You’ve got a name, maybe a meet-and-greet scheduled, and now you’re staring at a blank notes app trying to figure out what you’re actually supposed to ask. Most people go in with one vague question “so, do you have experience?” and walk out without learning much of anything useful.
Here’s a better list, built from the questions clients have actually asked me over the years, plus what a good answer should sound like versus what should give you pause.
“What happens if there’s an emergency?”
This is the single most important question, and it’s the one people forget to ask first. A solid answer includes: the sitter knows your regular vet’s location and hours, has a plan for after-hours emergencies, and ideally has some level of pet first aid training so they’re not starting from zero if something happens before you can be reached.
I’m Pet First Aid and CPR certified, which matters less as a credential to display and more as an actual skill set knowing the difference between a dog that’s uncomfortable and a dog that’s in real distress, and knowing what to do in the first few minutes of either, before a vet is even reachable.
A vague answer here “oh, I’d figure it out” is worth taking seriously as a red flag.
“Are you insured?”
A direct yes-or-no question with a direct answer expected. If a sitter hesitates, dodges, or explains it away, that’s worth noting. Insurance matters because accidents happen even with the most careful sitter a slipped leash, a scratched door, a knocked-over vase and it protects both of you if something goes wrong in your home.
“Can we do a meet-and-greet before I book anything?”
Any sitter worth hiring should say yes immediately, and should actually mean it not treat it as a formality on the way to a booking. A real meet-and-greet is where the sitter watches how your dog reacts to a stranger, how your cat behaves when someone new walks in, and walks through your home’s routine with you in person. If a sitter tries to skip this step or rushes through it, that’s a bigger concern than almost anything else on this list.
“How will I know the visit actually happened?”
You want a specific answer, not “I’ll let you know if anything’s wrong.” A good sitter sends a photo or text update after each visit, so you have a running record not silence punctuated by a call only if something’s gone badly.
“What’s your plan if my pet won’t eat, seems off, or is acting differently than usual?”
This question tells you a lot about how much attention a sitter is actually paying. A good answer walks through specifics: they’d note it, watch for it continuing at the next visit, and reach out to you directly rather than waiting until the end of the trip to mention it. This kind of attentiveness usually only comes from someone who’s actually spent a lot of time watching pets closely the kind of pattern recognition that develops after hundreds of visits, not dozens.
“Do you require vaccinations to be current?”
This should be a yes. It’s not a strange or excessive request it protects your pet and any other animals the sitter cares for that week. The American Veterinary Medical Association classifies core vaccines like rabies, distemper, and parvovirus as recommended for essentially all dogs, and a sitter who requires proof of these is showing you they take animal health seriously, not just their own liability.
“What happens if you’re sick or something comes up on a scheduled day?”
Life happens, even to reliable sitters. What matters is whether there’s a real plan a backup, a clear communication process, something beyond “that hasn’t happened yet.” A sitter who’s thought this through in advance is more trustworthy than one who hasn’t considered it at all.
“Can you handle medication or special needs?”
If your pet takes medication, has anxiety, or needs a modified routine, ask directly whether the sitter has experience with it and be specific about what that experience looks like. “Yes, I’ve given oral medication before” is a very different answer than “yes, I’ve also handled injections and mobility support for senior pets.” Match the answer to your actual pet’s needs.
“What information do you want from me before the first visit?”
A sitter who asks for a written care sheet, feeding schedule, and any behavioral notes rather than just winging it from a quick conversation is running things like an actual service. I use a dog profile form, cat profile form, and medical care sheet form for exactly this reason: it means nothing gets lost between a rushed hallway conversation and the actual visit three weeks later.
A Quick Note on What Not to Rely On
Star ratings and review counts feel like they tell you a lot, but they can be misleading a sitter with five glowing reviews might have three weeks of experience, while a sitter with no online reviews at all might be well known and fully booked through word of mouth alone. Use the questions above as your real filter, and treat reviews as a secondary data point, not the whole picture.
If you want the broader picture beyond just the interview questions things like in-home care versus a kennel that’s covered separately in how to choose the right pet sitter for your cat or dog.
FAQ
Should I ask these questions over the phone or in person? In person, ideally during a meet-and-greet, since you’ll also get to see how the sitter interacts with your actual pet which tells you more than any answer alone.
What if the sitter gives good answers but my pet seems uncomfortable around them? Trust that. A meet-and-greet exists specifically to catch this before you’re relying on the arrangement. A good sitter will notice it too and be honest with you about it rather than pushing forward.
Is it rude to ask about insurance and certifications directly? No any established sitter expects this question and should be able to answer it without hesitation. It’s a normal part of hiring anyone who’ll be in your home and caring for something you love.
How many of these questions should I actually ask at a meet-and-greet? All of them, if time allows it’s usually a 20 to 30 minute conversation, which is plenty of time to cover this list without rushing.
What if I forget to ask something during the meet-and-greet? A trustworthy sitter is reachable afterward for follow-up questions before you commit to booking this shouldn’t be a one-shot conversation with no chance to circle back.
Do these questions apply to small pets like rabbits or birds too? Mostly yes, with one addition ask specifically about the sitter’s hands-on experience with that species, since handling and stress signals vary a lot between, say, a guinea pig and a dog.
Ready to Meet?
If you’re weighing a few sitters or just want to see how this works in practice, get in touch and we’ll set up a free meet-and-greet no pressure, just a chance to ask everything on this list in person.