What do Petym's pet care guides cover?

Going away and leaving a pet with a sitter, choosing a sitter, what pet sitting costs and how it is priced, vaccines, foods that are toxic to dogs and cats, first aid and emergency signs, ticks, summer heat, the monsoon, Diwali, Holi, north Indian winters, behaviour while you are away, older pets and becoming a sitter.

Are Petym's guides written for India?

Yes. They are written for Indian homes and seasons: flats, housing societies and power cuts, Indian foods such as roti, curd and mango, the vaccine names on Indian cards, the brown dog tick, IMD's heat wave and monsoon dates, and festivals such as Diwali and Holi.

Can a pet care guide replace a visit to the vet?

No. The guides explain what veterinary and welfare bodies say so you can plan and ask better questions. They give no doses and no diagnosis. For anything about your own pet's health, or if it seems unwell, call your vet or the nearest 24-hour vet.

Which guide should I read before going on holiday?

Start with what to leave for your pet sitter, then how long your dog or cat can be left alone. If your pet will board, read vaccines before boarding and what to pack. For a trip over Diwali or a long weekend, read the festival travel guide and book early.

Where do the facts in Petym's guides come from?

From veterinary and welfare bodies such as WSAVA, the Merck Veterinary Manual, PDSA, the RSPCA, International Cat Care and ICAR-IVRI, and from government pages such as IMD, NDMA and the Animal Welfare Board of India. Each guide links every source with the date it was checked.

How often are the pet care guides updated?

Each guide shows the date its sources were last checked. When a source changes, such as a new vaccination guideline or a new festival advisory, the guide is rechecked and its date moves. Seasonal guides are reviewed before their season.

Do Petym's guides cover cats as well as dogs?

Yes. Cats have their own guides on how long they can be left alone, how often a sitter should visit, boarding a cat, the kitten vaccination schedule and foods and plants toxic to cats, including lilies. Many other guides cover dogs and cats side by side.

Are these guides free to read?

Yes. Every guide is free, with no sign-up. Petym is a pet sitting marketplace opening city by city in India; it is not taking bookings yet, and the guides are free whether or not you ever book a sitter.

49 care guides

Pet care guides for India

Updated October 2026By Petym

Petym's pet care guides answer the questions Indian dog and cat owners ask most: how long a pet can be left alone, what to leave a sitter, which vaccines it needs before a stay, and how to keep it safe through summer heat, the monsoon, Diwali and a north Indian winter. Every fact names its veterinary or official source.

Where Indian and global advice differ, on how often adult pets need boosters, for example, the guide shows both. None of it replaces your vet.

All care guides

Start hereGoing away11 min readWhat to leave for your pet sitterThe full checklist for an Indian home: food, medicines, vet consent, keys, the society and power.Checked 21 October 2026Read

Which guide do I need?

Out for a day or a weekend: How long a dog can be left alone How long a cat can be left alone How often a sitter should visit a cat
Away for a week or more: Leaving your dog for a week What to leave for your sitter A first stay away from home
Your pet is boarding: Vaccines before boarding What to pack Boarding a cat
Choosing a sitter: How to choose a pet sitter Questions to ask Red flags The meet and greet checklist Handing over keys
Working out the cost: How pet sitting is priced
A new puppy or kitten: The puppy and dog vaccination schedule The kitten and cat vaccination schedule
Something your pet ate: Foods toxic to dogs Foods and plants toxic to cats Indian foods dogs can eat Chocolate poisoning
Your pet seems unwell: Signs your pet needs a vet now Pet first aid basics Ticks and tick fever
Summer and the monsoon: Summer pet care Heatstroke in dogs Monsoon care
Festivals and winter: Diwali and firecrackers Holi and pets Festival travel Winter in north India
Behaviour while you are away: Separation anxiety in dogs Do cats miss their owners?Your dog after you return
An older pet or one on medicines: Senior pets and medication
You want to become a sitter: How to become a pet sitter Skills a sitter needs How sitters handle emergencies

Each guide lists its sources at the end with the date each was checked. Every health fact on these pages was also checked against two more independent sources, and where they differ, the guide says so.

What does each season in India mean for your pet?

Indian pet care follows the calendar: heat from April, rain and ticks from June, firecrackers in October and November, cold and smog in the north in December and January, and colour in March.

	When	The main risk	What to do
Summer India Meteorological Department	April to June, and any heat wave: IMD counts one on the plains from a maximum of 40 °C when it is well above normal	Heatstroke, hot pavements, a closed flat in a power cut	Shade and water all day, walks at dawn and after dark, a cool room that works without power
Monsoon India Meteorological Department	Normally from about 1 June in Kerala, 11 June in Mumbai and 27 June in Delhi	Leptospirosis from floodwater, ticks, wet skin and ears	Ask your vet about the leptospirosis vaccine four to six weeks before the rains, dry paws and ears after walks
Diwali Animal Welfare Board of India	October or November, on a date that moves each year	Firecracker noise, which AWBI says can pass 150 decibels	A den set up two to three weeks before, walks before dark, windows shut, see your vet early if your pet panicked last year
Winter in the north National Disaster Management Authority	Mostly December and January, in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand above all	Cold waves, poor air, heaters and angithis in closed rooms	A warm room off cold floors, shorter walks on cold-wave and poor-AQI days, never a pet alone with a heater
Holi Animal Welfare Board of India	March	Chemical colour on skin and eyes, water balloons, bhang and sweets	Pets indoors in a quiet room, no dry or wet colour on any animal, sweets out of reach
All year Tropical Council for Companion Animal Parasites	Every month	The brown dog tick and tick fever	A tick product your vet recommends all year, not just in the rains, and a daily tick check

Monsoon onset dates are IMD's normal dates; the rains can come earlier or later in any year.

How far ahead should you plan before going away?

Start about a month before: the care has to be booked, the vaccines checked and the sitter met before the week you pack.

Four weeks before
Decide on a sitter at home, boarding or family, and book. Good catteries are often booked up well in advance, around Diwali, summer holidays and long weekends most of all. International Cat Care
Three to four weeks before
Check the vaccination card and tick prevention with your vet. A cat that boards may need a herpesvirus and calicivirus booster one to two weeks before the stay. WSAVAstudy
One to two weeks before
Meet the sitter at home with your pet, and arrange a short trial visit, walk or one night before a long trip. RSPCA (England and Wales)
One week before
Buy enough of the usual food for the whole stay plus a few days spare, and write the care sheet: meals, walks, medicines, fears and your vet's details. RSPCA (England and Wales)
The day before
Hand over the keys in person, walk the sitter through a normal day, and leave the vaccination card and the nearest 24-hour vet's address. PDSA

How long can my pet be left alone?

Hours, not days: most adult dogs no more than about four hours at a time, a healthy adult cat a working day but never a night or a weekend, and no pet for a trip without a responsible person caring for it.

If You have an adult dog
PDSA advises against leaving most dogs more than about four hours at a time. On long office days, a midday walk or day care covers the gap. How long can a dog be left alone? PDSA
If You have a healthy adult cat
A working day with food, water and a clean tray is usually fine. Battersea says never to leave a cat alone overnight or for a weekend. How long can a cat be left alone? Battersea Dogs & Cats Home
If Your cat stays home while you travel
Cats Protection advises a sitter who visits at least twice a day, and more for very young, old or unwell cats. How often should a sitter visit a cat? Cats Protection
If You are away for a week, or even three days
No dog can be left alone, even with an automatic feeder. The RSPCA says never to leave a pet without a responsible person caring for it. Leaving your dog for a week RSPCA (England and Wales)
If Your pet is old
International Cat Care says older cats do not cope well with changes to their routine, so a sitter at home usually suits them better than a stay away. Senior pets and pets on medication International Cat Care
If It is a hot day
A closed flat and a power cut can make even a short absence unsafe. Very old, flat-faced, overweight and thick-coated dogs are most at risk of heatstroke. Heatstroke in dogs PDSA

What should you check before any trip?

Whatever the length of the trip and whoever looks after your pet, the same few things decide whether it goes smoothly.

Every vaccine on the card will still be current on the last day of the trip. WSAVAstudy
Tick and flea prevention is up to date: tropical guidelines say to protect dogs and cats all year, not by season. Tropical Council for Companion Animal Parasites
You have met the carer at home with your pet, and seen their ID. RSPCA (England and Wales)
The care sheet is written: food, amounts and times, walks, medicines, fears and habits. RSPCA (England and Wales)
The carer has your number, a backup contact in the same city, your vet and the nearest 24-hour vet with its address. RSPCA (England and Wales)
The usual food is stocked for the whole stay plus spare. If it must change, switch over several days, never overnight. WSAVA
The collar tag has your current number and the microchip record is up to date. PDSA
You are not relying on a neighbour who may also be travelling: RSPCA Queensland notes pets left with neighbours can be forgotten or escape. RSPCA Queensland

Which Indian foods are safe, and which are not?

The danger in an Indian kitchen is usually the cooking, not the food: onion and garlic tadka, salt, sugar and raisins turn a safe roti or rice into a risk.

Do

Small amounts of plain roti or plain cooked rice, with no ghee, salt or tadka. WSAVA
Plain, unsweetened curd in small amounts, if it suits your dog: dairy can cause diarrhoea. ASPCA Animal Poison Control
Banana, carrot, cucumber and mango flesh without the stone or skin, as treats for dogs. American Kennel Club
Treats and extras kept under about 10% of the day's calories. WSAVA

Don’t

Curry, gravy, dal or anything with onion or garlic in it, cooked or powdered: they damage red blood cells, and cats are more sensitive than dogs. Merck Veterinary Manual
Grapes, raisins and sultanas, including in sweets and gujiya. PDSA
Chocolate, cocoa, chai, coffee and sugar-free sweets or gum. ASPCA Animal Poison Control
True lilies or daylilies in a home with a cat, in bouquets, puja flowers or balcony pots: every part, even the vase water, can cause kidney failure. US Food and Drug Administration

When do you need a vet, not a guide?

These guides are for planning. If your pet shows any of these signs, stop reading and go to a vet now.

If Struggling to breathe, or white, blue or grey gums
Go to the nearest 24-hour vet now, and call ahead so the clinic can prepare. Merck Veterinary Manual
If Collapse, a seizure, or panting, drooling and wobbling on a hot day
For heat, cool your pet with running water while someone calls the vet, then go even if it seems to recover. RSPCA (England and Wales)
If It may have eaten something poisonous
Call your vet now, before signs appear. Never make a pet vomit unless a vet tells you to. RECOVER Initiative (Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care, 2026)study
If Dull, feverish or off its food a week or two after ticks, or bleeding from the nose or gums
Call your vet the same day and say the dog had ticks: these can be the first signs of tick fever. Merck Veterinary Manual
If Lethargy, vomiting or yellow gums in the days after floodwater
See a vet the same day and mention the water: these can be signs of leptospirosis. Merck Veterinary Manual

Which pet care myths do these guides correct?

You may have read
Cats are independent, so a weekend alone is fine.
Myth
What the sources say
Battersea says it is never advisable to leave a cat alone overnight or for a weekend: it could fall ill or be hurt with nobody to help. Battersea Dogs & Cats Home
You may have read
Tick treatment is only needed in the monsoon.
Myth
What the sources say
In the tropics, guidelines say to protect dogs and cats from ticks and fleas all year. The brown dog tick breeds indoors as well as outside. Tropical Council for Companion Animal Parasites
You may have read
A little fish curry is a treat.
Myth
What the sources say
The onion and garlic cooked into the gravy can damage a pet's red blood cells. Cats are more sensitive than dogs. Merck Veterinary Manual
You may have read
A pet that seems fine after eating a lily leaf is safe.
Myth
What the sources say
In a cat, kidney damage can begin 12 to 24 hours after the bite, before obvious signs, and treatment works best when it starts early. US Food and Drug Administration

How are Petym's guides written and checked?

From named sources, with the date each was read, and never from memory or other blogs.

Every health fact comes from a veterinary or welfare body: WSAVA for vaccines and nutrition, the Merck Veterinary Manual, PDSA, the RSPCA, International Cat Care, Cornell and ICAR-IVRI. Every rule comes from the government page that states it, such as IMD for heat waves and monsoon dates, NDMA for cold waves and the Animal Welfare Board of India for festival advisories. Each guide lists them at the end with the date they were opened.

The guides give no doses and no diagnosis. Where a question needs a vet, such as which vaccine your dog needs, how to give a medicine or whether a food it ate is dangerous at that amount, the guide says to call your vet, and says it plainly.

They are written for Indian homes: flats and housing societies, power cuts and inverters, household help and gate passes, Indie dogs, Tricat and DHPPi on the vaccination card, and the foods that are actually in an Indian kitchen. No vet has reviewed these pages yet, so none of them claims to be vet-reviewed.

Questions owners ask

What do Petym's pet care guides cover?: Going away and leaving a pet with a sitter, choosing a sitter, what pet sitting costs and how it is priced, vaccines, foods that are toxic to dogs and cats, first aid and emergency signs, ticks, summer heat, the monsoon, Diwali, Holi, north Indian winters, behaviour while you are away, older pets and becoming a sitter.
Are Petym's guides written for India?: Yes. They are written for Indian homes and seasons: flats, housing societies and power cuts, Indian foods such as roti, curd and mango, the vaccine names on Indian cards, the brown dog tick, IMD's heat wave and monsoon dates, and festivals such as Diwali and Holi.
Can a pet care guide replace a visit to the vet?: No. The guides explain what veterinary and welfare bodies say so you can plan and ask better questions. They give no doses and no diagnosis. For anything about your own pet's health, or if it seems unwell, call your vet or the nearest 24-hour vet.
Which guide should I read before going on holiday?: Start with what to leave for your pet sitter, then how long your dog or cat can be left alone. If your pet will board, read vaccines before boarding and what to pack. For a trip over Diwali or a long weekend, read the festival travel guide and book early.
Where do the facts in Petym's guides come from?: From veterinary and welfare bodies such as WSAVA, the Merck Veterinary Manual, PDSA, the RSPCA, International Cat Care and ICAR-IVRI, and from government pages such as IMD, NDMA and the Animal Welfare Board of India. Each guide links every source with the date it was checked.
How often are the pet care guides updated?: Each guide shows the date its sources were last checked. When a source changes, such as a new vaccination guideline or a new festival advisory, the guide is rechecked and its date moves. Seasonal guides are reviewed before their season.
Do Petym's guides cover cats as well as dogs?: Yes. Cats have their own guides on how long they can be left alone, how often a sitter should visit, boarding a cat, the kitten vaccination schedule and foods and plants toxic to cats, including lilies. Many other guides cover dogs and cats side by side.
Are these guides free to read?: Yes. Every guide is free, with no sign-up. Petym is a pet sitting marketplace opening city by city in India; it is not taking bookings yet, and the guides are free whether or not you ever book a sitter.

Going away soon? Tell us your dates.

A checked local sitter feeds, walks and keeps your pet company at home, follows your care sheet to the letter and sends a photo every day. Petym is opening city by city: send your dates and we will tell you when a sitter can take them.

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