Our Final Verdict
We give TrustedHousesitters a rating of 4.75 out of 5 stars.
Convenience: 5/5
Reliability: 4.5/5
Safety: 4.5/5
Value: 5/5
Making travel plans can be a stressful experience, but cat owners face the added challenge of finding safe and trustworthy care for their cats while they’re away. Placing your cat in boarding care can be very expensive, and many cats end up feeling stressed because they’re placed in a new and unfamiliar setting.
TrustedHousesitters is an online pet-sitting company with a unique concept that appeals to frequent travelers. With TrustedHousesitters, everyone wins. You’ll be connected to a list of experienced pet sitters, your cat gets to stay in the comfort of their home, and your pet sitter saves on lodging costs and gets to enjoy the company of new pet friends throughout the duration of their sit.
As someone who lives with cats and other pets, I was cautious when I first heard about TrustedHousesitters. However, after getting to know the company, I felt more at ease knowing that my cats and my home would be in safe hands while I’m away. So, if you’re planning to travel soon, make sure to consider using TrustedHousesitters. Here’s everything you need to know about this pet-sitting company.
About TrustedHousesitters
TrustedHousesitters was founded in 2010 with the purpose of connecting pet parents with trustworthy pet sitters around the world. Today, it operates in over 140 countries and has facilitated over 10 million nights of pet sitting.
It’s easy to get registered with TrustedHousesitters. All you have to do is create an online account and select a Pet Parent Plan that best matches your needs. After that, you can create a listing, post the dates you’ll need a sitter for, and start receiving applications from interested pet sitters that have been approved through TrustedHousesitters’ thorough verification process.
TrustedHousesitters is an excellent option for many pets, but cats with anxiety and elderly cats especially benefit from it. You can prevent your cat from feeling anxiety and discomfort because they get to stay at home. Elderly cats don’t have to experience stress from being transported to a boarding facility, and you don’t have to worry about forgetting to pack any medication or other special products your cat needs.
TrustedHousesitters Overview
TrustedHousesitters has a lot to offer. Here’s an overview of some of the basic things you need to know.
What to Expect
Once you put up a listing and advertise your dates on the TrustedHousesitters website, you’ll start to receive applications from available pet sitters. You can view each pet sitter’s profile along with their references and reviews to ensure you find the best sitter for your cat. TrustedHousesitters enables you to securely message sitters via the platform, and encourages pet parents to schedule video chat calls with prospective pet sitters so that you can get to know each sitter before choosing one.
Pet sitters will receive free lodging by staying in your home for the duration of the sit, in exchange for providing love and care to your pets in your absence. While these are their primary responsibilities, pet sitters can also do basic household tasks, such as watering your plants and getting mail from your mailbox. Just make sure to discuss these tasks with your sitter beforehand.
TrustedHousesitters also has a Membership Services team that’s known for its excellent and responsive customer service. This team is available to help facilitate and secure sits successfully.
Pricing
TrustedHousesitters offers three Pet Parent Plans:
- Basic Pet Parent
- Standard Pet Parent (Most Popular)
- Premium Pet Parent
The Basic Pet Parent Plan has an annual fee of $129. The Standard Pet Parent Plan is $199 per year, and the Premium Pet Parent Plan is $259 per year. All plans provide unlimited pet and home care for 12 months. The Standard Pet Parent Plan and Premium Pet Parent Plans include additional benefits, like home and contents protection, sit cancellation insurance, and access to a 24/7 vet advice line (for you, and your sitters).
Sitters for Every Type of Pet
TrustedHousesitters has pet sitters that have a range of experiences with different kinds of pets. So, you can choose pet sitters that specialize in and genuinely love caring for cats and understanding feline behavior. You can rest assured knowing that your pet sitter will know exactly how to react if your cat happens to feel unwell or if their curiosity gets them stuck in a sticky situation.
Most pet sitters care for all types of pets, including dogs, reptiles, small mammals, fish, and birds. Some sitters even have experience in caring for horses or farm animals. So, TrustedHousesitters is an excellent choice for multi-pet homes.
Standard Pet Parent Package
Here’s a list of items that are included in TrustedHousesitters’ Standard Pet Parent Plan:
- Unlimited pet and home care
- Home & Contents Protection
- Money back guarantee
- Free video calls with vets (available 24/7)
- Dedicated member support
- Listings boosted in search results
- See pet sitters that save your listing
In Summary
Pros
- Every Pet Parent Plan offers unlimited pet and home care
- Affordable annual membership plans
- Has 24/7 vet advice line
- Potential to receive free insurance coverage
- Excellent customer service
- Pets are happier and more comfortable remaining their own environment
- Great alternative to busy kennels and catteries
Cons
- Basic Pet Parent Package lacks benefits
Key Features
Sitters From All Across the World
TrustedHousesitters connects you with sitters from over 140 different countries. So, it’s usually easy for you to find a pet sitter, especially if you live in a major city that attracts a lot of tourists. You can also apply to be a pet sitter, and some pet sitters may visit each other’s cities and stay in each other’s homes. So, overall, TrustedHousesitters offers many opportunities for people to travel and explore the world without having to worry about expensive accommodation costs or their pet’s well-being.
TrustedHousesitters also has a community forum that connects you with other pet sitters and animal lovers around the world. You can write or find posts with advice, meetup events, and other various pet-related topics. The company’s customer support team is also active on these forums and is quick to respond to inquiries and concerns.
Access To 24/7 Vet Line
TrustedHousesitters is a company that prioritizes your pet’s safety. Along with connecting you to a responsible animal-loving pet sitter who will have access to a 24/7 vet advice line, you also can opt in for this virtual veterinarian service by choosing the Standard or Premium Pet Parent Plan. Both you and your pet sitter can connect with a veterinarian via phone, chat, or video call. Just keep in mind that this feature is only available to you with the Standard and Premium Pet Parent Plans but not the Basic Pet Parent Plan. However, your sitter will have access to this service regardless of the plan pet parents choose.
Thorough Application Process for Sitters
All TrustedHousesitters pet sitters go through a thorough application process before they’re approved. This process includes cross-checked identity verification, plus an extensive background check for US-based sitters. Applicants must also submit external references that can attest to their pet-sitting competency.
You can also find extra peace of mind if you have an active homeowners insurance policy. TrustedHousesitters offers Home & Contents Protection, which provides coverage for up to $1 million for property damage, theft, and other accidents that may occur during the sit. This coverage is available for the Standard Pet Parent Plan and the Premium Pet Parent Plan.
Is TrustedHousesitters a Good Value?
Considering how the average cost of pet boarding is $30-$50 a night, TrustedHousesitters services are a great value. You can easily make up for your annual plan fee with one trip, and you don’t have to pay extra pet-sitting fees for any other sits that you schedule within 12 months. So, frequent travelers can experience significant savings with TrustedHousesitters. Not to mention, the value and peace of mind that comes with knowing your pet is safe and happy at home with a sitter who’ll love and care for them whilst you’re away which, in our opinion, is priceless.
FAQ
What is the cancellation process for TrustedHousesitters?
TrustedHousesitters is fairly hands-off when it comes to cancellations. Once you’ve confirmed a listing with a pet sitter, both you and the pet sitter cannot cancel the sit unless the cancellation reason falls under “extraordinary circumstances.” If your sitter happens to cancel, you’ll have to reopen your listing and find a new pet sitter.
Fortunately, cancellation insurance is available in the Premium Pet Parent Plan and Premium Pet Sitter Plan. This insurance will compensate up to $150 per night to cover the cost of alternative pet care (or alternative accommodation for sitters), for a total of $1,500 per sit. You can also submit a report to TrustedHousesitters’ Membership Services team if you feel that your sitter’s cancellation doesn’t qualify as an extraordinary circumstance or if further investigation is needed.
Does TrustedHousesitters have insurance for damages?
Yes, TrustedHousesitters offers free coverage for up to $1 million for property damage and other kinds of accidents that occur during the sit. This coverage is underwritten by GUARDHOG.
Just keep in mind that this insurance isn’t offered with the Basic Pet Parent Plan, so you’ll have to enroll in either the Standard Pet Parent Plan or the Premium Pet Parent Plan. It also only applies if you already have an active homeowners insurance plan.
Do I have to pay for a sitter’s home care expenses?
TrustedHousesitters works to find animal lovers who enjoy being around pets and prioritize taking good care of them. Pet sitters have an understanding that they’re not sitting for money and aren’t incentivized by it. These trusted individuals sit because they love the unique travel opportunities that TrustedHousesitters provides, in addition to the chance to bond and spend time with animals along the way. They’ll still be responsible for paying for transportation, food, and other living costs during their stay.
Our Experience With TrustedHousesitters
I love to travel, but it can be difficult to plan trips due to concerns for my two cats. I have a timid adult cat who takes a long time to warm up to strangers and a senior cat who has a daily medication regimen. Taking them to a boarding facility is my last resort because of the stress it causes on both of them, and it can be difficult scheduling pet sitters amongst friends and family.
The first thing I noticed about using TrustedHousesitters is how supportive it was in helping me find a good pet sitter for my cats. Signing up is super easy, and you can start making a listing right away. The Standard and Premium Pet Parent Plans also offer a Money Back Guarantee, which refunds your plan payment if you don’t receive any sitter applications within 14 days of posting your first listing.
I also liked how TrustedHousesitters gathers reviews of pet sitters. I felt more peace of mind in knowing that other pet parents had positive experiences with a particular sitter. The option to schedule a video call with a sitter provided additional assurance that I’d be selecting a sitter that would be a good fit for my cats.
Overall, I was very impressed with TrustedHousesitters. They have a high rating with Trustpilot, and you can find many pet sitters with high ratings and positive reviews. The insurance coverage and access to the 24/7 vet line added more reassurance, so I felt safe using and booking through TrustedHousesitters.
Conclusion
TrustedHousesitters enables cats to receive quality love, care, and 1:1 attention in their own homes while you’re away. It’s easy to start, and TrustedHousesitters provides lots of tips and tricks for first-time users to help them receive sitter applications quickly. It also has a strong customer support team that helps facilitate sits successfully so that you have one less thing to worry about as you make travel plans.
TrustedHousesitters has a unique business model that ensures that everyone leaves a winner. Sitters can enjoy unique stays without breaking the bank with the added company of pets, you’ll have peace of mind in knowing that your pet and your home are being taken care of by a responsible and knowledgeable pet lover, and your furbaby will remain and happy and comfortable in their own environment.