This time of year, professional pet sitters find ourselves in high demand. With many families traveling, our dedicated team ensures that pets are well-cared for in their homes. Let’s take a peek into a typical day for a busy pet sitter during this festive season. Here’s a day in the life of a professional pet sitter during the winter holidays – we do almost 2 weeks of this at the end of every year!
A Day in the Life of a Professional Pet Sitter
5:30 AM: Rise and Shine
The day begins early for professional pet sitters this time of year. Most of us have our own pets. Therefore, we wake up early to care for them before heading out to care for our clients’ pets. After feeding them and ensuring they have fresh water, we take our dogs for a quick morning walk and enjoy a snuggle or playtime with our kitties.
Once the day has officially begun, we review our schedule for the day. While Todd and I do a few more, Animal Admiration’s sitters average around 13 visits a day this time of year. Because of the volume, we carefully plan our route to maximize efficiency, considering each pet’s specific needs and the locations of their homes.
From 6:30 AM Onward: Head Out for Our First Round of Visits
Once it’s time to, we head out to our first round of visits, equipped with treats, spare leashes, outerwear, and emergency supplies. The first pets we see are usually dogs. Since cats can relieve themselves in their litter boxes, we prioritize getting dogs out to go potty. Second to prioritizing dog walks, we prioritize pets with scheduled medications. Then, we head to our cat sitting visits.
All visits include feeding, water refresh, playtime, litter and home care, snuggles, lots of pets, and, for dogs, walks around the neighborhood or exercise in the yard. We also send real-time updates to our clients from each visit, ensuring their peace of mind by providing notes and photos of their pets in our care.
Around 10:00 AM: Quick Meal & Break
After several visits, our team members usually take a break to grab a quick meal and use the restroom, if they haven’t already taken a break between visits. This may be at a local café or back home, depending on how far we’ve ventured away from home base. We use this time to check for client communication, check in with family around the holidays, take a power nap, or scroll social media – whatever we choose!
Around 11:30 AM: Midday Visits
Our midday visits usually focus on dogs that need exercise and a potty break. We bundle up and ensures each pup gets ample enrichment and attention. We may also check on a few cats, refreshing litter boxes, washing pet bowls, and providing companionship.
Around 3:30 PM: Lunch and Rest
Once the midday visits are complete, our employees return home for a well-deserved lunch break and to check on their own pets. We use this time to recharge and prepare for the afternoon and evening visits. If we have errands to run, we usually run them at this time, grabbing a quick meal along the way.
From 5:00 PM onward: Evening & Bedtime Visits Begin
As darkness starts to fall, we start our evening rounds. This includes more walks for dogs, dinner time for most pets, and ensuring everyone is comfortable for the night. Our latest and final visits of the night involve checking on pets one last time, providing any necessary medications, and making sure everyone has been let out to do their business before bedtime. We alternate lights and blinds to make the home appear occupied and will alternate them again in the morning.
Around 9:30 PM: Home at Last
Arriving home, we tend to our own pets once more. Then, it’s time for a much-needed shower or bath and another meal or snack. Before turning in, we review our schedule for the next day, making any necessary adjustments to our routes. As Animal Admiration’s Manager, I also check in on my team. I reach out to staff if anything catches my attention from their updates, follow-up with client communication, and make sure we have all we need to make the following day a success.
Being a professional pet sitter during the holidays is demanding but rewarding work. It requires organization, compassion, and a genuine love for animals. For dedicated pet sitters like ours, the joy of ensuring pets are happy and healthy in their own homes makes every busy day worthwhile!
New clients, please contact us at info@animaladmiration.com or (281) 391-1015 to learn about our in-home pet care services. Our team of outstanding cat care providers offers quality care dog sitting, cat sitting, and dog walking in Katy, Fulshear, Richmond, Energy Corridor, Memorial, West Houston, and Cypress.
Existing clients schedule your pet care visits here. We wish you and your family a lovely holiday season – whether you’re traveling or staying home!
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