Things rarely go wrong during pet sitting because the sitter doesn't know how to care for animals. They go wrong because nobody mentioned that the dog only eats if you add a little water to the food, that the cat gets onto the balcony through the kitchen window, or that the medication goes in with dinner. This checklist exists so nothing is left to "they'll figure it out".
Food and water
- Which food, how much (in grams, or with the scoop you use) and at what times.
- Where the food is kept and where the spare supply is.
- Whether treats are allowed, which ones and how many.
- What your pet must not eat: any allergies, plus foods that are dangerous for dogs and cats in general, such as chocolate, grapes and onion.
Health
- Medication: name, dose, time and how it's given (in a treat, on its own, drops).
- Where the health booklet is — if a vet is needed, they'll ask for it.
- Your vet, and a nearby clinic that's open 24 hours, for emergencies.
- What's "normal" for your pet: whether it often leaves food, coughs up hairballs, or sleeps all day.
The home
- How the keys will be handed over, and whether there's an alarm.
- What stays closed: balcony doors, windows, rooms.
- Where the litter, bags, leash, towels and cleaning supplies are.
- Anything your dog or cat chews or knocks over, and what needs to stay out of reach.
Habits and fears
- The walking route and how long it takes. Whether they pull on the leash, react to other dogs or to scooters.
- What scares them. In Athens, New Year's Eve fireworks and the firecrackers at Easter are a classic reason dogs try to slip their leash.
- For cats, their hiding spots — so the sitter knows where to look if they don't appear.
- What calms them: a toy, a blanket, the radio left on.
Updates and emergencies
- What updates you'd like: a photo per visit, a message in the evening, or only if something happens.
- Who can help if you can't be reached — a friend or relative near your home.
Where each thing goes on Petit-o
- Your pet's profile holds the basics that don't change: type, age, weight and photos. You fill it in once and it applies to every request.
- The request notes are for everything about this particular booking: feeding schedule, medication, walks, quirks.
- The pre-booking chat is where you ask the sitters who expressed interest your questions — whether they have experience with your kind of pet, how they handle a nervous animal. This chat is monitored so phone numbers, emails and links aren't shared.
- The booking chat, which opens once the booking is created, is where you coordinate the service: keys, times, updates.
One last tip, old-fashioned but effective: print the most important points and stick them on the fridge. If something happens, the sitter has everything in front of them without scrolling through their phone.
If you're still looking for a sitter, see where to leave your pet during the holidays and how to choose a trustworthy pet sitter.