Why checklists matter
Pet sitting clients do not pay only for feeding and walking. They pay for certainty. A checklist gives you a repeatable process so small details do not depend on memory.
The more clients you have, the more important this becomes. Food amounts, medication times, litter cleanup, alarm codes, and update preferences blur quickly without a system.
Before the visit
- Review the client's intake form.
- Confirm medications, feeding schedule, and special instructions.
- Send a heading-your-way text if that is part of your service.
- Arrive at the agreed time.
- Confirm access works: key, lockbox, smart lock, gate code, or alarm.
During the visit
- Greet the pet calmly and let them approach you first.
- Check food and water levels.
- Refill food and water exactly as instructed.
- Administer medications exactly as directed.
- Complete the agreed routine: walk, play, companionship, feeding, or litter care.
- Monitor energy, appetite, behavior, mobility, and anything unusual.
- Clean up litter, accidents, food areas, and outdoor waste as needed.
After the visit
- Secure doors, windows, gates, and alarms.
- Send a post-visit update with at least one sentence and one photo.
- Log arrival time, departure time, and anything notable.
- If something unusual happened, contact the owner directly.
The update is not optional. For traveling pet owners, no update creates uncertainty. Uncertainty kills rebooking.
When to contact the owner immediately
Flag anything concerning: vomiting, diarrhea, refused food, lethargy, distress, injury, limping, bleeding, escape, home damage, access failure, or anything that feels unsafe.
If you are unsure whether something should be flagged, flag it. Owners appreciate proactive communication. They do not appreciate surprises later.