How Much Does A Pet Sitter Cost?
How Much Does A Pet Sitter Cost?
Professional pet sitters charge an average of $25 per 30-minute visit, or $20 to $30 per day depending on your location, the number of pets, the length of stay, and any special pet services needed. House sitters are also open to watching pets for about $12 per hour if the owners are away.
$20 – $30 cost per day
$45 – $75 cost per night
Professional pet sitters charge an average of $25 per 30-minute visit, or $20 to $30 per day depending on your location, the number of pets, the length of stay, and any special pet services needed. House sitters are also open to watching pets for about $12 per hour if the owners are away.
Pet Sitting Rates
Pet sitters charge an average of $25 per 30-minute visit, $20 to $30 per day, $45 to $75 per night, or $250 to $375 per week. Rates depend on the services requested, if you need 24-hour pet care or service on holidays, and if you have additional pets.
| National Average Cost | $15 per hour |
| Minimum Cost | $10 per hour |
| Maximum Cost | $60 per hour |
| Average Range | $10 to $25 per hour |
If you want your pet to experience in-home sitting while you're away, hiring a professional pet sitter is the way to go. Many times pets left in kennels are lonely and unhappy until their owners return home. Some pets can overnight or have a multiple-day stay at the pet sitter’s home (which can be cheaper) rather than have the pet sitter stay in the pet’s home.
How Much Do Pet Sitters Charge?
Pet sitting services generally cost $25 per 30-minute visit, which includes a potty break, feeding, and fresh water. Prices depending on the sitter's service area relative to the pet owner, and whether the pet needs to be picked up and dropped off. If you have more than one pet, add $10 per additional dog.
| Length of sitting | Dog | Cat |
|---|---|---|
| Per Hour | $15 | $15 |
| Per Day | $20 – $30 | $10 – $20 |
| Per Night | $75 | $40 |
| Per Week | $250 – $375 | $250 – $375 |
Will you be gone over a holiday such as Memorial Day? Add $5 per visit. Is your pet a puppy? They take a little more work, so add $5 to the base rate.
Pet Sitting Rates Per Day
Pet sitting rates are $20 per day on average. Of course, there are always variables that affect that price such as if you need a pet taxi to pick up and drop off your animal. The price applies to one dog, cat, or bird and goes up by $10 for each additional pet.
Overnight Pet Sitting Rates
If you want your pet sitter to provide overnight care in your home, it will cost from $40 to $75 per night. There are a lot of benefits to this arrangement, such as:
You keep your home occupied.
Your pets are kept company throughout the night.
You have someone on hand in case of an emergency, such as a pet who gets sick.
Pet Sitting Rates Per Week
For a five-day week, you can expect to pay $250 to $375 for pet sitting a pet with no special needs, which includes house sitting if the pet sitting includes overnight stays. (Caring for additional pets costs more.)
What Does a Pet Sitter Do?
A pet sitter is your pet’s substitute caregiver. When you have to be away and you want your pets to be taken care of in a loving manner, perhaps even in their own home, you will hire a pet sitter. Instead of staying with your pet full time, the pet sitter may drop in a few times a day to feed, water, and let the pet outside to do its business.
The most common pet sitting services are:
Provide company for your pet(s), even taking them outside to play
Feed and give the pet fresh water
Take the dog for a walk outside for exercise
Clean litter boxes and clean up any other pet mess that may occur
Depending on their qualifications, they can administer medications.
Take your pet to their vet appointments
Pet sitters are often willing to bring in mail, put out the trash bins, and water plants.
House Sitting Rates with Pets
A house sitter who also takes care of your pets costs $30 to $65 a day. Sometimes it might be more economical for you to hire a pet sitter as a combination pet sitter/house sitter. They stay in your home with your pet every day and night until you return.
With a house sitter, they can check the mail, and water the grass and houseplants. They will be a visible presence in your home, which may help prevent a break-in, and they might do a little light housework, ensuring you come home to a clean house.
Dog Sitting – A dog sitter who stays in your home will cost $30 to $65 a day.
Cat Sitting – A cat sitter who stays in your home will cost $30 to $65 a day.
Bird Sitting – Birds are generally boarded, rather than have a person spend the night in their home. Depending on the size of your bird, the cost for boarding can range from $12 to $18 per day.
Pet Sitting Price Factors
Many things affect the price you’ll pay for pet sitting, including the type of pet, amount of care required, and your location. The base price can easily double if you have several pets or if they are sick or elderly. It may also cost more if they are very young and still learning where to use the bathroom.
Type of Pet
Smaller pets who can amuse themselves and don’t need to be walked can be cheaper to pet sit than an active dog who requires 2–3 walks a day. Puppies can cost an additional $5 per visit.
In-Home/Location
Your zip code will impact the cost of pet sitting, no matter what kind of pet you have or how many of them there are. Costs are higher in urban areas than in rural areas. For example, dog sitting rates in Charlotte, North Carolina, are about $15 per hour, while dog sitting rates in NYC, New York, are approximately $21 per hour.
24-Hour Care
Some pet sitters can house sit, pet sit, and still go to their jobs every day, so know in advance how present you want your pet sitter to be. They can remain on-site mostly 24/7, leaving your pet alone for no more than a few hours. Be prepared to pay more for this.
Medical Care
Pet sitters can often administer medication—both oral and injection—for about $5 to $15, depending on the type of medication and how it’s administered. An injection will cost more than a pill. If your pet needs hourly medical attention, it can cost you about $200 per day for that 24/7 level of care.
Do you want your pet to be bathed or groomed? Add $75.
Additional Pets
You can pay from $7 per $10 per additional pet, in addition to the base rate of $40 per $75 per night. If all your pets are dogs, for instance, you might get a lower price than if you have two dogs, a cat, and three birds.
Holidays
Expect to pay extra on holidays, as pet sitters are giving up their holiday tradition to care for your pet. Most pet sitters charge an additional $5 on holidays.
How to Choose a Pet Sitter
When hiring a pet sitter near you, be sure to:
Be sure the pet sitter is a professional. Ask if they belong to professional organizations such as the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters (NAPPS), Professional United Pet Sitters (P.U.P.S.), or Association of Pet Sitting Excellence.
Choose one that has a business license and is insured and bonded.
Check the references you receive from the pet sitter or from your friends.
Ask if they are trained in pet CPR and first aid.
Arrange a meet and greet between your pet and the prospective pet sitter. They should get along. If your pet has to be coaxed to warm up to the pet sitter, choose someone else.
They should present professional items such as contracts, payment arrangements, cancellation policies, and their plan during bad weather for taking your dog outside.
If they are also acting as a house sitter, what are they willing to do around your house? Make sure everything is spelled out, so you both have the same understanding.
Be sure you feel good about your choice. If you have any hesitation at all, choose someone else. This person is going to be in your home and taking care of your fur baby. You need to have confidence in them.
How Much Do You Tip A Pet Sitter?
The proper tip is about 15% to 20% of the bill, or about $15 per night. The correct amount depends on how long they stayed in your home and if they went above and beyond what they agreed to do.
If they did everything they agreed to do, tip on the lower end just as an act of appreciation. If they cleaned your kitchen and mowed your lawn, you might give them more. If your pet had an emergency and they rushed them to the emergency vet and stayed all night at the vet, consider tipping on the higher end of the spectrum and keep their number to use them again.