Frequently asked questions

It's free to create an account and browse listings. Both hosts and sitters pay the same duration-based booking fee when a sit is confirmed. The current fee is shown before either person commits. For paid sits, a service fee is deducted from the sitter's payment. See our fees page for current details.

Availability varies by location. Create an account and search your city, country, or region to see current sits and sitters in your area.

You can either create a listing describing your needs and let sitters apply, or browse sitter profiles and reach out directly. We recommend meeting potential sitters before booking.

Sitters can complete Verified Basics (ID, email, and phone) and add VerifyPlus, which shows only that a background check has passed. Hosts can review those signals before sending an offer, and some listings require VerifyPlus before a sitter can apply. Trust signals never affect where a profile appears in search.

Contact our support team immediately. We have a dedicated trust & safety team available to help resolve any issues. We also recommend having emergency contacts and vet information readily available.

Yes, you can cancel a booking. Both sitters and hosts can self-cancel directly through the app if the sit is 14+ days away. Within 14 days, sitters must request cancellation from the host, and hosts must contact support. In all cases, the cancelling party's booking fee is forfeited and the other party is refunded. For emergencies, submit a request with documentation for a possible fee waiver.

If the start date of your listing passes without a confirmed booking, the listing automatically expires. Any pending applications are declined, and you'll be notified by email and push notification. You can easily re-list by clicking the 'Re-list' button, which creates a new listing with the same details.

Sign up for a free account, complete your profile, and complete Verified Basics (ID, email, and phone). VerifyPlus — a background check — is optional, though some listings require it. Applying to listings is always free.

Hosts set the rate on paid sits, and you choose which offers to accept. On a paid sit, sitters keep 90% of the sit payment. Exchange sits have no sit payment — the stay itself is the exchange.

On paid sits, the sit payment is collected at sit start and the payout begins 48 hours after checkout, then lands in your bank account according to your payout schedule.

While experience is preferred, it's not required. Many hosts are willing to work with responsible, animal-loving beginners. Highlight any relevant experience in your profile.

When a host accepts your application, the status changes to 'Pending Confirmation' and you'll be notified. You can then review the offer and choose to 'Agree to sit' or 'Decline' from the application detail page. If you decline, the host receives an automatic refund of their booking fee.

We accept all major credit cards, debit cards, and in some regions, bank transfers and digital wallets.

Yes, all payments are processed through Stripe, a PCI-compliant payment processor. We never store your full card details.

All payments must go through SitterRight to ensure both parties are protected. Off-platform payments are against our terms of service and void any protections.

Go to your booking details and use the cancellation action shown for your role and timing. If the sit is 14+ days away, hosts and sitters can self-cancel. Within 14 days, sitters request cancellation from the host and hosts contact support.

For request-based cancellations, there is a 48-hour window where both parties can communicate and potentially resolve the issue. You can withdraw your request during this period.

For standard cancellations, the cancelling party forfeits their booking fee and the other party receives a refund. Sitters may also receive account restrictions based on timing and prior cancellations.

Contact support with documentation such as medical records, death certificate, or official notices for emergencies like hospitalization, family death, or natural disasters. If approved, both parties are refunded and cancellation penalties are waived.