Why home and pet sitting can be so good for your health

Posted on 26 April, 2022

Visiting new places can be a real tonic and a way to escape the hum drum of everyday life. If you are retired and love getting out and about exploring, then home and pet sitting might be the perfect way to spend some of your retirement and it comes with many benefits.

Most of our home and pet sitters are retired people in their 50s, 60s and 70s and one of the main attractions of this flexible role is the opportunity to visit new places. Homesitters stay in people’s homes when they go away and take care of the home and pets.

A study in Nature Neuroscience found that people with a wider variety of daily experiences are more likely to feel happier. The experiences didn’t need to be large – people who simply travelled around their own neighbourhoods rather than sitting at home all day said they were happier[i].

As we work with clients all across the UK, homesitters have a choice of taking on assignments close to home or further afield. Whilst on assignment they can combine exploring the local area and attractions, with their home and pet sitting duties.

One of the health benefits is that when on assignment people often increase the amount of walking they do. Several studies show that walking can reduce blood pressure and the risk of diseases such as diabetes, as well increase metabolism and burn more calories which could help contribute to weight loss.

Walking can do wonders for mental wellbeing too[ii]. It can improves self-esteem, mood and sleep quality, and reduce stress, anxiety and fatigue. Physically active people have up to a 30% reduced risk of becoming depressed and staying active helps those who are depressed to recover.

Another key attraction of the role is caring for animals. Many assignments involve taking care of pets ranging from dogs, cats and rabbits to the more unusual horses, sheep, snakes, iguanas and even African snails.

Looking after animals can bring health benefits, from physically having to taking care of their needs - feeding, cleaning their living area, washing and grooming - to spending quiet time stroking a pet. Stroking a pet is known to be a great stress reliever, with one study suggesting that just 10 minutes can significantly reduce stress[iii].

Most dogs need at least two walks a day, come rain or shine so there is a great excuse for homesitters to get in lots more exercise when on assignments.

Finally, homesitting is a sociable role. Meeting people on assignment can help to prevent loneliness, sharpen the memory and cognitive skills, increase a person’s sense of happiness and well-being, and may even help people live longer[iv].

Some of our homesitters do regular assignments end up building great relationships with their clients. They can also form a strong bond with the family pet(s), which is a huge positive, especially since homesitters don’t usually have their own pets.

If homesitting sounds like the ideal role, why not apply to join us? We are recruiting home and pet sitters throughout the UK. Click here to find out more about the role and to apply.


[i] www.travelandleisure.com/trip-ideas/yoga-wellness/nature-neuroscience-study-new-experiences

[ii] www.walkingforhealth.org.uk/get-walking/why-walk/healthy-minds#:~:text=A%20good%20walk%20can%20do%20wonders%20for%20your%20mental%20wellbeing.&text=It%20improves%20self%2Dperception%20and,those%20who%20are%20depressed%20recover..

[iii] https://metro.co.uk/2019/07/19/stroking-a-cat-or-a-dog-for-just-10-minutes-can-reduce-stress-study-finds-10425875/

[iv] https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-minute-the-benefits-of-being-socially-connected/

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