A good sitter can only follow the instructions they have. Writing everything down before you leave means fewer texts while you travel and fewer surprises when you get home. Here is what to leave, plus a checklist you can copy.
Contacts and emergencies
Your phone numbers, a backup contact or two who live nearby, your vet and the nearest after-hours animal hospital. Note where the water shut-off, breaker panel and gas shut-off are, and who to call for a plumbing or heating problem.
Pets
For each pet: food amount and times, treats, walks or litter, habits, fears and whether they try to slip out the door. For medications, copy the dose and timing exactly from your vet's label, and leave a simple log so the sitter can mark each dose given.
The house
How to get in and lock up, alarm codes if any, Wi-Fi, the thermostat setting (in winter, a minimum heat so pipes do not freeze), plants, mail, trash day and snow or ice plans.
Trip details and payment
Your travel dates, when you will be reachable, and what you agreed to pay and when. Writing it down avoids awkward questions later.
Free checklist: before you leave
- ☐ Owner phone numbers and 1 to 2 local backup contacts
- ☐ Vet, after-hours animal hospital and pet insurance info
- ☐ Food amounts and feeding times for each pet
- ☐ Medications: dose and timing copied from the label, plus a log
- ☐ Walk or litter routine, fears, escape risks
- ☐ Spare key, lock-up steps, alarm code
- ☐ Wi-Fi name and password
- ☐ Thermostat setting and water/electric/gas shut-off locations
- ☐ Plants, mail, packages and trash day
- ☐ Snow, ice or storm plan
- ☐ Enough pet food and supplies for the trip plus a few extra days
- ☐ Travel dates, how to reach you, and payment agreed
- ☐ A daily log page for the sitter to note meals, walks and anything unusual
Print this list or copy it into a note. This is a general organizer, not veterinary, legal or security advice.