Pet Sitting Versus House Sitting: Pros and Cons

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• Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.

Planning a weekend trip or a month-long adventure? It all starts with choosing who will care for your pet and your home while you’re away. Should you go with a dedicated house sitter who helps maintain your home while you’re gone, or choose a pet sitter through a pet-care platform who stays at your house?

“House sitting” and “pet sitting” do share a common goal: to care for your pet in their own environment. But the emphasis is usually a little different.

A house sitter from a traditional house sitting platform typically stays in your home (sometimes 24/7), handling not just feeding and walking your pets but also mail, plants, security, and more. A pet sitter, by contrast, might stay in your home or drop by regularly for visits, focusing primarily on your pets’ care.

In this article, we’ll unpack those differences so you can decide what best fits your and your pets’ needs.

House Sitting Vs Pet Sitting: Key Differences

When pet sitting might be best

• High-need pets. If your dog has anxiety, takes medications, or thrives on routine, dedicated pet sitters may offer the right consistency and experience.
• Multiple pets. Pet-sitting platforms typically charge per visit or per pet, giving you cost and care flexibility.
• Light home care needs. If you only need help with basic tasks like refilling the fish tank or watering a few plants, daily drop-ins or overnight stays from a pet sitter are likely more cost-effective.

When house sitting might be best

• Several home care needs. If your home requires more active upkeep like regular cleaning, managing a security system, or accepting package deliveries, the best choice is probably a live-in house sitter.
• House-swap or travel-style care. House sitting platforms like TrustedHousesitters connect pet parents with travelers who stay in your home for free in exchange for pet and house care. It’s ideal for people who want to exchange pet and house care for free accommodation.
• Longer or last-minute trips. House-sitting services are well-suited for multi-week or even month-long travel.

Traditional House Sitting

House sitting involves hiring someone to stay in your home and care for both your property and your pets. House sitters typically take on a mix of responsibilities: feeding pets, watering plants, bringing in the mail, taking out the trash, turning the porch light on and off, and keeping an eye on home systems like security alarms or HVAC units in case something goes wrong.

Their presence also helps deter potential break-ins by making it clear the home is occupied, which is a common concern for homeowners while they’re away.

Costs

Costs for house sitting vary depending on the platform. Some popular platforms include Care.com, MindMyHouse, and TrustedHouseSitters. Many house-sitting services operate on a membership model. Both homeowners and sitters pay an annual fee (typically $130–$200) to access the platform. In many cases, there are no fees beyond that.

House sitters are not paid but receive free accommodation in exchange for their services. Some homeowners, especially for longer trips, may offer to cover travel expenses or provide a small stipend.

Benefits

One of the advantages of using a dedicated house-sitting platform is that you get someone to look after your pet and keep your home running smoothly while you’re gone. Because your pets stay in their own home with someone there consistently, it can be less stressful (and more affordable) than boarding them. Your pet can also stick to their usual feeding, walking, and potty schedule.

Drawbacks

One drawback of choosing a house sitter is there’s usually a membership fee, which might feel like a lot if you’re only planning one trip and don’t mean to use the platform regularly.

Even with that membership, you’re not guaranteed to get the sitter you want. Some listings (especially in popular places or during busy travel seasons) get a lot of applications, so you’ll want to plan ahead.

Anna Reshetnikova via iStock

Pet Sitting

Pet sitting generally means hiring a professional to care for your animal (usually in your own home) while you’re away. That could be a few visits a day or, for higher-need pets, someone staying overnight for multiple days or even weeks.

Pet sitting focuses on feeding, exercise, companionship, playtime, medication, and grooming. It tends to be more personalized and less stressful than boarding facilities.

Pet sitting can take several different forms:

• Boarding your pet. Boarding refers to leaving your pet at the pet sitter’s home rather than having them stay at your house. While it’s technically a form of pet sitting, it doesn’t involve a pet sitter staying at your home.
• Regular drop-in visits. With drop-ins, a pet sitter swings by several times a day (typically 2 to 4 visits, each lasting 30 to 60 minutes) to feed, walk, play with, and check on your pet. While drop-ins may work for pets who are comfortable alone at home, anxious pets might benefit from a pet sitter who stays at the home 24/7.
• Pet house sitting. This is when someone stays overnight in your home and during much of the day, focused exclusively on caring for your pet.

Costs

Pet-sitting rates vary depending on services, location, and pet needs. Typical drop-in visits cost $20–$30 per visit, and overnight pet house sitters can charge anywhere from $40 to $75 or more per night. Holiday and weekend bookings usually mean higher fees, too.

Benefits

One of the biggest benefits of a pet sitter is that your pet stays in their own home, which means less stress for them. A dedicated pet sitter will also be 100% focused on the happiness and comfort of your pets—especially important for high-needs pets. Plus, paying a sitter for visits or overnight care is often cheaper than upscale boarding facilities.

Drawbacks

Background checks might vary by pet sitter provider, so it’s recommended to do a meet-and-greet with the pet sitter first so you and your pet can get to know them. Pet sitters can also be in high demand during certain times of the year, so it might be difficult to find one last-minute or around holidays.

Cats vs dogs

Since dogs need frequent bathroom breaks outside and shouldn’t be left alone for more than eight hours, they usually need frequent drop-in visits or overnight pet sitting.

Cats, on the other hand, are sometimes happier at home with minimal disruption. Some cats dislike strangers staying over, while others stress out when left alone for more than a day or two. If your cat is anxious or tends to hide from new people, drop-ins may be more comfortable for them rather than overnight visits.

Benefits of Searching for House Sitting on Rover

Rover specializes in pet-first care tailored to individual pets’ care requirements. Filter the app’s search results for house sitters or drop-in care providers, then read detailed profiles and reviews to find a good fit for your pet’s specific needs—whether that’s a pro at giving cats medications or an expert in high-energy pups.

Home care needs are often flexible; many pet sitters are happy to bring in the mail, water plants, and take on light household tasks. Talk with your sitter ahead of time to reach an agreement and give yourself maximum peace of mind while you’re away from home.

Choosing a Pro

You’re trusting someone with your pet and your home—it’s totally normal to want to be thorough! Whether you’re booking a pet sitter or a house sitter, the goal is the same: find someone responsible, trustworthy, and caring. Here’s what to look for in a sitter:

• Background checks and insurance. A solid house or pet sitter should be vetted. Look for platforms that offer ID checks, background screenings, and liability insurance.
• Great reviews from pet parents like you. The more specific the reviews, the better. You should also look for a sitter with a high number of repeat bookings. They’re often the most reliable and experienced. Avoid profiles with sparse or vague feedback.
• Experience with similar pets. A sitter who’s amazing with Golden Retrievers might not be the right fit for your anxious senior cat. Look for someone with experience caring for similar breeds, temperaments, or routines.
• Recommendations and references. Ask friends, neighbors, or your vet if they have a go-to sitter.

Before you commit, consider doing a meet & greet to see how the sitter interacts with your pet and discuss routines, quirks, and responsibilities.

You can even try a one-night stay or a drop-in visit before a longer trip. It’s a low-pressure way to test compatibility with your pet and home routine, so you can feel great about your pet’s care while you’re gone.