What to Put in a Pet Sitter Handoff (Checklist)

A good pet sitter handoff covers six things in writing: feeding (what, how much, when), medications (name, dose, timing and how to give them), vet and emergency contacts with written permission to authorize care, home access and house quirks, daily routines and behaviour notes, and a clear plan for what to do if something goes wrong. Write it once, walk through it together at a meet-and-greet, and leave a printed copy where the sitter will see it every visit.

Whether you're the owner or the sitter, this is the checklist that keeps a pet's care from depending on someone's memory.

Why a written handoff matters

Pets thrive on routine, and routines are full of small details — the half-scoop at night, the cat who hides when the doorbell rings, the dog who must not be let off the lead near the park. A verbal walkthrough on the doorstep, while everyone's rushing to the airport, is where those details get lost. A written handoff is also what a professional sitter falls back on in an emergency, when there's no time to call and ask.

1. Feeding

• Food brand and type, and where it's stored
• Exact amount per meal (use the actual scoop or cup)
• Meal times, and whether food is left out or taken up
• Treats allowed, and how many
• Foods that are off-limits
• Water: bowl locations, fountains to refill, and how often

2. Medications

• Medication name, dose, time and how to give it (in food, pill pocket, by hand)
• Where it's kept, and how much is left
• What to do if a dose is missed or refused
• Signs the medication isn't working, or of side effects, and when to call the vet

Never ask a sitter to adjust a medication on their own. Dose changes are for the vet.

3. Home access and house quirks

• Keys, lockbox or door codes, and alarm instructions
• Doors and gates that stick, or must always be closed
• Where cleaning supplies, bags, litter and spare food are
• Thermostat settings, and which lights to leave on
• Rooms that are off-limits for the pet (or the sitter)
• Who else might come by: cleaners, neighbours, deliveries

4. Routines and behaviour

This is where the most important knowledge often lives.

• Walk times, length, route preferences and lead rules
• Toilet routines, litter box cleaning schedule
• Play, enrichment and alone-time habits
• Fears and triggers: other dogs, bikes, thunderstorms, the vacuum
• Escape risks: door dashers, fence diggers, window jumpers
• Hiding spots, especially for cats — a cat that can't be found is the most common panic call
• What "normal" looks like: appetite, energy, sleep spots

5. The emergency plan

Agree on these before the trip:

• What counts as "call the vet immediately" versus "message the owner"
• What the sitter should do if the pet escapes
• What happens if the sitter is sick or can't make a visit
• How and when the owner wants updates (a photo and a quick note each visit is a common standard)

For sitters: make the handoff part of your business

If you're a professional sitter, don't wait for owners to write all this down — most won't. Send your own intake form when a booking is confirmed, review it at the meet-and-greet, and keep each client's handoff on file for repeat visits. Pair it with a visit log so every walk, meal and medication is recorded. It protects the pet, reassures the owner and protects you if questions ever come up.

Get the whole system

Our Pet Sitter Operations Kit includes a complete client intake and handoff form, an emergency authorization page, a visit log, a meet-and-greet checklist, service agreement points to review with a professional, and client update templates — everything a sitter needs to run visits that are consistent, documented and calm.