The pet sitter handoff checklist: leave the routine, not the guesswork.

Start with the next 24 hours

The most useful handoff starts with what happens next. Before listing every detail about your pet, write down the first meal, walk, litter-box task, or other care responsibility the sitter will take over. Say which tasks you have already completed and when the sitter’s responsibility begins.

A long message sent while you are leaving can hide the one detail that matters today. Prepare a short routine sheet in advance and walk through it together. Use your actual supplies and show the sitter where everything belongs.

Leave specific care instructions

• Pet identity: name, a current photo, and any household details needed to distinguish pets.
• Meals: food location, measuring tools, owner-approved portions, and feeding locations.
• Daily routine: walks, toileting, litter, rest, and any areas that are off limits.
• Handling: harness setup, door routines, hiding places, and known triggers.
• Medication: current written veterinary instructions and the person responsible for each scheduled task.
• Supplies: leads, carriers, cleaning materials, food, and waste bags.

Keep observations factual: “Luna hides under the guest bed when the doorbell rings” is more useful than “Luna can be difficult.” Explain the routine you follow, rather than asking the sitter to interpret a personality label.

Agree on contacts and decisions

Write down how to reach you, who can help locally, and the regular veterinary clinic’s number. Include your chosen emergency veterinary contact and check the details before departure. Discuss who may authorize veterinary care and arrange any required authorization directly with the clinic.

Agree on the update rhythm: for example, a short note after each visit plus immediate contact about a problem. Do not rely on a scheduled check-in for urgent concerns. The sitter should know what to do if you cannot be reached, using instructions agreed before the trip.

Rehearse the handoff

Ask the sitter to find the food, fit the harness, locate the carrier, and explain the next planned care task. This reveals unclear instructions before you are away. Check that any shared app access works on their own phone; keep a printed copy of the essentials accessible too.

Finish by recording the last completed meal, walk, and any prescribed medication task. At your return, request the same handoff in reverse. That final exchange helps avoid an extra meal or a missed responsibility during the changeover.

Use our printable sitter checklist for the essentials. Team Pet’s shared-care workflow can help keep routine tasks visible during the trip; agree separately on access, authorizations, and emergency decisions.