Questions to Ask a Pet Sitter Before the Summer Holidays

It's a warm evening in your Zagreb flat. The windows are open, the flights for a seaside trip are almost booked, and the dog is asleep by the door while the cat watches the street from the windowsill. Then the question lands: who will look after them? That's where the right questions for a pet sitter come in.

Finding someone who is available is easy. Finding someone you trust takes the right questions and a bit of time.

The good news is that you don't have to work it all out alone. This guide gives you a practical list you can start using straight away, whether you live in Zagreb or anywhere else in Europe.

Why the right questions for a pet sitter matter before summer

If you're arranging a pet sitter before holidays at the coast, timing matters almost as much as trust.

Summer is peak season for sitters. The good ones book up fast, so starting early means more choice and less pressure. And the right questions do more than confirm someone's free. They help you judge trust and fit.

Below, you'll find where to look, the questions to ask, how to plan for emergencies, why a trial run matters and a handover checklist. Let's begin with where to look.

Finding a pet sitter: where to start and what to check first

Start early. A few months ahead is ideal. For July and August trips, it's close to essential, because that's when demand for sitters peaks.

Your best leads for a trusted pet sitter in Zagreb are often people you already know. Ask neighbours in your building, the regulars you chat with on morning walks around Jarun or Maksimir, and friends with pets. A personal recommendation beats a polished profile almost every time.

Using online listings? Read the reviews closely. Look for detail, like a named pet, a specific routine, or how the sitter handled a problem. Generic praise like "great sitter!" tells you very little.

Before you contact anyone, decide what kind of care you need. That could be drop-in visits, dog walks, overnight stays in your home, or boarding in the sitter's home. Then have these details ready:

• Your exact dates
• Number and type of pets
• Daily routine for feeding, walks, and litter
• Any special needs or medication
• Your budget range

Also check current local rules and any building or housing arrangements that might apply. This matters most if someone will stay overnight or come and go with your keys.

Once you have a few names, it's time to find out how they actually work with animals.

Questions about experience and care style

A sitter's experience matters more than their profile photo. Whether you're preparing questions to ask a dog sitter or a cat sitter, these five will tell you most of what you need to know. The note after each one shows what a good answer sounds like.

• How long have you cared for dogs or cats, and of what sizes, ages and temperaments? Listen for specifics. "Three years, mostly large breeds and two elderly cats" beats "I love all animals."
• Have you looked after a nervous cat, a reactive dog, a senior pet or a puppy? The best answer matches your own pet and comes with a real example of what they did.
• How many pets do you care for at once during busy weeks? A clear limit (and a plan for August and the Christmas rush) is a good sign.
• How do you handle a dog that pulls, barks at other dogs, or a cat that hides for the first day? You want calm, patient methods, not "I'll show them who's boss."
• Can you give me contact details for people whose pets you've looked after? A confident sitter shares two or three names without hesitating.

Pay attention to the questions coming back at you, too. Does the sitter ask about your dog's walking routine, your cat's favourite hiding spot, or any medication? That curiosity is one of the best signs you'll get.

And watch for red flags. Vague answers to direct questions. Reluctance to meet you and your pet before booking. Pressure to pay everything upfront, especially before a trial visit. Any one of these is reason enough to keep looking. Whether you're in Zagreb or Vienna, good sitters are out there. You don't need to settle.

Experience is only half the picture, so next look at how a sitter will handle your pet's daily life.

Questions about routines, your home and summer safety

Your pet's day has a rhythm. A good sitter keeps it intact rather than reinventing it. So ask directly: can you stick to the usual feeding times, portions and walking routes?

Then get specific with these questions:

• Summer heat: Will you walk the dog early morning and evening, avoid hot pavements in the middle of the day and keep fresh water available at all times? (A quick test: press the back of your hand to the asphalt for seven seconds. Too hot for you means too hot for paws.)
• Indoor cats: How will you keep balcony doors and windows secure? Will you check the litter tray daily?
• Escape prevention: How do you handle front doors, stairwells and lifts with a dog that pulls or a cat that bolts?
• Keys and access: Will anyone else enter the home? Where will you store the keys, and how will you return them?
• Updates: How often will you send photos or messages, and at what times?

Vague instructions cause most mix-ups. "He likes an evening walk" leaves too much room for guessing. Try this instead: "Around 7pm, we do a 40-minute loop along the Sava embankment. He sniffs every bench, and that's fine." Do the same for cats. "Mici eats 40g of wet food at exactly 7am. If breakfast is late, she'll yowl at the bedroom door."

Write it all down. Drop a map pin for the route. The clearer your instructions, the less your sitter has to guess.

With the everyday covered, turn to the moments you hope never happen.

Emergency and health questions to agree on in advance

Nobody likes planning for the worst. But a five-minute conversation now saves real panic later. Treat what follows as general guidance, and speak to your own vet before the trip about your pet's specific needs.

• What would you do if my pet seemed unwell, stopped eating or got injured? You want a clear, confident answer, not a shrug.
• Are you comfortable following written care instructions from my vet? That includes giving any prescribed treatment exactly as the vet has directed. Ask your vet to put everything in writing so nothing gets lost in translation.
• Who do we call after hours? Share your vet's contact details and agree a back-up plan for nights and weekends. Out-of-hours services in Zagreb (and most European cities) change over time, so check current options yourself before you go.
• Who decides, and who pays, if I can't be reached? Agree this in writing. A spending limit and a signed note authorising treatment can save precious time.
• What would you do if my pet got lost? Make sure the ID tag is current, the contact details on any microchip registration are up to date, and you've left a few recent photos.

Last thing. Leave a second emergency contact who lives nearby. A friend ten minutes away beats you two countries away.

Answers in conversation are a great start, but nothing beats seeing a sitter in action.

Run a trial visit and prepare a clear handover

Never hand your keys to someone your pet has never met. Arrange a meet and greet at home first, so your dog or cat can sniff, watch and settle while the sitter is in the room. Keep it relaxed. Twenty or thirty minutes is usually enough.

Next, book a short paid trial before the main trip. One walk, one drop-in or one overnight stay will tell you far more than any profile or review. And paying for it keeps things professional on both sides.

Watch closely during that trial. How does your pet react? A loose, wagging dog or a cat that wanders over to investigate is a good sign. Pay just as much attention to the sitter. You want someone calm, patient and attentive to body language, someone who lets a nervous cat come to them rather than reaching straight for it.

Once you're happy, put the essentials in writing: dates, visit times, price, cancellation terms and payment schedule. A clear message thread counts (screenshots are fine). It saves awkward conversations later.

Then prepare your handover. Cat owners can use this as a ready-made cat sitter checklist, and dog owners can simply skip the litter line. Here's what to leave ready:

• Food and treats, with exact portions
• Lead, harness and poo bags
• Litter, scoop and spare liners
• Your vet's name, address and phone number
• Emergency contacts, including a local friend who can step in
• House notes: bin days, Wi-Fi password, the front door that sticks
• A written daily routine covering meals, walks, medication and bedtime
• Spare keys, tested beforehand

One last tip. Stick the routine sheet on the fridge and send a copy by message. Paper gets splashed or lost. A message stays searchable at 7am when the sitter can't remember whether it's half a pouch or a whole one.

Go on holiday with peace of mind

Trust doesn't come from a glossy profile. It comes from asking a pet sitter good questions, booking a short trial and handing over everything in writing.

So take the first step this week. Start conversations with the neighbours and fellow walkers you already know, ask who they trust, and shortlist two or three sitters. Then book a meet and greet plus a short trial well before summer arrives.

Save or print the question list and handover checklist above so they're ready when you need them. And speak to your vet about any health needs before you travel.

Then pack your bags. Coming home to a relaxed, happy dog or cat is the best part of any trip.