Facing an upcoming trip and not sure who should care for your pet while you’re away? The decision often boils down to three options:
- Kennel Boarding
- Pet Sitter’s Home
- In-Your-Home Pet Sitter
While each choice has its merits, letting your pet stay at home stands out as the most beneficial choice for your pet’s well-being, comfort, and happiness.
Comfort and Familiarity
The biggest advantage of In-Your-Home pet sitting is the comfort of your pet remaining in their own environment. Dogs and cats, feel safest and most secure when surrounded by familiar sights, sounds, and smells. Be it their favorite spot on the couch, the backyard they know so well, or the peace and quiet of their own home, staying put reduces stress and anxiety that comes with change.
In contrast, boarding at a kennel exposes your pet to unfamiliar surroundings, loud noises, and potential interactions with other animals. You don’t know who will be taking care of your pet as Kennels employ a variety of staff, which makes it difficult to predict how they will treat your pet. If you’re not familiar with the employees, you may not feel fully comfortable leaving your pet in their hands.
Dropping your pet at a sitters home may allow them the company of a sitter, but there are still uncertainties. You don’t know who may be coming to take care of your pet and what their living situation is like. Is the sitter a smoker? What other pets may be in the home? Will your pet will get along with them? There are many unknowns.
Personalized Care
In-Your-Home pet sitting offers the benefit of one-on-one, personalized attention. A professional pet sitter can closely follow your pet’s specific needs, whether it’s administering medication, maintaining a special diet, or ensuring they get their favorite playtime.
When you board your pet at a kennel, you’re dealing with a staff that has many pets to attend to. Though kennels may have systems in place for specific care routines, your pet may not get the individualized attention they deserve. The change in staff during your pet’s stay, could lead to inconsistency in the care provided.
With In-Pet Sitter’s-Home pet sitting, your pet will likely receive more attention than in a kennel, there may uncertainty of how well the sitter will understand and meet your pet’s needs. Sitters managing multiple pets may not receive the same focused attention that they would in your own home with a dedicated sitter.
3. Reduced Stress and Anxiety
For pets that suffer from separation anxiety, In-Your-Home pet sitting provides the most calming experience. Animals are creatures of habit, and a sudden change in their environment can be stressful.
At a kennel, the sounds of barking dogs, the constant movement of strangers, and the unfamiliarity of the space can heighten your pet’s anxiety. The presence of unfamiliar animals, especially in close quarters, can be very uncomfortable for your pet kids.
Similarly, In-Pet Sitter’s-Home pet sitting may sound like a more personal option, but it still comes with unknowns. What is the environment like? Will the sitter’s home be chaotic or stressful? Are there other pets that your dog or cat may not get along with? Does the sitter have children, and if so, how will they interact with your pet?
Better Health and Hygiene
In-Your-Home pet sitting is a cleaner, healthier option for your pet. Since your pet remains his/her own home, they are less likely to encounter new germs or illnesses.
Kennels, however, can be breeding grounds for contagious diseases like kennel cough, parasites, and fungal infections due to the close proximity of many animals in a confined space. Additionally, when you board your pet at a kennel, they are often required to be up-to-date on every vaccination recommended by veterinarians. This includes vaccinations that may not be legally required but are often mandated by boarding facilities to ensure the health and safety of all pets. While this helps protect your pet, it can also add additional costs and hassle. If your pet is overdue for a certain vaccine, you may need to rush to the vet before boarding, or face the risk of your pet not being allowed to stay.
With In-Your-Home pet sitting, your pet typically only needs to be current on the vaccinations required by law, usually the Rabies vaccine, and that can reduce costs associated with meeting kennel requirements. And because your pet is not interacting with other animals, the risk of exposure to illnesses is significantly lower.
With In-Pet Sitter’s-Home pet sitting, there may be other animals present, which means you might want to get those other vaccines required by kennels just incase. Even though the sitter may take precautions, you won’t always be sure of the overall hygiene standards of their home since a quick visit usually doesn’t reveal the true cleanliness of a home.
Convenience and Peace of Mind
Keeping pets at home provides unmatched convenience. Your pet stays right where they are so no worrying about this traffic during “Season” here in Fort Myers and the logistics of transportation. Additionally, many in-your-home pet sitters are happy to help with other tasks, such as watering plants, bringing in the mail, or even providing security by making your home appear occupied.
When you board your pet at a kennel, you’ll need to arrange drop-off and pick-up times, which puts extra pressure on you and is time-consuming. Moreover, when you board your pet, you have to trust an entire facility with the well-being of your pet. You don’t know exactly who will be handling them at any given time, or if the person assigned to care for your pet is someone you can trust.
If you choose to place your pet in another’s home you’ll still need to make arrangements to transport your pet to and from the sitter’s home, which is still a hassle. There may also be more unknowns about who is coming and going from the sitter’s home, potentially letting your beloved pet escape because family or friends that drop by might not except a new pet there.
No Locking Your Pet in a Cage
Kennels often require pets to be kept in cages or small pens for much of the day, which can limit their freedom and make them feel confined. Even if a kennel offers larger runs, many pets still feel constrained in this type of environment.
Unless you request that your pet be crated while the pet sitter steps out, while at your house, your pet has the freedom to roam their own home, curl up on their favorite furniture, and explore their surroundings as they please.
In-Pet Sitter’s-Home pet sitting offers more space than a kennel, your pet may still feel uneasy in an unfamiliar setting. Depending on the sitter’s home, there may be less space to roam, and your pet could feel restricted in their movements.
The Peace of Mind You Deserve
Ultimately, In-Your-Home pet sitting provides you with the most peace of mind. Knowing that your pet is being cared for in their own home, surrounded by familiar objects and routines, allows you to relax while you’re away. Professional sitters also offer updates, including photos and messages.
With boarding, it’s more difficult to check in on your pet, and the level of communication may not be as personal. Similarly, In-Pet Sitter’s-Home pet sitting may not offer the same level of transparency, especially if the sitter is managing multiple pets at once.
Each one of these three options have pros and cons depending on the pet parent and the pets involved. Pricing differs for these services and that might be an issue. When vacationing for pleasure, try to build in the best option into your budget for your peace of mind.
Compare
Use this comparison table to weigh the pros and cons of each option and find the best fit for your pet.
| Feature | In-Your-Home Pet Sitting | In Sitter’s Home/Someone Else’s Home | Kennel Boarding |
| Comfort for Pet | Pets stay in their familiar environment, reducing stress. | Pets may adapt to new surroundings but can benefit from a change. | Pets are housed in a facility, often with less personal space. |
| Convenience for Owner | No need to transport your pet; the sitter comes to you. | Requires transporting your pet to and from the sitter’s location. | Requires drop-off and pick-up at the kennel. |
| Attention & Supervision | Can be one-on-one, but depends on sitter’s schedule. | May share attention with other pets in the sitter’s care. | Often limited to group care unless extra one-on-one care is purchased. |
| Cost Considerations | Can be more expensive, depending on sitter’s rates. | Often more affordable than in-home care but varies widely. | Generally the most affordable option, but add-ons can increase cost. |
| House Maintenance | Sitters can assist with tasks like watering plants or collecting mail. | No assistance with home maintenance. | No assistance with home maintenance. |
| Suitability for Multiple Pets | Ideal for homes with multiple pets; keeps routines consistent. | Limited by space and the sitter’s ability to manage multiple pets. | Additional pets may cost extra; group housing can be restrictive. |
| Behavioral Considerations | Perfect for pets who thrive on routine or have anxiety. | Suitable for social pets who enjoy new settings. | Best for pets comfortable in group settings or accustomed to kennels. |
| Socialization Opportunities | Limited to interactions with the sitter. | May interact with other pets in the sitter’s home. | Often includes group play or interactions with other boarded pets. |
If you are convinced that In-Your-Home type of pet sitting is what may work the best for you and you are in the Fort Myers area of Southwest Florida then check out my homepage to learn a little bit about me.
Read about and Pink Pet Pal and services offered.
