Reasons your pet will thank you for choosing a homesitter

Posted on 19 April, 2022

In all the excitement of planning a holiday, thinking about who will look after your pets can often be forgotten.

However, an increasingly popular choice for people going on holiday is to employ a home and pet sitter to come and stay in your home. There are many benefits especially if you have lots of pets, as it can be a cost-effective option and having your home occupied can help prevent opportunistic burglaries.

For most people however, the main benefit is their pets will prefer it and here are some reasons why.

Pets are creatures of habit and are happiest and healthiest when life is comfortable and straightforward with no surprises. Cats and dogs can worry when suitcases appear, associating them with separation and, worse a trip to the cattery or kennels.

A dog’s instinct when a member of their pack goes away, is to guard the territory until they return. Being separated from their territory and the pack can result in separation anxiety, presenting in symptoms such as pining, loss of appetite, gnawing or diarrhoea.

While cats may appear to be very independent, they are also territorial and can be frightened of unfamiliar places and smells. Most cats also appreciate human company. Separation anxiety in cats left in a strange place can result in symptoms such as loss of appetite, spraying, scratching, hiding and excessive meowing.

Employing a homesitter who will look after them in their own home is the next best thing to having you there and is the most stress-free and kindest option for your pet.

A professional homesitter will stick to your pet’s routines – including their feeding and grooming schedules and will take your dog on their favourite familiar walks. This will help your dog feels settled and less likely to get over excited, even though they may be walking with someone new. They will also be meeting familiar dogs which can help to reduce any anxiety.

For older dogs especially who could be losing their sight or hearing having familiar sights and sounds around them will be reassuring when they are out and about.

Equally those with younger dogs that perhaps are still learning will benefit from being in familiar surroundings, where a homesitter could carry on with some of their training, if briefed by the client beforehand.

For pets that are on medication or recovering from an operation or illness, having a homesitter look after them can be beneficial. Many of our homesitters are used to giving medication and clients can request this when they first get in touch with us. Also, most are happy to take pets to vets if they need follow up appointments.

Finally, many of our homesitters have regular clients, which mean they form strong bonds with the family pets. Dogs especially often rush up to greet them when they see them again, which is very reassuring for clients.

But most of all for the dog, and any other pets, it’s just like a family friend coming to stay. Having a familiar person in the house can help reduce any anxiety they feel when they see suitcases in the hallway and their owners leave.

If you are heading off on holiday this year, why not consider getting a homesitter booked sooner rather than later? We think your pets will thank you and will enjoy spending time in their home environment, even when their owners aren’t there. This means you too will have a worry-free holiday safe in the knowledge your pets are happy and in capable hands at home.

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