Going on holiday? How to prepare your pet and home for a pet sitter

You shouldn't have to explain the alarm code from an airport boarding queue while trying to remember which cupboard contains the cat food.

A little preparation makes holiday pet care easier for everyone. If your pet is staying home with a sitter in the Hills District, use this checklist before you leave.

Before booking: check the care plan fits

Confirm visit frequency, duration, arrival windows and the time your pet will spend alone, including overnight.

Explain health conditions, medication schedules and behaviour concerns before the booking is accepted. Some pets need live-in care or veterinary support rather than drop-in visits. Your holiday dates should fit around a suitable care arrangement, not a hopeful assumption that your pet will cope.

Arrange an introduction

Give your pet a chance to meet their carer before the first booking. Nervous pets may need a gradual introduction or additional familiarisation visits.

Walk through meals, equipment, door routines and any areas that are off limits. Show the sitter where your pet hides or rests and how you usually encourage them to come over.

Write down the everyday details

Provide clear instructions for:

Food amounts, meal times and permitted treats.

Medications, exact directions and storage requirements.

Toilet routines, litter care and waste disposal.

Walks, equipment, activity limits and handling preferences.

Sleeping areas and access to different parts of the house.

Normal appetite, behaviour and any changes to report promptly.

Keep one current set of instructions. If something changes, update it and tell the sitter directly.

Leave enough supplies

Check food, litter, medication and cleaning products, allowing a buffer if your return is delayed. Keep supplies labelled and easy to find, with medication in its original packaging where applicable.

Leave suitable bowls, bedding, towels, leads and harnesses. Avoid introducing a new diet, unfamiliar equipment or untested enrichment just before departure unless advised as part of your pet's care.

Test access and security

Have the sitter test the actual key or entry method before you go. Confirm alarms, gate latches and an agreed backup access plan. Share security details privately.

Check fences, window screens and doors. Explain any escape habits, including the cat who waits behind the front door like a very small security breach.

Prepare for heat and unexpected events

For summer holidays in Sydney's north-west, discuss access to a reliably cool environment and multiple water sources. Agree how the care plan changes during hot weather, including replacing outdoor exercise when needed.

Provide your vet's details, an emergency veterinary option, an available local contact and permission for veterinary care. Clarify transport and payment arrangements. The sitter needs a plan if you're on a flight or cannot answer.

Make sure identification details are current and tell your emergency contact what you have agreed.

Before you walk out the door

Confirm the first and final visits and your expected return.

Charge devices needed for agreed access or monitoring.

Check cooling arrangements, water and secure containment.

Put supplies and written instructions in the agreed place.

Send any final changes through the normal client communication channel.

Confirm that you have arrived home before care is considered finished.

Holiday pet sitting with Lulu & Co

Our holiday care visits support local families in areas including Bella Vista, Stanhope Gardens and Quakers Hill. Depending on your agreed plan, care can include meals, water, litter or waste clean-up, appropriate activity, companionship and home security checks, with visit reports through our client app.

If you want to head away knowing the practical details are organised, enquire about holiday pet care with your dates, suburb and pet's routine. We'll help you assess whether our visiting service fits.

Related articles

Pet sitter or boarding: which is right for your pet?

Questions to ask your pet sitter

Sources

RSPCA Australia: planning for your pets if going away over the holidays