No matter how independent your cat is, we do not recommend leaving your cat alone without daily visits from a friend or a professional cat-sitter for more than two or three days. Keep in mind that, cats tend to be independent, territorial animals.

Top 5 Boarding Options for Your Pet

• Pet Sitting. Using a pet sitter is one way to fuse the personal with professional.
• In-Home Pet Boarding. While enlisting a pet sitter is a good option, so is in-home pet boarding.
• Traditional Boarding (Dog Kennels/Catteries)
• Family Friend/Neighbor.
• Take Them Along.

Beginning June 20, 2017, DogVacay will redirect to Rover. The DogVacay site and app will be retired, and pet parents and sitters will be welcomed to Rover. After June 20, 2017, you’ll no longer be able to access your DogVacay profile.

How much does a pet sitter cost? Pet sitters charge $25 to $30 a day on average, depending on the services involved. The average cost of a 30-minute visit is $25, while overnight pet-sitting costs $75 to $85.

If there’s no one close to you who can take care of your dog for as long as a month, a pet sitter is another comfortable alternative to a kennel. You can find a sitter by searching professional pet care websites, house care sites or classifieds — or ask your veterinarian for professional recommendations.

Leaving Your Pet for Vacation: Tips to Keep Them Happy While You’…

1. Update your pet’s ID.
2. Keep the goodbye short and sweet.
3. Consider boarding your pet or hiring a pet sitter.
4. Leave them with someone they know.
5. Leave a piece of you behind.
6. Keep things normal.
7. Encourage play time.

Having to leave your pet behind when you travel often means choosing between pet sitting or dog boarding. Pet boarding is when your dog stays at a boarding facility with other dogs. These places provide your dog with a kennel or sleeping area to stay in and have staff available for walks.

You can hire a sitter that will watch your dog in your home or watch your dog in their own home while you’re away. Also, you should definitely meet with the sitter and see how your dog interacts with them beforehand. Find a sitter through someone you know or through a reputable service.

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.

Do you tip your pet sitter? As with dog walkers, tipping is not expected for pet sitters. However, if you have a pet who requires special care or handling, or if you request extra services, then strongly consider tipping your pet sitter.

While it may seem like a logical idea, boarding your dog in a traditional kennel while you’re away may do more harm than good. Dogs left in the kennel often go through undue anxiety, physical issues, and behavioral changes associated with feelings of abandonment.