I’ve covered the nuts and bolts of pet sitting rates and more things that are factored into the cost of pet sitting, but here is yet another popular question my furry crew, my colleagues, and I have to field:
Are pet sitting rates flexible?
The short answer: yes and no. Continue reading
Dear (Miki the) Tabby: How much does pet sitting cost? Miki is back with me to answer the number one million-dollar question all pet sitters get from people right off the bat:
How much do you charge?
Take a look at my list of standard/base rates for overnight/live-in pet sitting and cat and critter sitting daily visits in Redlands and surrounding areas. I’d love to give you an exact amount, but I can’t give it to you unless you tell me what needs to be done specifically. What I can tell you is that it depends on the workload. One size does not fit all.
Sure, you can always ask your friend, relative, or some kid off Craigslist to save a few bucks. But do you just trust anyone who gains access to your property and takes the responsibility to care for your critter family members? You may be rudely surprised by what these folks can do, and then some!
So a better question to ask yourself is “what’s the value of quality pet sitting?”
To avoid sticker shock, here are things that you need to bear in mind: Continue reading
Do you get spooked by things that go bump in the night—and in the daytime, too? You know, the kinds that/who hang out with your furry friends in your private little corner of the world?
Aside from horror stories of pet sitters t(h)rashing homes or losing pets or even home invasions and peeping Toms and Tammies, is the thought of some random stranger getting 24/7 access to your property unsettling in general, Rockwell-style? Do you feel that way or is there someone else living with you who does? Are you or is your co-occupant socially anxious or selective? (As an introvert, I totally get you!) At the risk of sounding a bit like a hypocrite, I’d probably get a bit nervous letting someone go in and out of my place with my belongings and pets while I’m away, so the last thing I want for you is to feel uneasy.
In-home services by far provide the best peace of mind and the ultimate convenience for pet parents and homeowners, but to some folks, having others come to their personal space to provide services is just the polar opposite of putting their mind at ease. If you resemble that remark, what do you do in situations like this? Continue reading
Cats just love doing their own thing, whenever, wherever, all by themselves. Everything seems to be on their own terms. They may be independent, self-sufficient, and can land and stand on all fours, but obviously, they can’t pick up the phone to call you to come over, fix themselves some chow, get their own water, and clean up their own mess.
You probably think that you can save more than a few bucks by having cat sitting visits every other day or longer, but don’t dare break Murphy’s Law. Anything can and do happen within the 24-hour period. Unless your cat is one of the video game characters with unlimited tries and 1-ups, he or she only has one life per lifetime.
Game over. Period. Continue reading
Ready, get set, go!
Now that you have your trip schedule all set, it’s time to find a pet sitter or house sitter. Maybe this is your first time to use a sitter or you’re switching to another sitter. Here’s a handy guide to make things go more easily and smoothly for everyone—and every pet! Continue reading
So you’re about ready to book your fab weekend getaway or a cruise. Or duty calls you to go out of town. Who’s got you covered for keeping your animals company and your home secure? You’ve got to find a sitter, but where to look for one? Continue reading
I’m probably a rare bird (pardon the animal pun!) among pet sitters since not very many of them are too fond of overnight or live-in pet sitting, so they simply don’t offer that type of service, which is generally in high demand.
Virtually all who have requested my services are business and vacation travelers. Curiously, I haven’t had a single commuter make any reservations just yet! It just happens that way. But it works out to everyone’s advantage! I particularly enjoy the overnight niche, anyway.
If you fit in any of those categories, you’re in luck! Read on. Continue reading
