Guilt-free vacations: how to plan care for your pet

Planning vacations is fun. Planning what to do with your pet during those vacations, not so much. But with a little organization you can leave with peace of mind and come back to a happy pet. Here is a guide with timing and key decisions.

The ideal timeline

Between 6 and 4 weeks before the trip

Start defining what type of care you want:

• Private sitter? (care at their home or at yours)
• Traditional kennel? (more impersonal but structured)
• Family member or friend? (free but it is a favor)
• Take the pet with you? (depends on the destination)

If you decide on a sitter, start the search now. Good sitters get booked quickly, especially in high season (January, July, Holy Week, end of year).

3-4 weeks before

You have already chosen a sitter or have 2-3 candidates. Now it is time to:

1. Send a message asking about availability for your exact dates.
2. Coordinate a prior visit if you can (especially if it is the first time with that sitter).
3. Confirm the total price and payment method.
4. Book through the platform to have backup.

2 weeks before

• Take your pet to the vet for a routine check-up if it has been a while.
• Check vaccines and dewormers: make sure they are up to date. Some sitters ask for an updated health record.
• Buy the food you are going to leave (calculate days + 1 extra).
• Make an introduction visit to the sitter's place if you have not been there yet.

1 week before

• Confirm drop-off and pick-up times with the sitter.
• Prepare your pet's bag: food, blanket, toys, health record. There is a complete checklist here.
• Share with the sitter the important info: your phone, a secondary contact, vet, daily routine.

The day of the trip

• Arrive with time at the sitter's home (20-30 minutes early).
• Say goodbye calmly: if they see you make a drama, they get anxious.
• Let them know when your flight takes off or when you start the trip, so the sitter knows you are on your way.
• Enjoy.

Key decisions you will have to make

Sitter at their home or at yours?

Both options are valid and depend on your pet. We explain it in detail here, but in summary:

• At the sitter's home: ideal for sociable dogs and long stays.
• At your home: ideal for cats, older or anxious pets, and short stays.

How many visits or how much presence?

If you leave a cat and choose at-home care, 1-2 daily visits usually suffice. If you leave a dog at home, it is common for the sitter to sleep over.

How much are you going to invest?

For Buenos Aires, most sitters on Woof charge between ARS $12,000 and $15,000 per day (without the 12% commission, which you add at the end). For 7 days, that is approximately ARS $95,000-$120,000 including commission. There are options starting around ARS $5,000 and premium sitters above ARS $30,000. More details on real rates here.

Common mistakes to avoid

Waiting until the last moment

It is mistake #1. In January or Holy Week, good sitters book up 4+ weeks in advance. If you wait until the last moment, you are left with the leftover options.

Not doing a prior visit

Meeting the sitter and the space before the first long stay removes all the anxiety. And it helps your pet get familiar.

Giving too many instructions

A sheet with key data is enough. If you leave a 5-page novel with every detail, the sitter will not read it all. Prioritize what matters: medication, allergies, serious fears.

Not communicating during the trip

Ask the sitter to send you a photo or video per day. Almost all of them do it without being asked, but agree on it from the start.

Changing the routine right before the trip

If your dog is used to eating at 9am, do not switch them to 7am two days before the trip. Stability helps them handle the environment change better.

What if something comes up during the trip?

Serious platforms have human support. At Woof, if something happens (the pet gets sick, the sitter does not respond, there is an unexpected event), you have a direct channel to resolve it. Before leaving, check that you have on hand the support contact in case you need it.

For cats: the specifics

Cats are different. Most prefer staying at home with visits to traveling. For a 7-day stay with a healthy adult cat, it usually suffices with:

• 1-2 daily visits from the sitter (feeding, water, litter cleaning, play).
• Enough food and water left accessible.
• Clean litter tray + spare litter.

If your cat is older or has health issues, more frequent visits or having the sitter sleep over some nights is better.

In summary

• Start planning 6 weeks ahead if you travel in high season.
• Choose the modality based on your pet (not on you).
• Do a prior visit to the sitter.
• Book through the platform for backup.
• Prepare a complete bag and a data sheet.
• Ask for photos/videos during the trip.
• Trust the sitter. If you chose well, everything will be fine.

Got a trip coming up? Start your sitter search today - the best ones book up quickly.