Pet Sitting Prices UK: How Much It Costs in 2026

Pet sitting prices in the UK vary more than most owners expect, and the number that matters depends entirely on which service you actually need. A quick drop-in visit to feed the cat is one price; a sitter staying overnight in your home is another; live-in house sitting over Christmas is another again. As a rough starting point, drop-in visits run about £10 to £25 each and overnight care sits around £30 to £70 a night, with London and peak holidays pushing well above that. This guide breaks down pet sitting prices for dogs and cats by service type, shows where you live changes the bill, and explains what you are really paying for.

Pet sitting prices at a glance

Here are indicative UK ranges for 2026. Treat them as a way to sanity-check a quote, not a fixed tariff, because rates move with location, season and the individual sitter.

Nationally, the average overnight rate lands somewhere around £40 to £45 a night for a dog and a little less for a cat, but averages hide big swings. What you pay comes down to the service, your location and the time of year far more than the type of pet.

The three main types of pet sitting

The label “pet sitting” covers several different services, and mixing them up is the main reason quotes look inconsistent.

Drop-in visits are the cheapest. A sitter comes to your home once or a few times a day to feed, refresh water, let a dog into the garden, scoop a litter tray and give some company. Ideal for cats and low-maintenance pets who cope alone overnight.

Overnight sitting means the sitter stays in your home through the night, so your pet is not left alone. This costs more because you are paying for the sitter’s time and presence, but it suits dogs and anxious animals that should not be left. Our guide to pet sitting vs boarding compares this with sending your pet away.

Live-in house sitting is full-time care in your home across a trip, often combining pet care with keeping the house occupied. It is the priciest per day but can work out well for multiple pets, since one fee usually covers the household rather than being charged per animal.

Where you live changes the price

Location is one of the biggest factors. London is consistently the most expensive, with overnight care commonly £50 to £85 a night and drop-ins at the top of the range. Other big cities such as Birmingham, Newcastle and Cardiff also run above the national average, particularly for cat sitting. Rural areas and smaller towns tend to sit at the lower end, though very remote areas can cost more simply because fewer sitters cover them and travel is factored in. If you are also budgeting for walks, our dog walking cost guide covers those rates.

Season matters more than owners realise

Timing can move the price sharply. Summer, roughly June to August, is peak season, and rates often rise 10 to 20 per cent as demand climbs with the holidays. Christmas and New Year is the real crunch: good sitters book out months ahead and prices can climb steeply over the festive period. If you need care for a school holiday or Christmas, book early, both to secure someone good and to avoid the worst of the premium.

What else affects the cost

Beyond service, location and season, a few things nudge the price:

• Number of pets. Extra animals usually add a per-pet supplement, though house sitting often bundles them.
• Special needs. Puppies, elderly pets, or animals needing medication (injections, timed doses) command higher rates.
• Visit length and frequency. Two or three drop-ins a day for a dog costs more than one for a cat.
• Insurance and vetting. Professional sitters who are insured, DBS-checked and often qualified in pet first aid charge more, and are usually worth it.
• Extras. Some sitters include a dog walk, plant watering or bringing in post; others charge separately.

Getting a fair price

The cheapest quote is rarely the right measure. A sitter who is insured, references-checked and experienced with your type of pet is worth paying a little more for, especially for overnight and live-in care where trust matters most. Ask exactly what a quote includes, how many visits, how long, whether walks or medication are covered, so you are comparing like with like. Our checklist on questions to ask before you hire a dog walker applies just as well to sitters, and if you have a cat, how to find a cat sitter covers what to look for.

For welfare standards to expect from any paid carer, the RSPCA guidance on leaving pets and, for anyone running boarding as a business, the licensing rules under the government’s animal activities licensing are useful references.

Frequently asked questions

How much does pet sitting cost per day in the UK? For a full day, casual dog sitting typically starts around £50 and cat sitting around £40, while shorter drop-in visits run about £10 to £25 each. Overnight care, where the sitter stays in your home, generally costs £30 to £70 a night depending on the pet and location. London and peak holidays sit well above these figures.

Is pet sitting cheaper than boarding? Often, but not always. For a single cat, drop-in visits at home can be cheaper than a cattery, and your pet stays in familiar surroundings. For dogs needing overnight company, in-home sitting may cost similar to or more than boarding kennels. Compare the total cost for your actual dates, and weigh it against how well your pet copes with being away from home.

Why is pet sitting more expensive at Christmas? Demand far outstrips the number of available sitters over Christmas and New Year, so prices rise steeply, sometimes well above normal rates. Summer holidays see a smaller rise of around 10 to 20 per cent. Booking early is the best way to secure a good sitter and avoid the sharpest premiums.

Does pet sitting cost more in London? Yes. London is consistently the most expensive part of the UK for pet care, with overnight sitting commonly £50 to £85 a night and drop-in visits at the top of the national range. Other large cities such as Birmingham, Newcastle and Cardiff also run above average.

What should a pet sitting price include? It should be clear on the number and length of visits, feeding, fresh water, toileting or litter changes, and company. Check whether walks, medication administration, and extras like plant watering or bringing in post are included or charged separately. Always confirm the sitter is insured and, ideally, references-checked before booking.

How much does it cost to have someone stay in your house with your pet? Live-in house sitting typically runs from about £40 to £85 or more per night depending on the pets, location and season. It can be good value when you have several animals, since the fee usually covers the whole household rather than being charged per pet, and your home stays occupied while you are away.