From Pet Lover to Trusted Pet Sitting Business: Building a Service Owners Can Rely On
Inside Pet Sitting – Muddy Paws Podcast
When it comes to leaving our pets behind while we travel, trust is everything. For many owners, their pets aren’t just animals – they’re family. So finding someone reliable to care for them can be one of the most stressful parts of planning a holiday.
In a recent podcast, we spoke to founder Kacey Curtis of Paws Galore Pet Sitters, who shared how a frustrating personal experience led to creating a company dedicated to giving pet owners complete peace of mind.
A Business Born from First-Hand Experience
The business began back in 2009, not from a carefully crafted business plan, but from a holiday gone wrong.
After struggling to find someone to care for two beloved cats, the founder eventually hired a pet sitter. However, once the holiday began, communication stopped. Days passed without updates, phone calls weren’t returned, and the explanation was simply that the sitter had run out of phone credit.
For any pet owner, that’s an incredibly anxious situation.
Rather than accepting that poor communication was just part of the service, they decided there had to be a better way. Returning home, they built a website, advertised locally and began offering a service centred on reliability, communication and genuine care.
Starting with nothing more than public transport and a bicycle, the business steadily grew before upgrading to a Vespa to cover appointments across London. Today, it’s a thriving company with a trusted team of carefully selected pet sitters.
Pet Sitting Is Far More Than Playing With Animals
Many people assume pet sitting is an easy job.
After all, spending time with cats and dogs sounds like a dream.
But the reality is very different.
Professional pet sitting comes with enormous responsibility. Sitters aren’t simply feeding animals—they’re caring for much-loved family members, looking after people’s homes and providing reassurance to owners who may be hundreds or even thousands of miles away.
A great pet sitter needs to be:
- Completely reliable.
- Compassionate towards both pets and owners.
- Calm under pressure.
- Excellent at communication.
- Able to build trust with both animals and people.
It’s this combination of practical care and emotional support that separates exceptional pet sitters from average ones.
Looking After Pets Means Looking After Their Owners Too
One of the biggest takeaways from the conversation was that pet sitting isn’t only about the animals.
Owners often experience anxiety before leaving home, particularly if it’s their first time using a sitter. Taking the time to answer questions, provide reassurance and keep clients updated throughout their trip can make all the difference.
Some owners are naturally relaxed, while others need regular updates and extra communication. A good sitter recognises these differences and adapts accordingly.
Ultimately, helping owners enjoy their holiday without worrying about home is a huge part of the job.
Tips for Choosing a Pet Sitter
If you’re considering using a pet sitter for the first time, preparation can make the experience much smoother.
Some of the best advice shared during the podcast included:
Get to Know Your Sitter
Arrange a phone call before committing. Building an initial rapport helps everyone feel more comfortable and gives you confidence that they’re the right fit.
Arrange a Meet and Greet
A home consultation allows your sitter to meet both you and your pets in their familiar environment. Watching how your pet responds often tells you everything you need to know.
Practice Before a Long Holiday
If possible, book your sitter for a short weekend away before planning a two-week holiday. It gives everyone a chance to settle into the routine and iron out any issues.
Write Everything Down
Clear feeding instructions, walking routines, medication schedules and household information help avoid misunderstandings and ensure consistent care.
Introduce Dogs Gradually
If you have a dog, arranging a few walks together before your trip allows your pet to build trust with the sitter while showing them favourite walking routes, routines and any behavioural quirks.
Why More Owners Are Choosing Pet Sitting
While kennels remain suitable for some pets, many owners are now choosing in-home pet sitting instead.
Remaining in a familiar environment often reduces stress, especially for older animals or pets with separation anxiety.
Pets can keep their usual routines, sleep in their own beds and receive dedicated one-to-one attention rather than sharing care with dozens of other animals.
Demand has grown significantly in recent years, particularly following the pandemic, when many pets became accustomed to having people at home throughout the day. As owners returned to work and travel resumed, professional pet sitting became an increasingly popular solution.
Every Day Brings Something Unexpected
Of course, working with animals always provides plenty of memorable moments.
One particularly amusing story involved a sitter caring for what they believed was a shy ginger cat. Some days the cat was affectionate and cuddly, while on others it hid under the sofa and refused to come out.
Eventually, the mystery was solved.
There were actually two almost identical ginger cats involved—the neighbour’s cat had been sneaking through the cat flap and happily accepting food and attention, while the actual resident cat hid nervously indoors.
It’s a reminder that no two days in pet sitting are ever the same.
Building Trust One Visit at a Time
The conversation highlighted something that sits at the heart of great pet care: trust.
Whether it’s taking time to understand an anxious owner, helping a nervous cat gain confidence or simply sending reassuring updates while someone is away, professional pet sitting is about much more than feeding pets.
It’s about giving owners the confidence to truly relax, knowing their much-loved companions are safe, happy and cared for in the place they feel most comfortable—home.
