Holiday Pet-Sitter Handoff: A Printable Routine and Supplies Checklist

A good pet-sitter handoff answers the questions that otherwise arrive while you are boarding a plane: Which bowl belongs to which pet? Where is the carrier? Who should the sitter call if you cannot answer?

Use the blank checklist below for dogs, cats, or a mixed-pet household. Fill out one pet profile per animal, then add a shared household sheet. This is an organization tool, not a substitute for your veterinarian’s instructions or a care agreement with your sitter.

Walk through the routine before departure day

Arrange a visit while you are home. Cats Protection recommends meeting a prospective cat sitter, checking references and insurance, and choosing someone experienced in any special care your cat needs. Source: Cats Protection. For every pet in your household, use that visit to confirm the sitter can carry out the agreed routine.

Let the sitter practice the practical steps: find the labeled food, identify the measuring tool, locate walking equipment, and show you which door they will use. Discuss what they should do if a visit is missed, transport is unavailable, or your return is delayed. Agree on the visit schedule and how the backup person will take over.

For cats, Cats Protection recommends at least twice-daily sitter visits, with more frequent care potentially needed for very young, older, or unwell cats. A feeder or camera does not replace a person checking on them. Ask your veterinarian about a suitable care arrangement when your pet has special needs. Source: Cats Protection.

Make the instructions easy to find

Keep the current copy in one agreed place and send a private digital backup. Date it, and remove outdated versions. Give access codes and key details privately, not in a public social post or a photo of the completed checklist. Do not leave payment-card details on the sheet; arrange emergency payment with the veterinary clinic separately.

Keep supplies in their usual locations where practical. Label anything the sitter might confuse, especially when two pets have different food or medication. The goal is a familiar routine with fewer opportunities for guesswork, not a house full of new gear.

Printable blank handoff checklist

How to use: Print this section or copy it into a private document. Write “not applicable” for unused fields, rather than leaving the sitter uncertain. Add space or another sheet whenever a field is too small. All feeding quantities and medication directions must come from the owner’s current care plan and prescribing veterinarian, not from this template.

1. Dates, people, and backup coverage

Care dates and local time zone: ____________________
First visit and last confirmed visit: ____________________
Owner name and contact method: ____________________
Times owner may be unreachable: ____________________
Sitter name and phone: ____________________
Backup caregiver and phone: ____________________
Who confirms backup coverage: ____________________
Return-delay and missed-visit plan: ____________________
Update frequency and preferred channel: ____________________

2. Pet profile: repeat for each dog or cat

Pet name, species, and identifying description: ____________________
Recent photo location: ____________________
Usual resting and hiding places: ____________________
Preferred greeting and handling boundaries: ____________________
Known triggers, escape risks, and separation instructions: ____________________
Owner-described normal appetite, activity, and toilet routine: ____________________
Health conditions or allergies the sitter needs to know: ____________________

3. Food, water, and daily routine

Food name and storage location: ____________________
Amount per meal, units, and measuring tool: ____________________
Meal times and feeding location for this pet: ____________________
Preparation/storage directions supplied by owner: ____________________
Approved treats and owner-set allowance: ____________________
Foods or treats not permitted: ____________________
Water locations and refresh/check routine: ____________________
Morning care: ____________________
Midday care: ____________________
Evening and overnight care: ____________________

4. Dog walks and cat care

Dog toilet-break schedule and usual walking plan: ____________________
Correct leash/harness, fit demonstration, and storage location: ____________________
Routes, interactions, or activities to avoid: ____________________
Gate and door procedure: ____________________
Cat litter-box locations and cleaning instructions: ____________________
Litter, scoop, waste bags, and disposal location: ____________________
Owner-agreed outdoor-access/cat-flap instructions: ____________________
Play routine and permitted toys: ____________________
Toys requiring supervision and where to put them away: ____________________

5. Medication: attach the current veterinary directions

Complete a separate entry for each medication. Have the sitter confirm that they can carry out the prescribed routine. Resolve unclear or conflicting directions with the prescribing clinic before departure. The sitter should not improvise a dose or repeat a dose when unsure whether it was given. FDA guidance explains why missed or uncertain doses need veterinary instructions.

Pet and medication name: ____________________
Current labeled container and written directions location: ____________________
Prescribed amount, units, route, and schedule: ____________________
Storage and administration directions from the veterinarian: ____________________
Last dose given: date/time/person: ____________________
Clinic instructions for a missed, refused, or uncertain dose: ____________________
Prescribing clinic contact: ____________________
Administration demonstrated and understood: ____________________

6. Veterinary contacts and emergency arrangements

Regular veterinary clinic, phone, and address: ____________________
After-hours clinic, phone, address, and verified opening details: ____________________
Owner’s alternate emergency contact: ____________________
Veterinary authorization/payment arrangement confirmed with clinic: ____________________
Carrier or transport equipment location: ____________________
Transport person and backup plan: ____________________
Pet-specific warning signs and response plan supplied by veterinarian: ____________________
Missing-pet response plan and identification records location: ____________________

If the sitter suspects illness or injury, they should contact the veterinarian promptly and notify the owner. For a suspected emergency, do not wait for an owner’s text reply before calling the emergency clinic. Follow the clinic’s guidance rather than trying a home remedy. Source: FDA pet-emergency guidance.

7. Supplies and final walkthrough

☐ Enough usual food, litter, and prescribed supplies are available.
☐ Bowls, cleanup supplies, bedding, and walking equipment are located.
☐ Carrier and transport arrangements are accessible.
☐ Keys/access method have been tested; backup access is arranged privately.
☐ Holiday visitors, deliveries, and household access rules are explained.
☐ Decorations, food gifts, and other pet hazards are secured.
☐ The sitter knows where each pet can be found and how to confirm they are present.
☐ Owner and sitter have reviewed the same dated instructions.

8. Reusable visit record

Date, arrival/departure times, and caregiver: ____________________
Each pet seen and condition noted: ____________________
Food/water care completed and observations: ____________________
Toilet/litter, walk, and play notes: ____________________
Medication record: pet, medication, amount, time, and caregiver: ____________________
Concern raised, person contacted, and instructions received: ____________________
Next caregiver and handoff confirmed: ____________________

Finish with a clear return handoff

Tell the sitter when you are actually home, not just when you expect to land. Confirm the last meal, walk, litter care, and medication entry before restarting your own routine. Retrieve keys or end temporary access through your normal process, and save the blank template for the next trip.

A thoughtful handoff can use equipment your pet already knows. The most useful preparation is accurate instructions, an accessible supply setup, and a caregiver who knows when to ask for help.