How to choose pet boarding or a pet sitter in London

Katerina Galkina · EN · 07/10/2026

First choose the arrangement: a dog staying in a sitter's home, kennels, a cattery or visits to your home. This determines the care environment and licensing requirements. Someone found through a platform still needs independent checks.

Check the appropriate licence

In England, councils license commercial services falling within animal activities licensing rules. Home dog boarding, dog day care and cat boarding have different requirements. A sitter working in the pet owner's normal home is excluded from this particular home boarding licence; lacking it in that arrangement does not itself establish a breach. GOV.UK: animal activities licensing ↗.

Request the operator's name, licence number, expiry and issuing council. Check that the address and activity match. Read the current home boarding guidance ↗ or cat boarding guidance ↗ as appropriate.

Meet before your holiday

Visit the premises or arrange a meeting at home. Ask about animal numbers, separating unfamiliar dogs, walks, overnight presence and escape procedures. For cats, discuss secure doors and windows, litter cleaning and actual visit frequency. Consider a short trial if unsure.

Disclose anxiety, reactions to children or other animals and escape behaviour. Do not hide behavioural difficulties to secure a booking: the operator needs to assess whether suitable care is possible.

Leave written instructions

Provide food and routine details, medicines with veterinary instructions, microchip information and your usual practice. Agree the emergency vet, how to contact you, a backup person and treatment authorisation arrangements. Check vaccination requirements, the sitter's insurance and its actual scope.

For home access, agree key storage and return, alarms and messages after visits. Keep addresses and entry codes out of public posts.

Record the total price

Request a written quote for every date. Overnight stays, extra walks, medication, veterinary transport, holidays and late collection may incur additional fees. Check the deposit, cancellation and shortened-trip terms. Pay under the agreed contract and retain confirmation. A star rating or platform conversation does not replace the service's actual terms.