Preparing for Your Pet Sitter's First Visit
You've booked your meet and greet — exciting! This is the first step towards stress-free pet care, and it's designed to be easy and relaxed for both you and your pets. But a little preparation goes a long way. Here's what to have ready.
What Is a Meet and Greet?
A meet and greet is a free introductory visit where your pet sitter comes to your home. It usually takes around 30 minutes. The purpose is simple: your sitter gets to meet your pets, see your home, learn your routines, and collect keys. You get to meet the person who'll be caring for your animals and ask any questions.
It's always free, and it's always required before a first booking. No exceptions. This is how we make sure everyone — human and animal — is comfortable.
Have Your Pet's Information Ready
Before the visit, it helps to have the following written down or ready to discuss:
Feeding: What food does your pet eat? What brand? How much per meal? What times? Any allergies or foods to avoid? Where is the food kept?
Medical: Does your pet take any medication? What is it, how much, and when? Can the sitter administer it, or does a vet need to be involved? Are vaccinations up to date?
Behaviour: Is your pet anxious around strangers? Do they resource-guard food or toys? Are they good with other animals? How do they react to visitors at the door?
Routine: What does a typical day look like? When do walks happen? Where do they sleep? Do they have a favourite toy or comfort blanket?
Prepare Your Home
Your sitter will need to know the practical details of your home:
Keys: Will you hand over keys at the meet and greet, or do you have a key safe? If there's a key safe, make sure the code works.
Alarm: If you have a house alarm, write down the code and explain how to use it. Nothing worse than a sitter setting off the alarm at 7am.
Bins: Where do the bins go? When is bin day? It sounds small, but these things matter over a week-long stay.
Heating and lights: How does the heating work? Are there any lights on timers?
Introduce Your Pets Naturally
When the sitter arrives, let your pets approach in their own time. Don't force introductions. For dogs, a calm greeting at the door followed by a treat usually works wonders. For cats, they might hide initially — that's completely normal. Your sitter will let them come to them.
If you have a nervous or reactive pet, let your sitter know in advance so they can approach appropriately.
Ask Questions
This is your chance to ask anything you want. How will updates be sent? What happens if there's an emergency? How does the sitter handle multiple pets? Is there anything the sitter isn't comfortable with?
A good meet and greet should leave you feeling confident and reassured. If anything doesn't feel right, that's OK — it's exactly why we do this step first.
After the Meet and Greet
Once the meet and greet is done, you're ready to book. Your sitter now knows your pets, your home, and your routines. When the first visit happens, it won't feel like a stranger walking in — it'll feel like someone your pets already know.