A helpful set of pet care instructions does more than list meal times. It gives your sitter a clear picture of your pet’s daily routine, health needs, personality, and home setup. Write notes that someone unfamiliar with your household can follow without guessing, and keep important contacts easy to find. A little preparation can make the handoff smoother and help your pet settle into care with familiar routines, favorite comforts, and fewer surprises.
Feeding and Daily Routine
List each food by name, portion, and serving time. Explain how to prepare it, including whether food needs to be refrigerated, warmed, or mixed with anything. Note where food, treats, bowls, and measuring tools are stored. If your pet has dietary restrictions, describe which foods to avoid and whether treats should be limited.
Add the rest of your pet’s usual schedule: walks, litter box care, outdoor breaks, play, grooming, and bedtime. Include practical details such as leash location, preferred walking route, or how often to refresh water. Mention what your pet typically does when they need a break or want to go outside.
Medication and Health Needs
For every medication, write the name, amount, timing, and exact way to give it. Explain whether it goes with food, can be hidden in a treat, or requires a particular technique. Keep medication in its original packaging when possible, and point out where you store it. Include any handling cautions and what to do if a dose is missed or your pet refuses it.
Describe relevant health conditions, allergies, mobility limits, and signs that may need attention. Share your veterinarian’s name, phone number, and clinic address, plus any preferred after-hours clinic. Tell the sitter when to contact you and when a symptom warrants calling a veterinary professional promptly. Keep instructions specific, but do not ask the sitter to change a prescribed treatment.
Behavior and Comfort
Describe your pet’s personality and how they respond to unfamiliar people, other animals, noises, or being alone. Note triggers, warning signs, and what helps your pet feel safe. For example, explain whether they need space during meals or prefer a quiet room when visitors arrive. Clear notes help a sitter avoid situations that make your pet anxious.
Share favorite toys, games, resting spots, and calming routines. Explain any house rules, such as furniture boundaries or door precautions. If your pet might bolt, chew, hide, or guard food, state that plainly and give a safe response. Add any reliable cues your pet knows, along with the words or hand signals you use.
Contacts and Household Details
Provide your name and best contact method, along with a backup person who can make decisions if you are unavailable. Include the backup contact’s relationship to you and confirm they know they may be called. Add your veterinarian’s contact information and any relevant insurance or care authorization details. Make sure phone numbers are current and easy to locate.
Explain how to enter and secure your home, where supplies are kept, and which areas are off-limits. Include alarm or lock instructions, parking guidance, trash routines, and any household quirks that affect care. Point out cleaning supplies, waste bags, carrier, and emergency kit. Leave written instructions in an obvious place and share a copy digitally so your sitter can check details quickly.
Before you leave, review the instructions with your sitter and walk through medication, feeding, and home access together. Ask them to repeat back any steps that feel easy to misunderstand, then update the notes when routines or prescriptions change. For medication-focused pet sitting in Oakland, Pill & Paw can discuss how to make care handoffs clearer and more comfortable.