Tips to Ensure the Best Possible Pet Sitting Experience

Pre-Pet Sitting Meeting

When you select Ruff Ruff Ruff meow to care for your pets, a brief meeting is scheduled at your home before you leave. This visit provides the opportunity to meet you and your pets and to discuss your individual needs and complete the pet-sitting agreement. Please have important information about your pets' health, your travel dates and itinerary, etc. available when filling out pet-sitting forms. This way you'll have all that info available.

Keys & Alarms

Have a spare key available on this first visit. If you have an alarm system, please give clear instructions on how to disarm and rearm your system. Sometimes a special code can be given; this way, your personal code is kept confidential. You can ask your security provider if this option is available.

Special Care for Your Pets

Once you've gotten the paperwork taken care of and clarified the dates you'll be away, it's time to think of any extra special care you might require for your pets. Examples are: medication requirements, behavioral issues, any secret hiding places, sleeping and elimination habits, etc. Whatever it might be, the more I know about your animals' usual routine, the better prepared I will be to take care of your pets.

Avoidng Pet Separation Anxiety

Some dogs experience separation anxiety and may go through some sort of destructive behavior. They may harm your stuff or themselves. If you know your pet experiences separation anxiety, there are some things you can do that may prevent serious harm. Longer visits would allow for longer walks which may tire them out so they'll sleep more during the time they are alone. You also can give your dog a transitional item that it really loves and only gets when it's being left alone. Leaving the radio or TV on, or leaving a few unwashed teeshirts around where they sleep so your scent is still strong while you're away, are also helpful.

Don't Forget the Cat

Sometimes cats go through some sort of separation issues, too. Be sure to have clean litter or maybe an extra box just in case they're inclined to leave "calling cards" in the house. If they are scaredy cats, tell me where they like to hide. It's best to leave your cats indoors while you're away so they don't get into any cat fights, if they can tolerate being cooped up. If they are strictly the outdoorsy type, please be sure they have identification on them. Whether it's a microchip or collar and ID tag, it's really the best way to keep track of your pet. An ID tag with your address on it is the only way a neighbor would know it's your cat, not some feral kitty that gets sent to the pound.

Supplies During Pet Sitting Period

Make sure your pets have all the supplies they need while you're away. Have plenty of pet food, cat litter, medication, leashes, collars, etc. Leave your pet supplies in an obvious place so I can find them easily.

Veterinary Care

If one of your pets should need veterinary care, advise your vet in advance by phone or in a written letter, stating that you authorize medical care for your pets, that I can present to the vet upon arrival. You may also want to discuss with your vet the level of care you want your pets to have. Veterinary services are a separate contract between you and your vet. An emergency vet clinic requires payment at the time services are rendered. There should be some sort of payment arrangement made between you and your vet should medical care be necessary. You can do this in several ways. You can keep an open-ended letter in your pet's file at your vet's with a payment method, usually a credit card number. Or you can keep a similar letter in a sealed envelope that is taped to the side of the refrigerator, or some other place so that I can find it easily, just in case of an emergency. This method works best especially if after-hours emergency care is needed. You may prefer a different method, but whichever payment method you choose, it's important to be clear on how you prefer to handle such a situation.

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