Professional Drop-In Pet Visits
Quick in-home check-ins for potty breaks, feeding, medication, and peace of mind. Your pet stays comfortable. You stay focused on your day.
Your Pet Needs a Check-In, But Your Schedule Won’t Allow It
Long work hours leave your pet waiting all day.
Most people are out of the house for eight to ten hours on a workday. That is a long time for a dog to hold their bladder. It is a long time for a cat’s water bowl to sit empty. It is long enough to miss a timed medication dose by several hours. When you walk in the door at 6pm and see an accident on the floor or a dog who cannot settle, the guilt follows you into the evening.
Pets left alone for long stretches also develop patterns that owners would rather avoid: destructive chewing, excessive barking, anxiety that builds over time. Dogs who need a midday potty break but do not get one are not misbehaving when they have an accident. They are just past their limit. A single drop-in dog visit in the middle of the day changes the math entirely.
Your pet’s needs don’t fit neatly into a dog walking schedule.
Not every pet needs a structured 30 to 60-minute walk. Senior dogs with arthritis or limited stamina cannot sustain that kind of exercise and do not need it. Puppies need frequent potty breaks more than they need long routes. Cats need someone to show up, refresh their water, scoop the litter, and give them a few minutes of attention. Pets recovering from surgery need careful handling, not a full exercise session.
Dog walking is built around movement and exercise. A drop-in pet care visit is built around welfare: is the animal fed, watered, medicated, and comfortable? Those are different questions with different answers. If your pet needs the second set of questions handled and not the first, a drop-in visit is the right service.
Relying on neighbors and favors creates its own problems.
Neighbors forget. Friends cancel. The teenager next door is unavailable during exam season or summer sports. Every time you ask someone for a favor, you take on an obligation to repay it. That math catches up with you.
Beyond the scheduling uncertainty, there is no accountability. No visit log. No photo report. No way to confirm the check-in actually happened when you are three hours away and your dog has not been let out since morning. You send a text and wait. Sometimes the answer does not come back quickly.
For 27 years, Cathy’s Critter Care has been providing quick, reliable drop-in visits for pet owners across San Antonio, Schertz, New Braunfels, and the surrounding area. A trained, background-checked sitter arrives at your home, handles your pet’s needs, and sends a photo report. Every visit. Every pet. Every day of the year.
Drop-In Visits Designed Around Your Pet’s Actual Needs
We Match Each Visit to What Your Pet Requires
Every drop-in pet visit is customized. Some pets need a potty break and a water refresh. Others need a feeding, a medication dose, and a few minutes of companionship. A third household might have a cat, two guinea pigs, and a senior dog who needs help getting to the yard. Cathy’s Critter Care structures each visit around what your animals actually need, not a one-size template.
Here is what drop-in visits cover:
Potty break and outdoor time
Quick yard access or a leash walk to the nearest spot. This is not a structured exercise walk. It is the daily let-out your pet has been waiting for. In and out, bladder emptied, back inside. That is the goal.
Feeding and fresh water
Fed on your schedule with the food and portions you specify. If your dog gets a cup and a half of kibble at noon and your cat gets a quarter can of wet food with their water bowl cleaned and refilled, that is exactly what happens. Cathy’s Critter Care sitters follow your instructions, not a general routine.
Medication administration
Pills, liquids, insulin injections, subcutaneous fluids, topical treatments. Administered exactly as prescribed, at the time specified. Sitters ask for written instructions before the first visit and follow them precisely. If there is any uncertainty about a procedure, details are confirmed before the visit starts, not while standing in your kitchen.
Litter box and habitat care
Litter scooped at every visit. Bird cages checked and spot-cleaned. Reptile habitat temperatures and humidity levels verified. Small mammal enclosures spot-cleaned as needed. The basics stay on top of while you are gone.
Brief companionship and play
A few minutes of attention, petting, or play, enough to break up your pet’s day without pushing them past what they enjoy. Some dogs want to play fetch in the backyard for five minutes. Some cats want a lap sit. Some just need a calm presence in the room before they are ready for the sitter to leave.
Photo report after every visit
When the sitter checks out, you receive a report with photos through the client portal. You see what happened, what your pet ate, how they behaved, and a photo confirmation that everything is fine. The report arrives automatically after the sitter checks out. You do not need to text and wait.
Flexible Scheduling That Fits Your Life
All visits run between 6:30am and 9:00pm daily. Early morning slots work for pets on medication schedules or for owners leaving on early flights. Evening slots cover a final feeding or litter check before bed.
Quick check-ins during your workday
A 15 to 20-minute visit for a dog potty break and a water refresh. Ideal for dogs with reasonable bladder control who just need a midday let-out to get through the rest of the afternoon.
Extended drop-in visits
30 minutes for feeding, medication, brief play, and a more thorough home check. The right option for pets on timed medical schedules or multi-pet households.
Multiple visits per day
Two to three visits spaced throughout the day for puppies on a potty training schedule, senior pets with limited bladder control, or animals with morning and evening medication needs.
Weekend and holiday visits
Available 365 days a year, including holidays when most solo sitters are unavailable. A holiday does not change your pet’s schedule.
Last-minute and same-day requests
Because Cathy’s Critter Care operates as a team rather than a solo operation, urgent requests can be accommodated more often than an individual sitter can manage.
Every Pet in Your Home, Covered
Many pet owners with animals outside the dog-and-cat category have heard “we don’t handle that” from pet sitters. Cathy’s Critter Care was built to handle more than that.
Dogs
All breeds, all sizes, all energy levels. Puppies who need two to three dog potty break visits each day to maintain their training schedule. Senior dogs who need a careful midday check-in and gentle handling. Dogs who do not need or cannot sustain a full walk but still need someone to let them out. Cathy’s Critter Care matches each dog with a sitter who is already familiar with your area.
Cats
Including multi-cat homes with separate feeding schedules or cats who do not share space peacefully. Cathy’s Critter Care sitters follow your routine, scoop litter at every visit, and give each cat the kind of attention they actually want. Some cats want company. Some cats want their food down and the sitter gone. The visit is structured around what your cat prefers.
Exotic Birds
Fresh food and water, cage checks, spot-cleaning, and safe out-of-cage time for birds who are socialized for it. Cathy’s Critter Care sitters do not rush birds who need time to settle before they are comfortable with a visitor in the room.
Reptiles
Feeding per your species-specific protocol, whether that is live feeders, frozen, or fresh produce. Habitat temperature and humidity checked at every visit to confirm conditions are within the required range.
Small Mammals
Rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, and ferrets. Feeding, fresh water, enclosure spot-cleaning, and handling per your instructions. Ferrets who need daily out-of-cage time get it. Rabbits who need a quiet approach get that instead.
Farm Animals
Horses, goats, chickens, and other livestock. Feeding, watering, and basic health monitoring. Cathy Vaughan, who founded Cathy’s Critter Care in 1998, worked at the San Antonio Zoo before starting this business and holds a BS in Biology from Texas State University. Farm animal care has been part of what this team does from the beginning. If you have livestock that need attention while you are away, call us.
Drop-In Visits for Pets With Specific Needs
Senior Pets
Older animals benefit from more frequent visits, a slower pace, and a sitter who pays close attention. Cathy’s Critter Care schedules additional check-ins for senior pets who need help with mobility or who are showing signs of cognitive change. Walks, if any, are short and easy. Sitters watch for signs of pain, discomfort, or disorientation, and follow any instructions from your veterinarian exactly. If something looks off during a visit, you hear about it immediately.
Puppies
Puppies need more potty break visits per day than most adult dogs. During early training, two to three lunchtime dog visits or mid-morning check-ins are often the difference between a puppy that holds their training progress and one that does not. Cathy’s Critter Care sitters maintain your crate schedule, follow your potty training routine, and give the puppy enough stimulation to get through the afternoon without redirecting that energy toward your couch cushions.
Pets With Medical Needs
Timed medication is not flexible. If your diabetic dog needs insulin at noon, they need insulin at noon, not somewhere between noon and 2pm depending on when someone gets around to it. Cathy’s Critter Care sitters handle insulin injections, subcutaneous fluid administration (common for senior cats with kidney disease), oral medications, topical treatments, and timed feedings for pets on prescription diets. Written instructions are required before the first visit, and sitters follow them exactly. If a procedure is outside what Cathy’s Critter Care sitters are trained to do, you are told before you book.
Anxious Pets
Dogs and cats who take time to warm up to new people need consistency, not a revolving door of strangers. For anxious pets, Cathy’s Critter Care assigns a consistent sitter and uses slow introductions so your pet has time to build familiarity. The pre-service meet and greet is specifically designed for this: your pet meets the sitter in their own home, on their own terms, before the first solo visit ever happens. A dog who needs twenty minutes to decide they are comfortable with someone gets those twenty minutes.
Stop Scrambling for Pet Check-Ins. Find Your Reliable Partner.
A Team You Can Count On, Not a Solo Operation
Solo sitters get sick, take vacations, move away, or simply stop responding. When your only option cancels the morning of a scheduled visit, you have no fallback while you are at work or mid-travel. Cathy’s Critter Care operates as a team: every client has a primary sitter and a designated backup from the same area. The service runs 365 days a year. If your regular sitter is unavailable, a qualified backup takes the visit. Your pet’s drop-in does not get skipped. You do not find out about a cancellation through a missed visit.
27 Years Serving San Antonio, We’re Not Going Anywhere
Gig-based pet care platforms treat pet sitting as a side income for people between other things. Turnover is high, and the person who visits your pet this month may be completely unavailable next month. Cathy’s Critter Care has operated continuously since 1998. Many clients have worked with the same sitter for years. Your sitter already knows where the food is kept, how your dog behaves when they are getting sick, and what your cat is frightened of. That kind of familiarity does not develop after one or two visits.
Award-Winning Professional Standards
Anyone can call themselves a pet sitter and start taking drop-in dog visits. Verifying their background, insurance status, and training takes effort most pet owners do not have time for. Cathy Vaughan received the Pet Sitter of the Year award from Pet Sitters International in 2018, the highest recognition in the professional pet sitting industry. Cathy holds the Certified Professional Pet Sitter (CPPS) designation from Pet Sitters International. Every sitter on the Cathy’s Critter Care team is background-checked, bonded, and insured. The team holds Pet First Aid and CPR certification through PetTech. If something goes wrong in your home or with your pet, your sitter knows how to respond, and Cathy’s Critter Care carries liability insurance that covers all visits.
We Accommodate Last-Minute Requests
Most pet check-in services require 24 to 48 hours of advance notice. Your schedule does not always cooperate. A meeting runs long, a trip extends by a day, or you realize at 7am that your dog has not been let out since the night before. Cathy’s Critter Care’s team model means capacity is typically available for same-day and emergency drop-in requests. You are not calling through a list of solo sitters hoping someone is free.
Communication You Can Rely On
You should not have to wonder if the sitter actually showed up. After every single visit, Cathy’s Critter Care sitters send a visit log and photos through the client portal. You receive a notification when the sitter checks in and again when they check out. The report covers what your pet ate, how they behaved, and a photo confirmation that everything is fine. No text-and-wait. No guessing. You know what happened.
Locally Owned, Not App-Dispatched
Large pet care platforms and franchise chains prioritize their own policies. When a problem comes up, you reach customer service, not someone who knows your pet or your neighborhood. Cathy’s Critter Care is locally owned and operated in Schertz, TX. Cathy Vaughan answers calls directly. This business has been built on referrals and repeat clients since 1998. When you call with a concern, you reach a local business owner with a real stake in getting it right.
How Our Drop-In Visit Service Works
Step 1: Contact Us
Reach out by phone, text, email, or through the contact form on our website. Tell us where you are, what pets you have, and roughly how often you need visits. There is no commitment at this stage. We want to make sure Cathy’s Critter Care is the right fit before you book anything. Call or text: 210-864-6189.
Step 2: Tell Us About Your Pet
We ask about species, breed, age, medical needs, feeding schedule, behavioral history, and the visit frequency you are looking for. The more detail you share here, the better we can match you with the right sitter and structure the drop-in visits to fit your pet’s actual routine.
Step 3: Pre-Service Meet and Greet ($35, 30 minutes, in your home)
Before any solo visit happens, we schedule an in-home meeting. Your sitter comes to you. Your pet meets them in their own space, on their own terms. This 30-minute visit costs $35 and covers a lot of ground: we confirm home access details, collect emergency contacts and vet information, go through your care instructions in full, and let your pet get comfortable with the sitter before the first real visit. Pets who have had a meet and greet are consistently more settled during the first drop-in. This step is not optional.
Step 4: Schedule Your Visits
Once the meet and greet is done, visits are booked through the secure client portal. Standing weekly schedules or as-needed requests both work. Visits run from 6:30am to 9:00pm daily.
Step 5: Relax and Focus on Your Day
Your sitter arrives at the scheduled time, completes the visit, and sends a photo report through the client portal. You see the update in real time. You know your pet is handled. That is the whole system.
How Our Drop-In Visit Service Works
Step 1: Contact Us
Reach out by phone, text, email, or through the contact form on our website. Tell us where you are, what pets you have, and roughly how often you need visits. There is no commitment at this stage. We want to make sure Cathy’s Critter Care is the right fit before you book anything. Call or text: 210-864-6189.
Step 2: Tell Us About Your Pet
We ask about species, breed, age, medical needs, feeding schedule, behavioral history, and the visit frequency you are looking for. The more detail you share here, the better we can match you with the right sitter and structure the drop-in visits to fit your pet’s actual routine.
Step 3: Pre-Service Meet and Greet
Before any solo visit happens, we schedule an in-home meeting. Your sitter comes to you. Your pet meets them in their own space, on their own terms. This 30-minute visit costs $35 and covers a lot of ground: we confirm home access details, collect emergency contacts and vet information, go through your care instructions in full, and let your pet get comfortable with the sitter before the first real visit. Pets who have had a meet and greet are consistently more settled during the first drop-in. This step is not optional.
Step 4: Schedule Your Visits
Once the meet and greet is done, visits are booked through the secure client portal. Standing weekly schedules or as-needed requests both work. Visits run from 6:30am to 9:00pm daily.
Step 5: Relax and Focus on Your Day
Your sitter arrives at the scheduled time, completes the visit, and sends a photo report through the client portal. You see the update in real time. You know your pet is handled. That is the whole system.
Drop-In Pet Visits in Your Neighborhood
Cathy’s Critter Care provides drop-in pet visits across San Antonio and surrounding communities within a 50-mile radius. The neighborhood-based team model means your sitter is already familiar with your area.
Not sure if we serve your area? Call us at 210-864-6189.
Frequently Asked Questions About Drop-In Visits
What is a drop-in visit?
A drop-in visit is a short, scheduled in-home check on your pet while you are away. Cathy’s Critter Care drop-in visits run 15 to 30 minutes and cover potty breaks, feeding, fresh water, medication administration, litter box care, and brief companionship. The sitter arrives, completes the visit, sends a photo report, and leaves. It is a pet welfare check, not an extended care session.
How is a drop-in visit different from dog walking?
Dog walking is primarily about exercise. A walker takes your dog on a structured route for 20 to 45 minutes with the goal of burning energy. A drop-in visit is about welfare: is the dog fed, watered, medicated, and relieved? Many dogs do not need a daily walk but do need a midday potty break. Many cats, birds, and other pets need a drop-in but have no use for a walk at all. The two services answer different questions.
How much do drop-in visits cost?
Drop-in visit pricing at Cathy’s Critter Care depends on visit length, the number of pets, and frequency of service. For accurate pricing based on your specific situation, the best starting point is the pre-service meet and greet ($35 for 30 minutes). That visit lets us understand your household and give you exact costs before you commit to anything. Call 210-864-6189 to get started.
How long is a drop-in visit?
Most drop-in pet visits run 15 to 30 minutes. A 15 to 20-minute visit covers a quick dog potty break and water refresh. Extended visits run up to 30 minutes for feeding, medication administration, and more thorough care. If your pet needs more time than that, a standard pet sitting visit is likely a better fit.
How often does my dog need a drop-in visit?
It depends on the dog. Most adult dogs who are home alone during a standard workday do well with one midday dog check-in for a potty break. Puppies typically need two to three visits spread across the day to maintain their potty training schedule. Senior dogs with limited bladder control may also need two visits. Dogs on timed medication schedules need visits structured around those specific times.
Can you give my pet medication during a drop-in?
Yes. Cathy’s Critter Care sitters handle pills, liquids, insulin injections, subcutaneous fluids, topical treatments, and timed feedings for pets on prescription diets. Written instructions are required before the first visit, and sitters follow them exactly. If a specific procedure is outside what Cathy’s Critter Care sitters are trained to handle, you are told upfront so you can make an informed decision. Sitters do not attempt procedures they are not confident in.
Do you offer drop-in visits for cats and other pets?
Yes. Drop-in pet care visits at Cathy’s Critter Care cover dogs, cats, exotic birds, reptiles, small mammals, fish, and farm animals. This range of capability has been part of the business since Cathy Vaughan founded Cathy’s Critter Care in 1998. If your pet is not a dog, that does not mean we cannot help. Exotic animal and farm animal care specifics are discussed during the meet and greet.
What happens during a drop-in visit?
The sitter arrives at your home, handles the tasks outlined in your care instructions (potty break, feeding, medication administration, litter box care, habitat checks, brief companionship), and completes a visit log. Before leaving, the sitter sends a report with photos through the client portal. You see what was done, what your pet ate, and a photo confirmation. The report arrives automatically. You do not need to follow up.
How do I know the sitter actually came?
The client portal records the sitter’s check-in and check-out times. After every visit, you receive a photo report through the portal. There is no way for a visit report to be submitted without the sitter being present. If you ever have a question about a specific visit, you reach Cathy’s Critter Care directly, not a call center or automated system.
Do I need to be home for a drop-in visit?
No. Drop-in visits are specifically designed for when you are not home. You provide home access details during the meet and greet. The sitter uses that access to enter, complete the visit, and leave. The photo report and visit log confirm the visit happened and how your pet was doing.
Need More Than a Quick Check-In? We Offer Complete Pet Care
Dog Walking
Daily walks for exercise, mental stimulation, and neighborhood enrichment.
Pet Sitting
Extended in-home care when you are traveling, with one to four visits per day.
Sleepover Care
Your sitter stays overnight so your pet is never alone through the night.
Cat Sitting
In-home visits designed specifically for cats, including multi-cat homes.
Pet Taxi
Safe transportation to vet appointments, groomers, or any other destination.
Live-In Care
Around-the-clock in-home care for pets with serious medical needs or severe anxiety.
Ready to Give Your Pet the Check-Ins They Need?
Call or text (210) 864-6189 to talk through what your pet needs. Or book a meeting through our online scheduling page whenever it is convenient. We will match you with a sitter in your area, walk through your pet’s routine, and schedule a meet and greet before the first visit. No obligation.
Office hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00am-5:00pm
Service hours: 6:30am-9:00pm daily, 365 days/year
Email: mypetsitteronline@gmail.com
✓ PSI Pet Sitter of the Year 2018
✓ Certified Professional Pet Sitter (CPPS)
✓ PetTech Pet First Aid and CPR Certified
✓ Bonded and insured
✓ Background-checked sitters
✓ Serving San Antonio since 1998