What to Leave for Your Pet Sitter: The Complete List

A good pet sitter can handle surprises. But every surprise they have to figure out on their own is a chance for something to go wrong, or for your pet to have a harder time adjusting to your absence. The more clearly you set things up, the smoother the experience for everyone: your sitter, your pet, and you.

Pets are creatures of routine. When their food shows up at the usual time, in the usual bowl, with the usual amount, they stay calmer. When a sitter has to open three cabinets looking for the right bag of food, measure out an uncertain amount, and wonder if it should be mixed with water, it introduces stress that didn't need to exist.

Preparation also protects your sitter. If your dog has a food allergy and your sitter accidentally offers the wrong treat, that could mean an emergency vet visit and a very scared person holding a very sick dog. Clear labels, pre-measured meals, and written instructions prevent those situations entirely.

Think of it this way: every minute you spend preparing is ten minutes your sitter doesn't have to spend guessing.

Start with the basics. Leave enough food for your entire trip, plus two to three extra days in case your return is delayed. Running out of your pet's specific food and having a sitter scramble to find a replacement is stressful for everyone, and a sudden diet change can upset sensitive stomachs.

• Dry food (enough for the full trip + 2-3 extra days)
• Wet food, if used (check expiration dates before you leave)
• Treats for training or rewards
• Any food toppers, supplements mixed into meals, or oils
• Feeding bowls (cleaned and labeled if multiple pets)
• Written feeding schedule with exact portions

Be specific about treats, too. If your dog gets one dental chew per day after the evening walk, write that down. If your cat only gets treats during play sessions, say so. Sitters who don't know the limits tend to either over-treat (upset stomach) or under-treat (missed bonding opportunity).

If your pet has food allergies or sensitivities, make this very visible. A sticky note on the treat bag that says "NO chicken treats - allergy" is worth more than a paragraph buried in a three-page instruction document. Put the warning where the sitter will see it at the moment it matters.

This is the category where being thorough really counts. A missed dose of a daily supplement might not matter much. A missed dose of heart medication or seizure medication could be dangerous.

• All medications with original labels visible
• Written dosage and schedule for each medication
• Administration method (in food, by hand, pill pocket, syringe)
• Refill info if the trip is long enough to run out
• Joint supplements, probiotics, or daily vitamins
• Flea, tick, or heartworm preventatives (with next due date)
• Any as-needed medications (anxiety meds for storms, etc.)

For each medication, write down the name, the dose, the time of day, and how to give it. "Half a pill in the morning" is not specific enough. "Carprofen 25mg, one half-tablet (12.5mg), wrapped in a pill pocket, given at 7 AM with breakfast" is what your sitter needs.

We have a dedicated guide on this topic if you need more detail: How to Write Pet Medication Instructions for Your Sitter. It covers everything from creating a medication schedule to explaining what to do if a dose is missed.

Your pet's comfort items help bridge the gap while you're away. A familiar blanket or a favorite toy can do more for separation anxiety than anything else. Don't underestimate how much these small things matter.

• Favorite toys (note which ones are for supervised play only)
• Bedding or blankets they sleep with
• Crate, if they're crate-trained (with bedding inside)
• An item of your clothing for comfort (unwashed, so it carries your scent)
• Puzzle toys or enrichment feeders for alone time
• Calming aids (pheromone diffusers, calming collars, thunder shirts)

Be clear about which toys are safe to leave out unsupervised and which ones need to be put away. That stuffed squeaky toy might be fine when you're watching, but your dog could shred it and swallow the squeaker when left alone. Your sitter won't know the difference unless you tell them.

If your pet has a specific bedtime routine (last potty break, then crate with a Kong, then lights off), write it out step by step. Pets find huge comfort in the predictability of a sequence, even when the person carrying it out is someone new.

Nobody wants to think about this category, but running out of poop bags on a walk or not being able to find paper towels during an accident is a real problem. Make it easy for your sitter to keep things clean.

• Poop bags (more than you think they'll need)
• Cat litter and a scoop (for cat owners)
• Paper towels and pet-safe cleaning spray
• Extra pee pads, if your pet uses them
• Location of the outdoor trash bin
• Lint rollers (your sitter will thank you)
• Stain remover for carpets or furniture, just in case

For cat owners: leave a full bag of litter, even if the box was just cleaned. Write down how often you scoop (daily, ideally) and how often the litter gets fully replaced. If your cat is particular about litter brand or depth, mention it. Some cats will refuse to use a box that's been changed to a different litter.

For dog owners: show your sitter exactly where the poop bags live. Clip a roll to the leash. Put a backup roll by the door. If you use a specific dog waste station in the yard, walk them over to it before you leave.

If your pet is prone to accidents (puppy, senior dog, cat with urinary issues), be upfront about it. Let the sitter know it's normal, show them where the cleaning supplies are, and explain your cleanup routine. This is better than having them discover the situation and feel unsure about how to handle it.

When something goes wrong, you want your sitter to act quickly, not spend twenty minutes calling you to ask which vet to go to. Leave all emergency information in one easy-to-find place.

• Your vet's name, phone number, and address
• Nearest 24-hour emergency vet clinic (not always the same as your regular vet)
• Your phone number and a backup contact's number
• Pet insurance policy number and provider phone
• Vaccination records (some boarding facilities or emergency vets require these)
• Microchip number and registry info
• Any known allergies or chronic conditions, written clearly
• A signed authorization for veterinary care in your absence

That signed authorization for veterinary care matters more than most people realize. If your pet needs emergency surgery while you're on a flight with no cell service, your sitter needs to be able to authorize treatment. Talk to your vet about how they handle this. Some accept a simple signed letter; others have their own forms.

Consider including a recent photo of your pet with the documents. This sounds strange, but if your pet escapes, your sitter will need a clear photo to share on social media or with local shelters. A current photo showing any distinguishing markings is genuinely useful in an emergency.

Your sitter needs to get in and out of your home without calling you every time. This means thinking through every lock, code, and gate they'll encounter.

• House keys (front door, back door, any gates)
• Garage door opener or code
• Alarm system code and instructions to arm/disarm
• Smart lock codes or app access
• WiFi network name and password
• Thermostat instructions (or smart home app access)
• Mailbox key, if they're collecting mail
• Gate codes for the neighborhood or complex, if any

Walk through the entry routine with your sitter before you leave. "Open the front door, step inside, turn left, keypad is on the wall, enter 4-7-2-1, press the check mark within 30 seconds." Do it together at least once. Alarm systems that go off because a sitter couldn't find the keypad in time are a very common and very avoidable problem.

If any doors are tricky (the back door sticks, the deadbolt needs to be lifted while turning), write that down. Your sitter shouldn't have to figure out the quirks of your house by trial and error, especially at night with a dog who needs to go out.

Don't forget about outdoor access: Is the yard fenced? Are there gates that need to stay latched? Is there a dog door that should be locked at night? These details are second nature to you and completely unknown to your sitter.

Having all the right supplies means nothing if your sitter can't find them. The single biggest thing you can do is put everything in one designated spot.

Choose a counter, a shelf, or a table near the front door. Lay out the food, treats, medication, leash, waste bags, and any printed instructions in one visible area. Your sitter should be able to walk in and see everything they need without opening a single drawer.

Label things. A piece of masking tape and a marker goes a long way. "Morning food," "Evening meds," "Treats (max 3/day)." Labels work better than instructions because they're visible at the moment of use, not buried in a document your sitter read two days ago.

For longer trips, consider organizing supplies by day or by week. Pre-measured food bags labeled with dates. A weekly pill organizer instead of loose bottles. A calendar on the counter with flea medication dates marked. The less your sitter has to think about logistics, the more attention they can give to your pet.

Alternatively, you can put everything into a digital care manual that's always accessible on your sitter's phone. Tools like Vadem let you create a single shareable link with feeding schedules, medication instructions, emergency contacts, daily task lists, and secure access codes. Your sitter gets everything in one place, and you can update it anytime without needing to print a new document.