Why pet sitters need a contract
A pet sitting contract is not about looking formal. It is the document that protects you when the client is traveling, you are inside their home, and a decision has to be made quickly.
Pet sitters deal with more risk than most beginners realize: home access, keys, alarms, veterinary decisions, medication, cancellations, and emergency contacts. If those expectations are not written down before the first visit, they get invented under stress.
A signed agreement does three things: sets expectations, gives you permission to act, and gives both sides a reference point if something gets emotional later.
The clauses your agreement needs
At minimum, your pet sitting agreement should cover:
- Rates and services: What a drop-in visit includes, what an overnight includes, additional pet fees, holiday fees, and last-minute booking fees.
- Payment terms: When payment is due, accepted payment methods, late payment handling, and whether booking is confirmed only after payment.
- Cancellation policy: Separate rules for drop-ins and overnights because overnights block more calendar space.
- Emergency veterinary authorization: Permission to take the pet to a veterinarian if the owner cannot be reached.
- Key and access policy: How keys are stored, returned, labeled, and handled if access fails.
- Vaccination and behavior disclosure: The client confirms the pet's medical and behavior information is accurate.
- Right to refuse service: You can decline or stop service if the pet, home, or access situation is unsafe.
Cancellation policy language
Use stronger cancellation terms for overnights than for drop-ins. A canceled 5-night stay can erase $400–$600 from your week, and you may not be able to rebook those nights on short notice.
"Drop-in visits require at least 24 hours notice for cancellation. Cancellations with less than 24 hours notice may be charged 50% of the scheduled service fee. Overnight stays require at least 48 hours notice. Overnight cancellations made within 48 hours may be charged 50% of the booking total. Same-day overnight cancellations may be charged the full scheduled service fee."
The goal is not to punish clients. The goal is to protect time that cannot be resold once they have reserved it.
Key handling and home access
Your contract should state whether you hold keys between bookings or return them after each job. It should also explain how keys are labeled. Never label keys with a full address, apartment number, or phone number. Use the pet name and client initials only.
Also include lockbox, keypad, smart lock, and alarm instructions in the intake process. A sitter who has a written access system feels safer to clients than a sitter improvising in text messages.
When to get it signed
Get the contract signed before the first paid visit. The best moment is the meet-and-greet, when the client is already walking through routines, keys, feeding, and emergency information.
Do not start service with "I'll send the paperwork later." Later becomes forgotten. Forgotten becomes unclear. Unclear becomes expensive.