Going on holiday: pet hotel or pet sitter at home?

For a healthy, fully vaccinated dog that gets on well with other dogs, a good pet hotel is usually a trouble free choice. For cats that are upset by a change of surroundings, older pets, pets on regular medication and anxious dogs, staying at home with a sitter who visits usually means less stress. Base your decision on your pet's character, health and the length of your trip.

The table below puts the two options side by side; after that you will find which suits which pet, and a checklist to leave with your sitter.

The two options side by side

Which pet suits which option

Pet hotel is usually a good fit for

• Young or middle aged, healthy dogs
• Sociable dogs that enjoy playing with other dogs
• Dogs that need to go out several times a day when a sitter can't come often enough
• Long trips, when one sitter coming several times a day becomes hard to arrange

A sitter at home is usually a good fit for

• Cats. Cats are sensitive to change. The American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) also stresses that cats are often frightened by changes to their physical and social surroundings. For many cats, their own home plus regular visits from a sitter means less stress.
• Older pets. Animals with limited mobility, or hearing or sight loss, can struggle in a new place.
• Pets on regular medication. Taking medicine at home, at the usual time, is easier.
• Dogs with separation anxiety or a fear of other animals. While a separation anxiety plan is under way, the ASPCA suggests options such as a sitter or day care so the dog is not left alone for long. A busy setting can add stress for some anxious dogs.
• Puppies and kittens whose vaccines are not complete. Contact with other animals raises the risk of infectious disease. The Merck Veterinary Manual says kennel cough spreads quickly in crowded settings such as boarding kennels and can be more severe in puppies.

If you choose a pet hotel

Pick a licensed hotel with a responsible vet, one that asks for vaccine and parasite records and shows you round. Our guide on how to choose a pet hotel in Turkey has a detailed visit checklist. In short:

• Do a one night trial stay before a long holiday.
• Hand over your pet's own food with written mealtimes.
• For dogs, plan the kennel cough vaccine with your vet ahead of the hotel's deadline. UC Davis recommends giving the intranasal vaccine at least a week before boarding.

If you choose a sitter at home

Sitters are usually found through friends, acquaintances or people who do this as a job. The Regulation on Pet Breeding, Sale, Boarding and Training Premises (Ev Hayvanlarının Üretim, Satış, Barınma ve Eğitim Yerleri Hakkında Yönetmelik) covers only breeding, sale, boarding and training premises; it sets no separate permit for a sitter working in your home. So trust depends largely on references and on the interview you hold beforehand.

Ask at the interview:

• Which animals they have looked after before, and whether they can give references
• How many visits a day, and how long each visit lasts
• How long the dog walks will be and which route
• What they will do in an emergency, and whether they have a car
• Whether they will send daily updates with photos or video
• Whether they look after other homes in the same period
• Which languages they speak, if your Turkish is limited: they may need to talk to your vet or neighbours for you

Do a trial before the holiday. Have the sitter come once while you are at home, meet your pet and see the feeding and toilet routine. If possible, do a short one day trial.

Checklist to leave with your sitter

• Your vet's name, address and phone number
• The address of the nearest 24/7 vet clinic
• The microchip number and where the vaccination card or pet passport is kept
• Food brand, amount and mealtimes
• Medicine names, doses and times (as written by your vet)
• Your pet's fears, habits and health history
• Litter tray or walk routine
• Door and window rules: cats and dogs can escape through an open door
• Your phone number and that of a backup contact
• How vet bills will be paid in an emergency

How to compare costs

There is no official tariff for pet hotels or sitters, so we don't give a price range here. Get quotes for the same dates from several hotels and several sitters. When comparing, take into account:

• At a pet hotel: the nightly rate, extras (individual walks, pick up and drop off, medication) and the surcharge for bayram (public holiday) periods or summer
• With a sitter: the fee per visit or per night, how many visits a day are needed, travel costs
• In homes with several pets, a sitter is often an option where you can negotiate a single fee, while a hotel usually charges per animal

With either option, get the total and what it includes in writing.

Leaving a cat home alone

For short trips, leaving a cat at home alone with plenty of food and water may cross your mind. How long a cat can stay alone depends on its age, health and your home setup. On longer trips, at least one visit a day matters for checking the litter tray and the water.

Frequently asked questions

Is a pet hotel or a sitter better for a cat?

Most cats are sensitive to a change of surroundings, so a sitter at home usually causes less stress. A hotel with a separate, quiet cat area is an acceptable option too.

How often should a sitter come?

Dogs need several visits a day for toilet breaks and walks. For cats, at least one visit a day to check food, water and the litter tray is a sensible minimum.

What happens if my pet gets ill at a pet hotel?

Licensed boarding premises must have a contracted vet. Before booking, ask which clinic would be used in an emergency and how you would be told.

Can I leave a puppy at a pet hotel?

Crowded places are not recommended before the vaccine course is complete. Go through the vaccination schedule and the hotel's requirements with your vet.