Help Determine Pet Sitting Rate

[YellowYolk413]

Hi all! I know this is random but I can only imagine the majority of us pre-vets do pet sitting on the side. I really need help determining a rate for an upcoming gig I got. The person has two dogs (11yr & 10 mo Dobermans), 4 cats (1 of which is paraplegic & needs bladder expressed BID), & 2 African gray parrots (will not have to clean cage, just feed daily). It’s definitely going to be hectic & exciting but I truly have no idea what to charge her. I will be there for 4 days staying at the house. For reference this is in Massachusetts suburbs outside of Boston. Any ideas are greatly appreciated!!

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[pp9]

Hi all! I know this is random but I can only imagine the majority of us pre-vets do pet sitting on the side. I really need help determining a rate for an upcoming gig I got. The person has two dogs (11yr & 10 mo Dobermans), 4 cats (1 of which is paraplegic & needs bladder expressed BID), & 2 African gray parrots (will not have to clean cage, just feed daily). It’s definitely going to be hectic & exciting but I truly have no idea what to charge her. I will be there for 4 days staying at the house. For reference this is in Massachusetts suburbs outside of Boston. Any ideas are greatly appreciated!!

Check Rover to see what people are charging for routine pet sitting, and add $10-20 a day for the special needs cat. I'd lean towards 10 unless the cat needs help to eat/drink, needs bathing daily, etc. Look at Rover sitters that have had a lot of bookings/are highly rated by a lot of people, not the randos that get on Rover, book a gig, and never book one again

 

[_rae_]

My price scheme was a bit convoluted when I was in that area because so many people had multiple pets that my normal $40/night for dogs +$5/night for cats was not making it worth while.

Honestly, for that number of critters I would have a charged a hefty price. You're going to be responsible for 8 living beings. My breakdown would have been (at the time, could have changed since): $75/night for both dogs, +$15/night for the three able cats, +$10/night for the paraplegic, and another +$10/night for both birds since it's just feedings. If I'm mathing right it's $110/night. Which honestly is about the top of what people would be willing to pay outside of apps or established services. I didn't often pet sit for non-vet people because I find pet sitting really obnoxious personally, so take into account I'm also charging for what I consider to be the annoying and inconvenient aspects of it (coworkers got a hefty discount). As an individual not associated with a company, you have to keep your rates cheaper than other bigger companies and cheaper than kenneling. It's been two or so years since I've pet sit out there and I used to have to fight coworkers who watched my cats to get them to even let me pay them, so definitely check out what the going rate is.

 

[mw1356]

I dog/house-sat in Boston last month for an older dog (needed meds BID and took long slow walks but was otherwise pretty easy) and charged $400 for a week (so like $55-60 per day). For 8 animals with such a range of ages and needs (and being in a high COL area like greater Boston) I think you can get away with charging pretty high. The $110/night rae suggested sounds pretty reasonable to me, and if the owners are really nice they might give you a tip on top of that 🙂

 

[Gina Lawson]

I'm in NJ and pay my friend $100 per day to care for my 3 cats (one gets SQF and the other an inhaler twice a day). I'd charge at least that, more since you are staying overnight.

 

[sydneyandreano]

I always ask for about $15-30 more per night (depending on how much time they need me to spend) than what the local boarding prices are, sometimes extra for treatments and medications. I don't know what a boarding facility may charge for that many animals, but I would guess they charge at least $200/night.

 

[pp9]

I always ask for about $15-30 more per night (depending on how much time they need me to spend) than what the local boarding prices are, sometimes extra for treatments and medications. I don't know what a boarding facility may charge for that many animals, but I would guess they charge at least $200/night.

$200+/night for pet sitting is crazy! Boarding at a facility is not comparable to house sitting. I wouldn't even charge someone that much for me to petsit lol.

 

[sydneyandreano]

$200+/night for pet sitting is crazy! Boarding at a facility is not comparable to house sitting. I wouldn't even charge someone that much for me to petsit lol.

I have never had someone ask me to watch that many animals- after working in boarding facilities that is what I believe boarding facilities would charge. Sorry for the confusion. A lot of people prefer to have attentive in-home pet care as opposed to busy and stressful kennels, which I think is worth paying more for. If people want to pay less, they can bring their pets to a boarding facility. A few years back, I would pet sit 1-2 dogs usually for $60-100/day depending on activity and still get a great tip at the end. No one has ever questioned my pricing and I would get a lot of returning clients. I don't pet sit much anymore but I still do dog-walking and earn $20+/hour, so even just dropping in on one dog twice a day would be $40+. Maybe it just seems high because it's Boulder, Colorado pricing Lol, but that's where most of my experience is from.