A quick explanation may seem enough when you hand over your pet. Then questions arrive: where is the food, which walk does it prefer, who should be called if you cannot answer? A thoughtful care sheet prevents these searches. It need not tell a whole life story. It should help someone understand what matters now, find instructions and know when to contact you.
Make the pet easy to identify
Start with a name and recent photograph. For several pets, explain distinguishing features. Include details relevant to care, such as approximate age, normal behaviour and known needs. The pet profile can hold a fuller story; the sitter’s sheet should focus on practical needs.
Use consistent terms in notes, supplies and conversations. If your pet has several nicknames, say which it recognises. Do not assume the sitter knows every animal or understands family expressions.
Explain feeding, outings and everyday comfort
Describe existing feeding instructions: food, storage, equipment and usual times. Include rules for treats and foods to avoid. Pass on any professionally prescribed diet without changing it. An identified measure is clearer than “a little”.
For outings, explain habits, equipment and useful precautions. For a cat, describe room access and litter care. Add sleeping arrangements, rest rituals, favourite games and situations that may prompt unusual behaviour. Separate essentials from preferences.
Share health information relevant to this stay
Explain known allergies and active medication when needed, following veterinary instructions. The sitter may not need the complete medical history; they need information appropriate to their role and someone to ask for clarification. Check dates and legibility before sharing.
PetStorya lets you select sections including medication, allergies, appointments and the veterinarian. Visible information depends on your selections and the authorised period. The health notebook organises records; it does not diagnose or recommend treatment. Ask the veterinarian about doses or medical decisions.
Provide real contacts and an agreed calling order
Give a main contact, a backup who has agreed to help and the veterinary details you choose to disclose. Explain when you want an immediate call and how to reach the backup. Agree on a channel for ordinary updates too.
PetStorya emergency contacts are the ones you enter and choose to share. Your account contact details are not automatically copied into care access. Read the sheet as a newcomer: “call me” is unhelpful without a usable number.
Select documents individually
A relevant prescription or a document needed during the stay may help. An old invoice or unrelated contract does not necessarily belong there. Explicitly select useful files and check that they are current, complete and understandable. Avoid conflicting duplicate versions.
PetStorya care sharing requires you to choose authorised documents. Enabling a section does not publish every private file. Documents remain in their original space. Storage and selection depend on your plan and available files; check plan limits before assembling a large dossier.
Set a clear period and retain control
Care mode provides temporary access with chosen sections and instructions specific to the stay. Use a recognisable name, set the appropriate period and review the selection. The link does not open your account, allow edits or create a permanent collaborator. You can revoke access.
If the person or dates change, review the settings. Never share your password to save time. Send keys or home codes through an appropriate separate channel. Care notes must not contain alarm codes, passwords or banking information.
Keep the sheet short and current
Order information by usefulness: today, during the stay, then when needed. Read it with the sitter and invite questions before departure. Afterwards, clarify anything confusing. An updated, readable sheet is worth more than a long document nobody can navigate.
Start with PetStorya for free to bring instructions together around the right pet and prepare suitable sharing without handing over your account.