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How to Create A Pet Sitting Kit

Stacy Mantle

When I was much, much younger I did a lot of babysitting for neighbors. It was good money, I didn’t have to worry about taxes, and I was pretty good at it. But, there is a lot of competition in babysitting – just as there is now a lot of competition in pet sitting. To get the jobs, I had to prove I was the best, the most reliable, the most trustworthy and the most likable.

To remain competitive, I created a “babysitting kit” to take along on the job. This was essentially a kit of everything I needed to keep kids happy and content. It consisted of things like glue, dull scissors, construction paper, games, and other things along those lines. I think it was one of the reasons I was called back so many times.

As I grew older and my patience grew more thin, my babysitting days morphed into pet sitting days. Like my young days of watching kids, I still carried a pet sitting kit, and I want to talk about what that means.

When I was pet-sitting for a living, I had many diff tent types of animals that I cared for. From diabetic cats, who needed daily injections of insulin to hyperactive dogs who needed lots of exercise, there were different tools for different jobs.

My kit has changed over the years, but on the rare occasion I do watch other people’s pets, I still like to show up with an action plan. Sometimes this is as simple as interactive toys, other times it includes calming supplements and treats. Remember you must have the permission of owners to work with anything the pets are not already using – this is particularly true for any type of calming aids, holistic or not. I always introduce my ideas and suggestions during our initial meeting when I first meet the pets and their parents. I also make sure the owners have signed a series of documents that includes a “permission to treat” contract in the event of an emergency.

While I have several different kits for use in different households, I want to talk about our “general” kit first.

This is a catch-all kit for both dogs and cats. It includes a variety of dog and cat toys, first aid supplies, and items for cleanups. One of my favorite ways to pack all this away is in a paw print themed doggy bag. The one in the picture above is from Doggy Baggage and it’s our absolute favorite!  The pockets allow us to organize everything the way we want, it looks very classy and it offers easy access to products.

One of the most important things I keep in both my car and the person’s home is an emergency card. This is a card saying that I have pets at home, that I am caring for others pets and the contact information for my emergency contact. Everyone should carry this no matter if they pet sit or not. If you’re in an accident, have a medical emergency, or are otherwise incapacitated, your pets and those you care for are still reliant on you. Be sure you keep them information on them available.

At the very least, you should have these five forms on hand at all times, for each client:

 [heading style=”2″ color=”#006666″ style_color=”#006666″]Here’s a list of the things I keep in my kit.[/heading]

Calming Shirt: This is in case of thunderstorms or the general stress that goes along with an owner leaving. Keep a variety of sizes available, and at least keep one for cats and one for dogs.

Calming Aids: I use Adaptil Spray (formally D.A.P Spray) for dogs, Rescue Remedy for the water supply, and Feliway Behavior Modifier Spray for cats. For days when I know thunderstorms or fireworks will be in the background, I always keep LICKS Zen for Dogs on hand (they also have one that’s just as effective for cats). This is a quick little all-natural supplement that is not only great for your dogs and cats, but will calm them down naturally in a matter of an hour or less. The effects last up to eight hours.

Natural. Low-calorie Treats: Here is a list of my favorite treats from The Honest Kitchen (which is what I feed my dogs). They are low-cal (some less than a calorie each), dogs and cats both love them (especially the Quickies), and they are super easy to carry.

Collapsible bowls: These take up very little room in your kit and are great to carry around in your car in the event you stumble upon a stray or need to offer water while on the road. (We love the Dexas Popware for Pets Travel cups and the SturdiBox Foldable Water Tight Box – they are perfect for travel and the large SturdiBox can even act as an emergency litter box)

Quick Clean: You would be surprised at how many people forget to stock up on supplies before they leave. For this reason, I always carry a small camping-style roll of paper towel (try EZ Towel) and a small selection of cleaning products. Pets become easily stressed when their owners leave, so be prepared for an occasional mess.

Toys: Different pets prefer different types of toys. The important thing is that you find what works and keep a selection avaialble. Here are a few of our favorites that even the wildest of animals will respond too:

First Aid Kit: The first rule of having a first aid kit is to NEVER medicate another person’s animal without first calling the veterinarian and only in extreme situations. For example, if you see a dog get stung by a bee, call the veterinarian and confirm the proper way to treat. Know what each animal’s individual medical record entails before ever offering anything medical. This is very important.

Carrier: You never know when you may have to evacuate or leave in a hurry. You should be prepared in case of any emergency – and that includes a fire or flood. Keep carriers and harnesses by the door to make it easy to find.

Leash, martingale collar and/or harness: I never put a large dog in the car without them being secured. The safest way to secure them is with a carrier, but if you don’t have room in the car, a harness is better than nothing. We recommend a zip line and harnesses for our three dogs, but the owner of the animals you’re watching can recommend the best alternative for their pets. And you should be asking.

Muzzle: It’s always a good idea to have a muzzle on hand in the event of emergency. I always use a basket muzzle rather than other types of muzzles – not only because it is safer and far less traumatic, but because they can eat and drink through the muzzle (with practice). Animals can act very differently when they are stressed and if you have to evacuate for any reason, most shelters require all animals to be muzzled in order to gain access. It’s just good to have on hand and hope you’ll never need it…

Of course, your own individual pet-sitting kit will vary dramatically depending on what type of species, size of animal, and temperament of animals you’re watching. We’ll be preparing some alternative lists for birds, cats, fish, and more – so stay tuned.

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