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Pet sitter or kennel: which is better?
We're live-in pet sitters, so you know where we stand. This comparison is honest, though, including the cases where boarding is the sensible choice. It comes down to four things: routine, supervision, cost and your home.
Short answer: for anxious, older or routine-loving pets, and for homes with more than one animal, a live-in sitter is usually calmer for your pet and often costs the same or less overall. For a single, confident and sociable young dog, a good kennel can be a perfectly reasonable choice.
Routine
Boarding means your pet moves somewhere new, with new smells, new sounds and other animals nearby. Some dogs take that in their stride. Many pets, and most cats, settle best in a place they already know.
With a live-in sitter, nothing about your pet's world changes except who's holding the lead: the same bed, the same walks, the same feeding spot.
Supervision overnight
It's worth asking any boarder who is on site overnight and how often the animals are checked. With live-in sitting, we sleep in your home every night of your trip, and between our two schedules one of us is almost always in during the day.
Cost depends on how many pets you have
| Compared | Live-in sitting (us) | London kennels and catteries |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | £50 to £65 a night for your home, less for longer stays, plus £10 to £15 per extra pet | Typically £25 to £45 a night, per pet |
| One cat | £50 a night, or £30 for a month-long stay | Often cheaper for short stays, similar for a month, but your cat leaves home |
| Two pets | £60 to £80 a night in total, or £40 to £54 for a month-long stay | Two separate rates, usually £50 to £90 a night |
| Medication and special care | Included | May cost extra |
| Your home | Occupied, with post, plants and deliveries handled | Empty while you're away |
Full prices, including longer-stay rates, are in how much does a pet sitter cost in London?
Your home while you're away
A house with someone living in it, lights on and post collected, is simply a better-kept house. Some home insurance policies also have conditions about leaving a property unoccupied for long periods, so it's worth checking yours. With a live-in sitter, your home is lived in the whole time you're away.
When boarding is the better choice
We'd rather be straight with you than win every booking.
- A young, confident, very sociable dog may enjoy a good boarder with plenty of playmates.
- A dog with serious separation anxiety or escape behaviour may need a purpose-built facility rather than a home setting.
- A tight budget and one small pet: a licensed cattery or kennel is often the cheapest option, and a good one is far better than no cover at all.
If you do board, check the boarder holds a council animal boarding licence, ask about overnight staffing, and visit before you book.
If your pet would rather stay home
That's what we do. We're Kat and James, two named, insured sitters who live in your home while you're away, with a free meet and greet before every sit and updates every day. Read about our dog sitting and cat sitting, or read our reviews.