Professional In-Home Pet Sitting Services

Pet sitting rates in San Antonio vary by provider type, visit length, and the number of pets involved. App-based platforms typically charge $20-35 per visit for basic drop-ins, with prices rising for overnight stays. Professional service companies, those that are bonded, insured, and carry consistently trained staff, typically charge more than solo app-based sitters. The difference reflects real overhead: backup coverage, insurance premiums, training, and accountability. The cheapest option is not always the lowest-risk option. For accurate pricing at Cathy’s Critter Care, the best starting point is the pre-service meet and greet ($35 for 30 minutes). That visit lets Cathy’s Critter Care understand your specific pet situation and give you accurate costs for your schedule.

For most cats, yes. Cats are territorial animals, and their home is their safe space. Removing a cat from their familiar environment and placing them in a boarding facility, surrounded by unfamiliar smells, sounds, and other animals, is stressful by definition. Cats in boarding situations often stop eating, hide constantly, and show behavioral signs of stress. Many take days or weeks to return to normal after coming home. In-home pet sitting means the cat stays in their own space, with their own litter box, their own furniture, and their own routine intact. The exception is cats with serious medical needs that require more monitoring than an in-home sitter can realistically provide. In those cases, a veterinary boarding facility may be the right choice.

Leave written instructions for feeding, medications, and emergency vet contact information. Make sure food, medications, and any supplies are accessible and clearly labeled. Leave the home access code or key with your sitter during the meet and greet. Provide your cell number and a backup emergency contact. Note anything unusual about your pet’s behavior so the sitter is not caught off guard. If your pet has separation anxiety, consider leaving a worn piece of clothing near their sleeping area. The more information you share at the meet and greet, the smoother the first visit goes.

Cathy’s Critter Care sitters are Pet First Aid and CPR certified through PetTech. In a medical emergency, the sitter contacts the owner immediately. If the owner cannot be reached, the sitter contacts the emergency contact on file. The pet is transported to the veterinarian listed in the care instructions. Cathy’s Critter Care asks all new clients to provide their vet’s name, address, and phone number before the first visit. Cathy’s Critter Care carries pet sitter liability insurance, so you are not on your own if something goes wrong while you are away.

Contact Cathy’s Critter Care as soon as you know. Changes are accommodated when possible. The cancellation policy is reviewed during the meet and greet so there are no surprises. Last-minute extensions, where your trip runs longer than planned, are handled on a case-by-case basis depending on sitter availability. Keeping Cathy’s Critter Care updated on your expected return time is better than waiting until the last minute. A quick text is enough.

Yes. Cathy’s Critter Care provides in-home care for birds (parrots, parakeets, cockatiels), reptiles (snakes, lizards, turtles, tortoises), small mammals (rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets), fish, and farm animals including horses, goats, and chickens. Founder Cathy Vaughan worked at the San Antonio Zoo before starting Cathy’s Critter Care and holds a BS in Biology from Texas State University. Most pet sitting services in San Antonio do not handle exotic animals or farm animals. Cathy’s Critter Care built this capability from the beginning. Exotic animal care requirements are confirmed during the meet and greet.

Yes, through two related services. Sleepover Care has your sitter staying approximately 10 hours overnight, so your pet is not alone through the night. Live-In Care has your sitter present around the clock for pets who need continuous company or monitoring. Both services are best suited for pets with separation anxiety, very young puppies, senior animals who need overnight monitoring, or any pet whose owner will be away for an extended period. Full details are on the Sleepover Care and Live-In Care pages.

After every visit, the sitter sends a visit log and photos through the Cathy’s Critter Care secure client portal. You receive a notification when the sitter checks in and again when they check out. The report covers what the pet ate, how the visit went, and any observations. If there is ever a concern about a visit, you contact Cathy’s Critter Care directly. There is no call center, no ticket system, and no automated response. You reach a person who knows your account.

Cathy’s Critter Care sitters are independent contractors who are vetted, background-checked, and trained to Cathy’s Critter Care standards. The business carries liability insurance that covers all visits. All sitters are bonded. This is a different arrangement than app-based platforms, where the sitter is a completely independent third party with no formal business relationship to the platform once a booking is made. With Cathy’s Critter Care, every sitter operates under Cathy’s Critter Care standards and is covered under the business insurance.