Every now and then, the holidays come along to disrupt the mundane flow of life! These are much awaited, and eagerly looked forward to times of the year because people travel to be with family, friends, or even just themselves.
For pet owners, this means they need to decide whether they’re taking their pets along on the ride, or if they’re leaving them at home. If they choose the latter, their next decision will have to do with where or who they leave their pet with.
In fact, for many pet owners, planning a trip or time away during the holidays all starts with figuring out where they’ll leave their pet. Live-in pet sitting or in-home pet boarding are two of the most sought after services during these times, because of which professional pet sitting companies see a steep rise in the number of bookings made during the holidays.
Having trusted pet sitters look after your pet is one way you can be certain that their routine and care requirements are well taken care of. You won’t even have to sweat! Just go about your plans because most pet sitters will even send you frequent updates on what’s happening throughout your pet’s day.
What does this mean for you if you’re a pet parent? It means that you need to be on your toes about booking a pet sitting service the moment you sense holiday plans coming up. This could even be months in advance. You’d be surprised to know that many pet parents even go the extra mile and book services a year in advance.
- Booking more than three months in advance. You’ll definitely get the right pet sitter for your pet on time. You can go about your travels without worrying about your pet!
- Booking a month in advance. You’ll get a pet sitter, but there’s no guarantee that you’ll have the freedom to choose the pet sitter you want. Oftentimes, you may not get the service you want either. For example, if you’ve requested pet sitting services, you may get in-home pet boarding services instead. It all depends on availability.
- Booking a few weeks beforehand. Your chances of finding a place on the waiting list are strong because the majority of pet sitters will already be booked at this time. Your request will still be taken into consideration, but you are likely to experience a delay in confirmation.
- Booking a week in advance. You’re less likely to get a pet sitter on demand, and will likely be made to wait for further confirmation. Most pet sitting companies will not have the heart to turn you and your pet away, so they’ll see where your pet will fit in the schedule of their pet sitters.
- Booking on the date of the holiday. This is something that should definitely be avoided because the chances of getting a pet sitter are highly slim at this point. Pet sitting companies will do their best to accommodate your request, but there’s no guarantee that you’ll get the service you request.
Isn’t it obvious why staying ahead of the game is so much better now? When deciding when to book a pet sitter for the holidays, there are also a few things you need to keep in mind. Read on to find out more.
What You Need to Think Of
Think Ahead and Don’t Wait to Book a Holiday Pet Sitter!
Waiting till the last minute to book a holiday pet sitter is definitely not the right way to go. As a matter of fact, there have been many instances when pet sitting facilities and pet boarding facilities have had to turn down requests made by pet parents a week before the holidays. In addition to this, many pet sitting services are even known to stop taking in requests when they are full, as bookings are made on a first come first serve basis.
It is to avoid undesirable and inconvenient circumstances like this that we recommend booking months in advance if you know that you’ll be out of town.
During the holidays, even family, friends, or neighbours may not be able to chip in and help out due to their own personal commitments around that time.
To set the seal on making sure your pet is in the right hands when you’re away, professional pet sitting services or in-home pet boarding services are your safest bet. The only way you can guarantee your pet gets this service is if you think ahead of time and book the moment you find out about your plans.
If you are not sure whether to go for live-in pet sitting services or in-home pet boarding services, check out our blog!
Adding on to this, booking in advance will give you time to discuss with the pet sitter, get comfortable with them, understand how they’ll interact with your pet, as well as relay your specific requirements. All of this discussion can be arranged for during a scheduled Meet & Greet session.
Most pet sitting companies will let you discuss with different pet sitters they have in their network, so that you can find the one that is best for your pet.
Pet owners just like you will also be looking for the service in their pet’s best interest, which means that pet sitting services will see a rise in demand during the holidays.
Booking in advance will ensure your pet gets exactly what you want for them. Leaving your pet in the hands of a trustable and safe pet sitter will let you enjoy your time to the fullest. You won’t have to constantly worry about whether your pet is being taken care of properly.
The last thing you want is to be stressed out during your holidays, or going through pet sitting companies to find a place for your pet. There’s already a lot involved during festive times, and booking in advance will ensure that you can focus on what you’ve got to do without worrying about the rest.
Your Budget
If you’re booking pet sitting or in-home pet boarding services around the holidays, it’s almost certain that you’ll be dealt with surcharges. Pet sitting companies everywhere experience a drastic increase in the amount of bookings they receive as the holiday season nears. Due to this, they charge more on bookings made around this time.
Some pet sitting companies may offer different pet sitting packages to accommodate last minute requests. Generally, these packages will come bearing a hefty price tag as well.
You can avoid having to pay the extra cash by booking weeks or even months in advance. It’s definitely the more budget-friendly option.
Your Location and the Weather
As seasons change, so does the weather. If you are going to opt for pet sitting or in-home pet boarding services, your location and the weather in your location can impact connectivity. This influences how and when the pet sitter will reach your residence.
If you’re availing in-home pet boarding services, you’ll want to check on the location and weather conditions of the pet sitter’s residence before dropping your pet off. Starting beforehand and getting there on time is always better than getting stuck in unwanted weather conditions or traffic.
Pet Sitter Availability
The holidays are a time when everyone has stuff to do – including pet sitters! This reduces the number of pet sitters in a pet sitting company’s pool.
With a rise in pet sitting service requests, and reduction in the availability of pet sitters, it’s all the more reason for you to book a pet sitter months in advance. To say the least, it’s a rat race that you don’t want to get caught up in.
The Number of Pets You Have
If you have more than one pet under your care, you have more reason to book in advance. Pet sitting companies will take in your request, and find a pet sitter that can handle multiple pets at once because some are more trained in this than others.
When combined with the peak bookings that happen during the holidays, this is one more factor that could delay your chances of getting a pet sitting service when you want.
Your Expectations
As a pet owner, you’ll want to make sure that your pet gets exceptional care. If you have very specific requirements, your pet has special needs, or you have more than one pet that needs to be taken care of, you will definitely want to scout for a pet sitter well in advance. Professional pet sitting companies will prioritise the care requirements of your pet and focus on making sure they’re met. Their staff are also trained to handle all situations, and have a pledge to adhere to their community guidelines.
It’s Simple – Book a Holiday Pet Sitter at the Right Time
Long story short – book a holiday pet sitter when you find out or even sense that you’ll have plans over the holidays. This could be a holiday at any time of the year! It’s always a good option to book through pet sitting companies because they have their staff positioned and ready to take in the rise in number of pet sitting or in-home pet boarding requests.
With the ebbs and flows of life, it’s inevitable that last minute plans may happen. In such cases, you can reach out to trusted pet sitting companies because they will do everything in their power to take in your request and ensure your pet is promised the best of care while you’re away.
Booking services from reputed pet sitting companies will guarantee that you and your pet receive reliable and trustable pet sitting services.
At Pawland, we take the holidays seriously. We know it’s a time for gathering, bonding, and time off from the usual. Our team takes in bookings all throughout the year and will do our very best to accommodate your requests. Sometimes, we know that your holiday plans may happen last minute – not to worry. We’ll work with you to find the best service for your pet. This could be drop-in visits, live-in pet sitting, or in-home pet boarding services. Our pet sitters will be sure to give your pet care throughout the holidays because their heart won’t rest knowing your pet is home alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Many people do it. They leave their cat(s) with known friends, family, or neighbours. For some, this is a cost-effective way to take care of their pets. With this option, cats will not receive specialised care or one-on-one attention at all hours.
Choosing professional cat sitting services will have a cat sitter come over to your place and look after your cat. There are many in Dubai that work for trusted pet sitting companies eagerly waiting to love and care for your cat.
After you’ve found a pet sitting company in Dubai, you need to discuss the cat sitters that are right for your requirements with them. Check out our blogs below to help you with this better:
There’s no cap on the number of cat sitters available and ready for cat sitting in Dubai, both freelance and employed. While there are definitely credible and trustable freelance cat sitters out there, it’s always better to opt for cat sitters working in a known and established pet sitting company in Dubai.
Cat sitters from these companies will have the demonstrated expertise and experience required to look after your cat for the duration you’re away.
Of course they do! Cat sitters will make sure that after your cat goes potty, their litter box is cleaned out. Cat sitters know the germs and bacteria associated with leaving a litter box filled with litter around. They’ll be prompt in regular cleanings and sanitation procedures.
In addition to this, cat sitters will regularly clean the areas your cat frequents in your house or theirs. Hygiene is kept at the forefront of cat sitting to ensure a clean and safe stay.
Cat sitters with relevant experience and training can handle cats that have all sorts of medical conditions. They can provide medications when required, as well as first-aid care. If they feel any medical care required is out of their reach, they will be prompt in taking your cat to the vet.
You can book a cat sitter in Dubai as far in advance as you feel necessary. But, the sooner the better. Cat sitters will get bookings throughout the year in Dubai. It’s always recommended to book the moment you find out about plans so that a cat sitter can be allocated for your service on time. Generally, most will request that you book services 24 hours in advance.
