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Care guide 10 min read

How to choose a pet sitter in India

Updated By PetymFacts checked against official sources on

Quick answer

Choose a sitter you have met at home with your pet, whose identity you have checked, whose references you have called, and whose experience matches your pet's needs. They should explain clearly what they would do in an emergency, agree the plan in writing, and ideally do a short trial visit before a long trip.

The RSPCA's checklist is to meet the sitter first, check for a criminal background, check references, confirm emergency cover, and arrange introductory sessions. In India, a police verification request through your state police or the Ministry of Home Affairs' Digital Police Portal is the nearest equivalent background check.

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  • Meet your sitter first, free
  • PAN-checked, first-aid trained
  • A photo every day
  • Pay through Petym, never cash

What makes a good pet sitter?

Reliability first, then experience with pets like yours, then how well they communicate.

A good sitter turns up when they said they would, every time. They follow your plan rather than their own ideas about how pets should be fed. They know enough about animals to notice when something is wrong, and they tell you about it quickly and calmly. And they are honest about their limits: a sitter who says they have never given a cat a tablet is more useful than one who says yes to everything.

The RSPCA's advice is that someone who stays in your home to care for your pet usually works best, and that you should meet them before hiring, check references, check for a criminal background and confirm they have cover for your pet in an emergency. Cats Protection adds reading a sitter's profile carefully for references, reviews and insurance, and says you should never feel obliged to book a sitter you are not comfortable with.

Those are UK checks. Some of them, such as a DBS certificate, do not exist in India, and you should not assume an Indian sitter has insurance for your pet. The table below maps each check to what you can actually do here.

What kinds of pet sitter are there in India?

Each has strengths. The checks below apply to all of them, including people you know.

  • Knows you

    Family or a close friend

    The RSPCA's first choice, if they understand your pet's needs. Still write a care sheet and leave a vet letter; good intentions do not replace a plan. RSPCA (England and Wales)

  • Close by

    A neighbour or someone in your society

    Easy for twice-daily visits. Agree the plan clearly, and have a backup in case they travel too.

  • Experienced

    An independent professional sitter

    Often found through word of mouth or the vet clinic. Ask for references from past clients and check their ID yourself. Battersea Dogs & Cats Home

  • Platform checks

    A sitter through a marketplace

    The platform should tell you which checks it runs. Petym will verify identity with PAN and require pet first-aid training before a first booking.

  • Backup cover

    A sitter through an agency

    Can send a replacement if your sitter falls ill. Ask whether the person you meet will be the one who comes.

Which checks should you make, and how do you make them in India?

Read across: what the welfare charities ask for, and how to do it here.

Why it mattersHow to check in India
IdentityYou need to know who has your keys and your pet.See a government photo ID and match it to the person. Note the full name and address.
Criminal background Ministry of Home Affairs (Digital Police Portal, NCRB)The RSPCA asks to see a criminal record check before hiring.For a direct hire, file a verification request with your state police or through the Ministry of Home Affairs' Digital Police Portal, which lists verification for servants and employees.
References American Kennel ClubCats Protection and the AKC both say to ask for references and check them.Call at least two past clients, ideally in your city or society. Ask what went wrong and how it was handled.
Experience with your kind of petA puppy, a senior on medicines and a nervous cat need different skills.Ask for specific examples, not general claims.
Emergency plan American Kennel ClubThe AKC suggests asking how the sitter deals with emergencies and whether they know pet first aid.Ask which 24-hour vet they would go to, and how they would get there at night.
Cover in an emergency RSPCA (England and Wales)The RSPCA asks for insurance covering your pet in an emergency.Ask what cover they have. If none, agree in writing how an emergency vet bill will be paid.
A backup American Kennel ClubThe AKC asks whether the sitter has someone who can step in.Ask who comes if they fall ill, and meet that person if you can.
A written agreement American Kennel ClubThe AKC suggests a contract covering payment, cancellation and a vet release.Put dates, visit times, payment, cancellation and the vet letter in writing, even by message.

What should you look for with your pet?

Match the sitter to the pet, not just to the dates.

  1. If You have a puppy.

    Someone who can be there through the day, knows toilet training and will keep to your rules, not their own. Puppies

  2. If You have an older pet or one on medicines.

    A sitter who has given medicines before and will log every dose. Special-needs care

  3. If Your dog is reactive to other dogs or people.

    A confident handler who has walked reactive dogs, and who will avoid crowded lanes and community dogs.

  4. If Your dog is large or strong.

    Ask the AKC's question directly: does this person know how to handle a big dog? See them do it on a trial walk. American Kennel Club

  5. If You have a nervous cat.

    A quiet, patient sitter who lets the cat come to them and will still check on it every visit. How often should a sitter visit a cat?

  6. If Your dog has separation anxiety.

    A sitter who stays overnight or spends long periods with the dog, not short visits. Separation anxiety in dogs

What should you do before you book a pet sitter?

In this order. Skip none of them for a long trip.

Which shortcuts lead to the wrong sitter?

  • You may have read

    Lots of five-star reviews mean the sitter is right for my pet.

    Myth

    What the sources say

    Reviews help, but Cats Protection and the AKC still say to check references yourself. Ask past clients about pets like yours. American Kennel Club

  • You may have read

    A friend does not need a care sheet or a vet letter.

    Myth

    What the sources say

    PDSA advises leaving a letter allowing any carer to take your pet to the vet, and writing the routine down because it is hard to remember. PDSA

  • You may have read

    Someone who loves animals will know what to do.

    Myth

    What the sources say

    Loving animals is not the same as knowing first aid or noticing a blocked bladder. Ask about experience and emergencies.

  • You may have read

    If I feel unsure, I should give them a chance anyway.

    Myth

    What the sources say

    Cats Protection says do not feel obliged to book a sitter you are not comfortable with. Cats Protection

What will Petym check before a sitter is listed?

Petym is pre-launch. These are the checks every sitter must pass before a city opens.

Before a Petym sitter is listed, their identity is verified with PAN. They complete pet first-aid training before their first booking, and they must have a named 24-hour vet within reach. Sitters who host pets in their own home also have a video walk-through of the home by Petym, the housing society's permission for paid pet sitting, and a pet limit for the home.

Every first booking starts with a free meet and greet, so you see the sitter with your pet before you book. You book and pay through Petym, and the sitter is paid after the booking. During it, the sitter follows your pet's plan as you write it, logs feeds, walks and medicines as they happen, and sends a photo update every day. In an emergency, the sitter calls you and takes your pet to the nearest 24-hour vet on the city's list. After the booking, you can write a review of it.

Those checks reduce risk; they do not replace your own judgement at the meet and greet. Use the same questions and red flags with a Petym sitter as with anyone else.

Where do people in India find pet sitters?

Mostly through people they trust, and increasingly through platforms. Each needs the same checks.

Many owners start with their vet clinic, which often knows reliable local sitters, or with their society's residents' group, where neighbours share names. Dog walkers you already see in the society, groomers and trainers are other routes. Word of mouth tells you that someone is liked; it does not tell you that they know pet first aid or have a plan for a night emergency, so still ask.

Platforms and apps list sitters with profiles and reviews. Read what each platform actually checks, and what it does if something goes wrong. Petym's checks are listed below. Whichever route you take, the meet and greet, the ID check, the references and a trial visit are yours to do.

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.

Find a sitterHow it works

  • Meet your sitter first, free
  • PAN-checked, first-aid trained
  • A photo every day
  • Pay through Petym, never cash

Questions owners ask

How do I find a trustworthy pet sitter in India?

Start with people your vet, neighbours or society members have used, or a platform that tells you which checks it runs. Then meet the sitter at home with your pet, check their ID, call references, ask how they would handle an emergency, and do a short trial before a long trip.

Can I get police verification for a pet sitter in India?

For someone you hire directly, usually yes. State police services take verification requests for people you employ, and the Ministry of Home Affairs' Digital Police Portal lists verification for servants and employees among its citizen services. Check your own state police portal for the process.

Should a pet sitter have insurance?

The RSPCA advises checking that a sitter has insurance covering your pet in an emergency. Do not assume an Indian sitter has it. Ask what cover they have, and if there is none, agree in writing before you leave how an emergency vet bill will be paid and up to what amount.

Is a friend or a professional pet sitter better?

The RSPCA's first choice is a friend or family member who understands your pet's needs. A professional may bring more experience, references and a backup. Either way, meet at home with your pet, write a care sheet, and leave a signed vet letter.

How early should I choose a pet sitter before a trip?

Early enough to meet them, check references and do a trial visit before you leave, which means a few weeks for a long trip. Around Diwali, summer holidays and long weekends, good sitters get booked up first, so start sooner.

What experience should a pet sitter have?

Experience with pets like yours. For a puppy, toilet training and patience. For an older pet, giving medicines and spotting changes. For a reactive or large dog, confident handling. For a cat, quiet patience and knowing to watch the litter tray. Ask for real examples.

Does Petym check its pet sitters?

Yes. Before listing, Petym verifies each sitter's identity with PAN, requires pet first-aid training before the first booking and a named 24-hour vet within reach. Sitters who host pets also need a video walk-through of the home, their society's permission, and a pet limit. Petym is not taking bookings yet.

Should I choose a sitter who lives in my society?

It helps. A sitter in your society or nearby can visit twice a day without long travel, knows the gate and lift rules, and is close if something goes wrong at night. Still run the same checks: a meet and greet with your pet, ID, references and a clear plan for emergencies.

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Sources

Each source was opened and read on the date shown. How Petym checks its sources

  1. RSPCA (England and Wales): Pet sitting (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
  2. Cats Protection: Going on holiday without your cat (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
  3. Battersea Dogs & Cats Home: What should I do with my cat when I go on holiday? (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
  4. American Kennel Club: How to select a pet sitter (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
  5. Ministry of Home Affairs (Digital Police Portal, NCRB): Digital Police Portal: citizen services, including verification requests for servants and employees (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
  6. PDSA: Holiday health for pets (leaflet) (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026