sitter’s presence will comfort them.
They need to be given meds at specific times or have health considerations
Some pets require eye drops, ear drops or prescription medicine, points out Steiger. And it might be necessary for your pet to be administered their med at a particular time of the day. If that’s the case, you’ll do best to hire an overnight pet sitter who you can rely on to tackle that task. If you have a senior pet, Monaco suggests hiring an overnight pet sitter to be there as a companion in case serious health challenges arise.
They haven’t been potty trained or are dealing with incontinence
If you have a new or young pet, like a puppy or kitten, that’s not fully potty trained yet, you simply cannot leave the pet unattended, notes Steiger. At the same time, older pets may be struggling with incontinence and cannot wait several hours for a daytime pet sitter to arrive for their next potty break.
“I am responsible for making sure the pet gets adequate playtime, exercise and walks throughout the day and night to keep boredom at bay.”
— LISAMARIE MONACO, AN OVERNIGHT PET SITTER IN GEORGIA
They require more attention and playtime
Bathroom woes aside, a young pet may require more one-on-one playtime to limit destruction around the house. When kittens or puppies are alone for too long, they get bored — and that’s when furniture or belongings get scratched or chewed. “I am responsible for making sure the pet gets adequate playtime, exercise and walks throughout the day and night to keep boredom at bay,” says Monaco.
You need additional house sitting services
Some extra tasks can be asked of your overnight pet sitter that a daytime pet sitter may not have time for, notes Monaco. “House sitting responsibilities at times do get muddled into pet sitting,” Monaco says. “However, I don’t mind going the extra mile for my clients.” These tasks may include:
- Cleaning kitty litter.
- Outdoor poop pick up.
- Playtime.
- Going for walks.
- Feeding and providing fresh water.
- Administering medication.
- Wiping up indoor pet messes.
- Brushing.
- Bringing in the mail or packages.
- Watering indoor and outdoor plants.
- Shoveling walkways for safety.
- Washing linens and towels after use.
A word on where your pet should stay overnight
Choosing to bring your pet to the sitter’s home — or allowing the sitter to stay at your home — for the duration of the job is a matter of personal preference. Some sitters might also prefer — or require — that you drop your pet off at their home.
Sarah M. of Tucson, Arizona and founder of Dog Training Boss prefers bringing her 5-year-old poodle mix to the sitter’s house when she travels.
“Our pet sitter has a small dog as well and often sits several dogs at a time,” she explains. “It was a bit strange to drop our dog off at another house for the first time, but the sitter was very friendly and had a great arrangement in her home to separate and introduce dogs who needed more time to socialize or eat alone.”
She continues, “By the end of the first day, she texted us a few photos of our dog playing outside with the other dogs, curled up sleeping beside her own dog at night, and she let us know that our pup finished most of her food for that day. This extra information and attention to our dog’s behavior really put our minds at ease for the rest of the trip.”
Questions to explore with a potential overnight pet sitter
Josh Snead, the CEO of Rainwalk Pet Insurance in Columbia, South Carolina and a pet parent himself, has hired an overnight pet sitter several times for his 5-year-old golden retriever Lucy. “The single most important part of interviewing a pet sitter is seeing how they interact with my pet,” says Snead. “Really, the pet is the one doing the interview.”
According to Snead, you’ll want to explore the following six pivotal topics during an interview:
1. Do they have referrals?
Ask for contact information of professional and personal references, suggests Snead. You’ll want to be confident in knowing your new sitter is responsible and experienced in all areas of pet care giving.
2. How are their reviews?
Look for overnight pet sitters with five-star reviews and personalized comments to back up the rating to ensure the person you are hiring comes with high praise. Keep in mind — online reviews are great — but since it is hard to tell when they are legit, you may have better luck calling the local veterinarian office or a trusted groomer for a recommendation.
3. Do they click with your pet?
Interview the potential pet sitter at a dog park or in your home when your pet is present to get a sense of how the person interacts with animals. “An initial playdate or meeting is a must,” says Snead. “It all comes down to how they click with the pet.”
4. Are they licensed, bonded, insured, et al.?
You’ll want to be sure the candidate you interview is licensed, bonded, insured and can pass a background check before allowing them into your home and caring for your beloved pet. As Snead says, “Letting someone stay in your home overnight requires a high degree of trust and that can be hard to find in strangers.”
“The single most important part of interviewing a pet sitter is seeing how they interact with my pet. Really, the pet is the one doing the interview.”
— JOSH SNEAD, CEO OF RAINWALK PET INSURANCE
5. What’s their personality like?
“The people I hire are professional, courteous and absolutely love animals,” Snead says. Look for someone who takes this position seriously and adores being around your pets. Other characteristics one should look for in an overnight pet sitter are as follows.
- Promptness. Someone who is on time for an interview shows they can stick to a schedule when it matters.
- Communication skills. Receiving updates through a text, photo or phone call from your overnight pet sitter really puts your mind at ease that your fur baby is being cared for while you’re away. Leading up to the interview, look for tell-tale signs of a top-notch communicator. The pet sitter should be timely and thorough in their correspondences with you.
- Trustworthy. An overnight pet sitter is staying in your home with your personal belongings and your furriest family member. It’s paramount that trust is built between you, your sitter and your pet. To calm any fears, a quick background check should put your mind at ease. Also, observe how your pet reacts when introduced to the potential pet sitter — it’s important your furry friend is comfortable too.
- Experienced. Be sure to ask your prospective pet sitter to cite their experience level with your type of pet. Different breeds and different kinds of animals have their own unique needs. You’ll want to feel confident that your pet sitter can care for them properly and handle various situations that may arise — such as administering medicine, brushing your pet properly or preparing a special diet.
Overnight pet sitting rates: What you can expect to pay
Snead admits that determining overnight pet sitting rates can be tricky. “On the one hand, you’re asking for a lot of someone’s time, but on the other hand, most of their job will be to simply exist in a space and tend to a pet’s occasional needs,” he notes. In general, Snead offers $50 per night, plus access to any food in the kitchen.
Similarly, Sarah M. is accustomed to paying $40 per night. “Our sitter has a set timeline for their overnight price — meaning we could drop off and pick up our dog at their house between certain hours — anything outside of those times would be charged extra by the hour,” she explains.
Right in line with these two pet parents, Monaco’s overnight pet sitting rate is $50 per night. “My clients usually have a guest room and allow me access to anything that I may need during my stay,” Monaco says. “I get to interact with the dogs and take them on walks. It sort of feels like I am on a mini vacation from my regular routine even though I am working.”
An overnight sitter is typically not paid hourly, but instead a flat fee per night. Steiger suggests taking into consideration the following five points when discussing a nightly pet sitting rate:
- Your location and the average rates in your area.
- Number of animals.
- Type of animal(s).
- Duties and tasks.
- Pet sitter’s experience level.
A word on tipping
The consensus from our professional pet sitters is that though it is never expected, a cash tip, souvenir or gift card is always greatly welcomed. “Usually clients will tip anywhere from $50 to $200,” says Steiger. “It really does reinforce how much they value and appreciate my work.”
Monaco also receives a cash tip for exceptional service, especially around the holidays. If an additional tip is not in the budget, a positive review or referral to a friend is just as valued. “I love five-star reviews,” notes Monaco. “They mean more to me than the tip.”
The bottom line
Whether you choose to have your pet reside at home or at the sitter’s abode, feeling confident in your sitter’s abilities will not only put your worries at bay, it will calm your pet’s potential anxieties and ensure they’re receiving care that suits their needs.
Steiger points out that humans’ energy directly impacts a pet’s energy. In other words, if you are calm, happy and confident around your new pet sitter, your furry friend will be too. Finding the right sitter can make a world of difference in how your pet behaves while you are away, making the experience positive for everyone involved.
