Pet owners don't choose a pet sitter the way they choose a pizza place. They're handing over a house key and a member of the family. Before they call, almost all of them look you up, and your website is where they decide whether you feel safe.
Here's what a pet sitter's website should include, in the order pet owners look for it. Use it as a checklist for your own site.
1. What you do, where, and how to reach you
The first screen should answer three questions in a few seconds: what you do, where you do it and how to reach you. "Dog walking and pet sitting in Sugar Land and Missouri City" tells a visitor far more than "Welcome to our website!"
Put your phone number at the top, and make it a tap-to-call button on phones. Most people look for a pet sitter on their phone, often while they're planning a trip.
2. Proof that you can be trusted
Many pet sitter websites skip this part, and it's the part that matters most. Say it plainly, near the top of the page:
- Bonded and insured
- Pet first aid or pet CPR certified
- Background-checked (you and anyone who works for you)
- How many years you've been caring for pets
If you belong to a group like Pet Sitters International or the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters, show that too.
3. Your services, with prices
Give each service a short description: drop-in visits, dog walks, overnight stays, cat care, medication visits. Then show your prices, or at least your "starting at" prices.
A lot of pet sitters worry that prices will scare people off. In practice, prices save you from long calls with people who were never going to book, and they bring in people who already know they can afford you. Put your holiday rates and extra-pet charges here too, so nobody is surprised.
4. The areas you serve
List the neighborhoods and towns you cover by name. This helps pet owners, and it helps Google. When someone searches for "cat sitter in Richmond TX," Google looks for websites that actually mention Richmond.
If you cover several towns, giving each town its own page can bring in searches from every one of them. Our pet sitting demo website works exactly this way.
5. How it works: the meet & greet
New clients are nervous about the first visit. Spell out the steps: they ask for a free meet & greet, you come by to meet their pet and go over routines, keys and emergency contacts, and then they book. A short "How it works" section turns a nervous visitor into a booked client.
6. Photos of real pets you care for
Happy pets are your best advertising. A small photo gallery shows pet owners that you're real, busy and good with animals. Ask your clients first, and use the pet's name only, like "Duke, 7."
Skip the stock photos. Pet owners can spot them, and they make you look like everyone else.
7. Reviews from happy clients
Show three to six of your best reviews, with the client's first name and neighborhood. Then link to your Google reviews so people can read more. The best time to ask for a Google review is right after a trip, when clients come home to a happy pet.
8. Answers to the questions you always get
A short FAQ saves you time on the phone, and it answers worries people may never call to ask about:
- How do you keep my house key safe?
- What happens if my pet gets sick while I'm away?
- Do you walk dogs in groups or one at a time?
- Can you give medication or insulin shots?
- How far ahead should I book for the holidays?
- How do I pay?
9. An easy way to book or ask a question
Give people more than one way to reach you: a call button, a text button and a short contact form. If you already use a booking app like Time To Pet or Precise Petcare, your website can link straight to it.
Keep the form short: name, phone, email, the pet's name and type, and the dates needed. Every extra question means fewer people finish it.
10. A design that works well on phones
Most of your visitors will be on a phone. Your website should load quickly, have text that's easy to read without zooming, and buttons big enough to tap with a thumb. Open your own website on your phone and try to book yourself. If anything is hard, fix it.
What a pet sitter's website doesn't need
- A long life story on the home page. Keep it to a few friendly lines and save the rest for your About section.
- Music or videos that start playing on their own
- Pages that just say "coming soon"
- Your home address, if you work from home. Google lets businesses that visit their customers keep their address private.
Don't forget your Google Business Profile
Your website and your Google Business Profile work as a team. When someone searches "pet sitter near me," the map results come from Google Business Profiles, and Google checks your website to confirm what you do and where. Make sure your business name, phone number and service area are exactly the same on both.
Quick checklist
- What you do, where, and a tap-to-call phone number at the top
- Insured, bonded, certified and background-checked, said plainly
- Services with prices, including holiday rates
- Every town and neighborhood you serve, by name
- How the meet & greet works
- Real photos of pets you care for
- Reviews, plus a link to your Google reviews
- Answers to common questions
- Call, text and a short contact form
- Fast and easy to use on a phone
Want a website like this without building it yourself? Nicks Web Shop builds and manages websites for pet sitters, dog walkers and groomers, starting at $20/mo with no setup fee and no contract. See our websites for pet care businesses, or try the pet sitting demo.
