The Cleaning Biz Blog

Top tips to find a great pet sitter

If you have to spend any time away from your pet because you can’t take them with you, then a boarding kennel is often the first choice for many. However there is another choice to consider, a pet sitter. The pet sitter works exactly the same as a baby sitter or child minder except that they look after your pet not your child or baby.

The pet sitter will come to your home and take care of your pet right there in their own surroundings, the biggest advantage to this is that your pet is in surroundings it knows, so isn’t stressed. Here are some tips for choosing a great pet sitter.

Services and fees vary from sitter to sitter, some will offer a complete service such as bathing and walking your dog while the most basic and cheapest will just do the basics such as feeding and letting your pet go to the bathroom. So shop around when getting quotes for sitting and ask what the cost includes.

Always ask about the type of pet they are comfortable with and how long they have been working in pet sitting, also ask about any medical training they have if any and how they would cope in an emergency.

Once you think you have found a sitter then before you are due to go away make sure that they come over and meet your pet. Your pet should be comfortable with them and them with your pet.

Boarding – finding the right kennel for your pet

While we love our pets, we also love to take a break away and this can cause problems if our pets cannot travel with us and have to be left behind. If we have a reliable neighbour or our family can look after our pet then it isn’t so bad leaving your beloved companion behind, if not then you have to choose a boarding kennel.

Boarding kennels have improved greatly over the last few years and most now are similar to a top 5 star hotel that we stay at. However choosing the right kennel is essential for your peace of mind and for the safety of your pet. Here are some tips to help you choose.

Take your times and visit a few kennels, it is better to go looking when you have plenty of time and when you aren’t feeling anxious. Boarding kennels vary greatly just as hotels do for people, so shop around to find one that you are going to be comfortable leaving your pet in, while being in your budget.

If you have a pampered pet that is very choosy with their diet and requirements then you will have to make sure that the kennel can cater for our needs.

For your peace of mind you should enquire as to whether the kennel has their vet on hand or if not how far away is the vet and the practice or rules they have in force when it comes to getting attention for the animals in their care.

Above all you should feel comfortable with the people who are going to take care of your pet and the surroundings in which your pet will live while you are apart.

Cleaning up after your pet

It is a well-known fact that the British love their pets, however we don’t like the mess that they can make, here are some tips to help you stay on top and clean up after your pet.

In order to minimize the amount of pet hair and dander be sure to bathe and brush your pet on a regular basis. A lint brush or damp cloth is handy to keep around to pick up any stray and loose hairs and a very light misting of cooking oil on your pets dish will not only make their coat shine, the dish is easier to clean too.

When trying to remove pet hair from your carpet be sure to use a good vacuum cleaner with a beater brush or brush roller.

A pet comb is a must for removing pet hairs from upholstery, a little sticky tape wrapped around your hand sticky side up is also a good tip when it comes to removing hairs from fabrics.

If your pet should have an “accident” on the carpet or rug then dilute the area with water before cleaning with an acid solution consisting of one pint of water mixed with a teaspoon of white vinegar.

If your pet should vomit on your carpet, then cleaning can be a little trickier, in order to minimize the damage to your carpet from the acid it is essential that you neutralise it as quickly as possible. In order to do this use a professional carpet detergent, rinse the affected area with hot water and finally extract the soiled solution away from your carpet.