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Pet care

Pet Sitting in Sharjah: How Home Visits Work While You Travel

· 4 min read · By the Tip Top team

A pet carer taking a photo of a cat at its food bowl to send to the travelling owner

Pet sitting means a carer comes to your home to look after your pet while you're away, so your dog, cat or small animal stays in familiar surroundings instead of moving to a boarding facility. In Sharjah, where many people travel for weeks at a time and summer heat makes car journeys hard on animals, home visits are often the calmest option. Here's how they work, from booking to the moment you get home.

What is a pet sitting service?

A pet sitting service sends a carer to your home at agreed times to handle your pet's daily needs. A typical visit covers feeding, fresh water, cleaning the litter tray or cage, giving any medication, some play or company, and a walk for dogs. Some owners book one visit a day for an independent cat; others book several visits for a dog that needs regular walks, or an overnight stay so the pet isn't alone at night.

The idea is simple: your pet keeps its own routine, its own bed and its own space, and you get regular news while you're away.

Before you travel: setting up pet sitting

Book early around holidays

Demand for pet sitting in the UAE rises around school holidays, Eid and the summer travel season. Booking well ahead gives you time for a meet-and-greet and a trial visit.

Agree the schedule

Decide how many visits a day your pet needs and roughly when. Dogs usually need at least a morning and an evening visit for walks and toilet breaks. Cats often manage with one or two visits, though kittens, older cats and cats on medication may need more.

Prepare the home

  • Stock enough food, litter and medication for the whole trip, plus a few days spare in case of delays.
  • Leave leads, poo bags, cleaning supplies and a towel where they're easy to find.
  • Write down your pet's routine, your vet's details and an emergency contact.
  • Tell your building's security or concierge that a carer will be visiting.
  • Set the AC to a comfortable temperature and make sure it's working before you leave. A breakdown in summer is a real risk for an animal left indoors.

What happens during a visit

A well-run visit follows the same order each time, so your pet knows what to expect:

  1. Arrival and check. The carer greets your pet and looks for anything unusual: vomit, accidents, signs of distress or a change in behaviour.
  2. Feeding and water. Food is measured to your instructions and water bowls are emptied, washed and refilled.
  3. Litter or cage cleaning. Trays are scooped and cages spot-cleaned, which also keeps odour down in an apartment.
  4. Medication, given exactly as you've described.
  5. Walk or play. Dogs are walked at the cooler hours of the day; cats and small animals get some attention and play.
  6. Update. A photo or message tells you the visit is done and how your pet is.

Why home visits suit many UAE pets

  • No travel in the heat. Your pet doesn't need a car journey to a boarding facility in summer.
  • Less stress. Cats in particular often find a change of place more upsetting than a change of carer.
  • Lower exposure to other animals. Your pet isn't sharing space with unfamiliar dogs or cats.
  • The home is looked after too. Regular visits mean someone notices a leak, a power cut or an AC fault.

Home sitting isn't right for every animal. A dog that's anxious when alone for long stretches may do better with overnight care or company for more of the day. Our comparison of dog sitting at home and kennels goes through the trade-offs.

Plan for an emergency. Leave written permission for the carer to take your pet to your vet if needed, and tell the clinic who might bring your pet in. It saves time if something goes wrong.

Pet sitting for cats, dogs and small animals

Cats

Cats tend to do well with home visits, because they stay in their territory. A daily check matters even for an independent cat: litter, water and appetite tell you a lot about health, and a cat that stops eating needs a vet quickly.

Dogs

Dogs need more contact. Plan walks around the heat, and think about how long your dog is comfortable alone between visits.

Small animals

Rabbits, guinea pigs and similar pets need fresh food, water and clean bedding every day, and their cages should be kept out of direct sun and away from AC drafts.

Coming home

When you get back, check the visit updates against your pet's condition and behaviour, and note anything you'd like done differently next time. If your pet's coat has suffered while you were away, a groom at home is an easy reset; see our guide to pet grooming at home in Sharjah or the full dog grooming walkthrough.

Tip Top's pet sitting covers feeding, fresh water, litter and medication on your schedule, with a photo update after every visit. We also offer overnight and travel care for dogs, cats and small animals, in vaccinated homes only.