How to Prepare a Pet for Boarding or a Pet Sitter

June 8, 2026

Short Answer

Prepare for boarding or a pet sitter by checking licences or insurance where relevant, visiting in advance, sharing written routines and medical details, confirming emergency authority and completing a gradual trial. Identification, vaccinations and parasite requirements should be checked early.

Key Takeaways

Adapt care to the individual animal’s age, health, behaviour and environment.
Use reward-based training and introduce change gradually.
Check product dimensions, materials and instructions rather than relying on labels.
Monitor for pain, fear, appetite changes or other signs that need professional advice.
Prioritise welfare and practical daily routines over quick fixes.

Quick Decision Checklist

Check	What to look for
Purpose	A clear welfare-led use rather than punishment or convenience
Fit and setup	Enough room, safe materials, ventilation and a stable location
Behaviour	Loose body language, voluntary approach and normal eating
Daily needs	Water, toileting, movement, rest and social contact remain available
Warning signs	Pain, panic, repeated escape attempts or sudden behaviour change

Boarding vs. Pet Sitting: Understanding the Difference

Before diving into preparation, it is worth being clear about the two main options UK pet owners typically choose between.

Boarding kennels and catteries are dedicated facilities where your pet stays for the duration of your absence. Good quality facilities will have separate spaces for each pet, regular feeding and exercise routines, and staff experienced in managing animals of different temperaments. They are regulated in the UK under the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018, which requires operators to hold a licence from their local council. Similar licensing requirements apply in Scotland and Wales under their respective regulations.

Pet sitters either visit your home on a schedule to feed, walk, and check on your pet, or stay in your home for the full duration. Home-based pet sitting is often less stressful for animals because they remain in their own environment. The quality and professionalism of pet sitters varies widely, and finding a reliable, experienced individual requires more careful vetting than booking a licensed facility.

Both options can work well. The right choice depends on your pet's temperament, their health needs, the length of your absence, and your budget.

How Far in Advance Should You Prepare?

For anything longer than a single overnight stay, preparation ideally begins at least a few weeks before you leave. This gives you time to:

Trial a boarding facility or introduce your pet to a new sitter
Update vaccinations if required
Work on any behavioural habits that might cause problems for carers
Gather the paperwork and information a good carer will need

Leaving preparation to the day before your departure creates unnecessary stress for everyone involved, and it does not give your pet any opportunity to adjust to new people or environments before you are gone.

Vaccinations, Health Checks, and Documentation

Most reputable boarding kennels and catteries require proof of up-to-date vaccinations before accepting a pet. For dogs, this typically includes distemper, parvovirus, leptospirosis, and kennel cough. For cats, flu and enteritis vaccinations are standard requirements. Kennel cough vaccination in particular is often required within a specific window before boarding, so check with your chosen facility well in advance.

If your pet is on regular medication, ensure you have an adequate supply to cover your absence, clearly labelled with dosage instructions. A written summary from your vet may reassure a carer who is not familiar with administering medication.

It is also worth ensuring your pet is microchipped and that your contact details on the microchip register are current. In England, microchipping is a legal requirement for dogs. For cats, legislation requiring microchipping has been introduced in England, with a phased implementation underway. Having current, accurate registration details is important regardless of where your pet is staying in your absence.

Preparing Your Dog for Boarding or a Pet Sitter

Build Familiarity With Enclosed and Contained Spaces

Dogs that are already comfortable spending time in a crate or kennel at home adapt more readily to boarding environments, where time in a run or kennel is typically part of the daily structure. If your dog has never been in a crate or has negative associations with one, introducing them to a contained space gradually before a boarding stay is genuinely worthwhile.

Our guide on introducing an older dog to crate training covers a patient, step-by-step approach that works for dogs of any age who are new to enclosed spaces. The same principles apply whether you are preparing for boarding or simply helping your dog feel more settled at home.

If you plan to send your dog's own crate with them to a pet sitter's home, ensure the crate is well-fitted for your dog's size. Our furniture-style dog crate with multiple doors and removable tray is a practical option that suits home environments comfortably without looking out of place.

Write Clear, Detailed Care Instructions

A good carer wants to know exactly how your dog's day works. Do not assume that general knowledge of dogs covers your individual pet's needs. Write down:

Feeding times, portion sizes, and the specific food your dog eats
Walk frequency and typical duration
Any commands your dog responds to
Behavioural quirks, triggers, or things that reliably upset them
How your dog typically behaves with strangers, other dogs, and children
Any health conditions, medication schedules, or vet details
Your vet's name, address, and phone number, plus an emergency contact

This level of detail is not excessive. It is the kind of information that allows a carer to provide genuinely consistent, appropriate care rather than making it up as they go.

Send Familiar Items

Dogs find comfort in familiar smells. Sending your dog's own bedding, a favourite toy, and their usual lead and collar to a boarding facility or pet sitter's home provides sensory continuity that can meaningfully reduce anxiety in a new environment.

A supportive, familiar bed in particular makes a difference. Dogs that sleep well tend to be less reactive and easier to manage during the day. Our all-season dog bed with removable Oxford cover is a practical choice to send with your dog, as the cover is easily removable for washing and the bed itself packs down without taking up excessive space.

Trial Visits Where Possible

If you are using a boarding kennel for the first time, ask whether your dog can visit in advance, or stay for a single night before a longer booking. This allows both your dog and the facility to become familiar with each other and gives you a clearer sense of how well your dog manages before you commit to a longer absence.

Preparing Your Cat for Boarding or a Pet Sitter

Cats present different challenges to dogs when it comes to temporary care. They are generally more territorial and more sensitive to environmental change. A home-based pet sitter is often less disruptive for cats than a cattery, particularly for cats that live primarily indoors or have never been in an enclosed facility before.

Consider Whether a Cattery or Home Care Suits Your Cat Better

Confident, sociable cats often adapt reasonably well to a reputable cattery. Nervous, elderly, or health-sensitive cats may find the unfamiliar environment, sounds, and smells of a cattery genuinely stressful. In these cases, a trusted pet sitter visiting your home once or twice daily may be a more appropriate choice.

If you do use a cattery, choose one that provides individual, private spaces rather than communal areas, and that requires proof of vaccination. Visiting the facility before booking is well worth the time.

Maintain Routine as Closely as Possible

Cats are highly routine-oriented. Feeding at consistent times, access to familiar sleeping spots, and predictable patterns of human interaction all help keep a cat settled. Brief your carer on your cat's exact daily schedule and make it as easy as possible for them to replicate it.

Provide Familiar Comfort Items

As with dogs, familiar bedding and items with your scent can help a cat feel more settled in an unfamiliar environment. A blanket or small cushion from home placed inside a cattery unit or on a favourite spot at home for a visiting sitter is a small but worthwhile detail.

Helping Pets With Separation Anxiety Cope Better

Some dogs and cats experience genuine distress when separated from their owners, and preparation for boarding or pet sitting needs to take this into account. For dogs with notable separation anxiety, prioritise a familiar carer, veterinary advice and a professionally guided plan well before the trip. Do not introduce closed-crate confinement as a last-minute solution.

Our article on supporting a dog that struggles with being alone explains why an open resting area may form only one part of a wider, individual plan.

For pets where anxiety is a significant concern, it is worth speaking to your vet before making care arrangements. In some cases, short-term veterinary support may be appropriate for the duration of your absence.

What to Send With Your Pet

Regardless of whether you are using a boarding facility or a pet sitter, a well-prepared bag makes your carer's job easier and your pet's stay more comfortable. Consider packing:

Enough of your pet's usual food to last the full stay, plus a small reserve
Their regular feeding bowl
Bedding or a blanket with familiar scents
Any medication, clearly labelled with instructions
A favourite toy or two
Vaccination records and vet contact details
Your written care instructions

For dogs staying with a pet sitter, sending their own secure and comfortable sleeping space means they have a consistent, familiar place to rest throughout the stay rather than making do with whatever is available.

Staying in Touch and Returning Home

Most pet sitters and many boarding facilities are happy to send a brief daily update by text or photo. Setting this expectation clearly before you leave gives you peace of mind and helps you gauge how your pet is settling.

When you return, give your pet time to readjust. Dogs in particular may be excitable, overtired, or unusually clingy for a day or two after boarding. This is normal. Returning to a consistent routine quickly is generally the most effective way to help them settle back into everyday life.

For more on building and maintaining the kind of reliable routine that helps pets feel secure at home and away, our article on the role of routine in a dog's daily wellbeing is worth a read before your next trip.

Reach out to the Paw Comfort team and we will do our best to assist.

Final Verdict

FAQ

What should you know about boarding vs. pet sitting: understanding the difference?