Choose a pet sitter by meeting them in person, asking specific questions about experience, daily routine, updates, emergencies and alerts, and agreeing the price and conditions in writing. A good sitter asks you as many questions as you ask them. With PetHome Israel you send one request, we match you with a sitter in your city, and you meet before the first booking.
Start with your pet's needs
Before looking for a sitter, write down what your pet actually needs:
- type of care: visits, walks, boarding or an overnight sitter;
- number and type of animals;
- medication or special diet;
- behaviour: shy, reactive, anxious, escape artist;
- dates, including possible changes.
This makes it easy to see whether a sitter is the right fit.
Questions to ask the sitter
Experience
- What animals have you cared for, and for how long?
- Have you cared for a pet like mine: senior, puppy, reactive, on medication?
Routine
- How long is each visit or walk, and what exactly happens?
- How many animals do you care for at the same time?
- For boarding: where will my pet sleep, who else lives in the home, are there other animals?
Updates
- How and how often will you send updates?
- Will you send a photo after every visit?
Safety
- What do you do during a siren? Where is the protected space?
- Do you walk dogs off-leash? (The answer should be no, unless you allow it in a fenced area.)
- How do you keep doors and windows closed with cats?
Emergencies
- What do you do if my pet seems unwell?
- Which vet will you contact, and how will costs be handled?
- Who replaces you if you get sick?
Practical
- How do you handle keys?
- What is the full price, including extras?
- What happens if my return is delayed?
The meet-and-greet
Always meet before the first booking. Watch how the sitter approaches your pet: calm, patient, letting the animal come to them. Show the routine, the supplies and the protected space. For boarding, visit the sitter's home or ask for photos and a clear description of the space.
Red flags
- The sitter does not ask about your pet's health or behaviour.
- Vague answers about how many animals they care for.
- Unwillingness to meet before the booking.
- Pressure to pay everything in cash with no written agreement.
- Promises that sound too good, such as "I can visit ten cats a day for an hour each".
Agree everything in writing
A short message is enough: dates, times, number of visits, price, extras, how keys are handled, the vet and spending limit, and what happens if plans change. It protects both sides.
How matching works with PetHome Israel
You send a request with your city, service, animals and dates. We confirm the price in writing and connect you with a sitter. You meet, agree on the routine and only then confirm the booking. We do not publish ratings or reviews until they are real, and we do not invent them.