How much does a cat sitter cost in Australia?

While living with cats can definitely bring love and affection to your household, leaving them home alone for an extended period can make them feel abandoned and withdrawn. To help them feel safe and content, you can ask someone to care for them while you’re away.

But if you’re worried that this service will cost you an arm and a leg, this detailed cat sitter cost guide will show you what to expect in terms of expenses and discuss a few strategies to lower them.

What are the average cat sitting rates in Australia?

The table below shows the average cat sitting prices in different major cities across Australia.

What factors affect the costs of cat sitters?

Domestic cat being entertained at home, suggesting pet care presence (Source: iStock)

Pet carers charge varying costs for cat sitting, as different situations, requirements, sitter skills, and add-ons fall into various pricing tiers.

Length and type of visit

Short visits that comprise simple tasks, such as feeding, water refilling, litter box cleaning, and a basic welfare check, won’t likely burn a hole in your pocket. Meanwhile, overnight stays that entail handling full pet routines and monitoring your home are significantly more expensive due to the amount of work and time involved.

Number of cats and complexity of care

Cats lying side by side on a couch in a cosy home environment (Source: iStock)

The number of your cats can affect cat sitter prices; having more pets to care for means more effort and time will be required, which naturally leads service providers to charge a higher rate for cat sitting. Similarly, more complicated care routines (e.g., administering medication with a strict schedule, handling an anxiety-riddled kitten) result in additional costs that add to the total amount you have to pay.

On a related note, while a pet’s gender doesn’t usually affect care complexity, a cat’s breed can be a factor when it comes to the level of care required from a sitter. For instance, it can be more time-consuming—and therefore pricier—to bathe a Birman or a Ragdoll versus a short-haired feline.

Booking duration and timing

If you’ll be gone for more than 24 hours, you’re probably wondering about the typical cat sitting per-day cost for every night that you’re away. In general, you should expect a discounted rate for multi-day bookings, but it’s also wise to anticipate surcharges if you’ll be availing the services of a cat sitter on short notice or during a busy holiday period.

Location and travel requirements

Unlike cat boarding services, at-home pet sitting won’t require you to go to a facility to drop off your pet. However, this means you may need to pay additional travel expenses for the sitter. These include the cost of going to and leaving your house, especially if long distances are involved.

Cat sitting fees may also be higher for pet owners living in an urban area versus a rural or suburban location due to greater service demand, higher cost of living, pricier parking fees, and longer time spent in traffic.

Sitter’s experience and qualifications

Cat lying on a soft surface while bonding with a smiling pet sitter (Source: iStock)

How much does cat sitting for a week cost if the service provider is a novice versus an experienced carer? Expert pet carers typically charge more than newbie pet sitters. However, paying a higher fee for someone with more skills and qualifications can be useful if your cat has very particular needs.

Extra household tasks

If the pet sitting business you’re hiring is also tasked with performing other duties related to house sitting (such as watering your plants, taking the bins out, and sending you regular detailed updates with photos and videos), an add-on fee in the range of $5 to $30 is usually included in the total charge.

Many pet parents take advantage of these add-ons if they’re too busy to deal with household tasks or simply want a respite from their daily chores.

What are some ways to save on cat sitting prices?

In Australia, a good price for cat sitting can be obtained through the following measures:

• Inquire with different service providers so you can gauge the typical cost in your area and not overspend.

• Hire a cat sitter near you to reduce transportation costs.

• Look for and book a sitter in advance so that most of the affordable options are still available to you.

• Opt for sitter drop-ins rather than overnight stays if your cat is low-maintenance and not prone to anxiety when alone.

What should you look for in a professional cat sitter?

Cat comfortably resting on a man's shoulders inside a home (Source: iStock)

The list below shows the things you should be looking for when hiring a cat sitter:

• Experience and qualifications: The cat sitter should have relevant experience (with your cat’s breed, in particular) and possess the right qualifications to take care of your pet’s needs.

• Excellent reviews: Check out their ratings and reviews from previous customers to see if their services are satisfactory.

• Good rapport: During the meet-and-greet session, observe if your cat feels comfortable with them and if they are aware of how to handle it.

• Insurance: Confirm that your cat sitter is insured so you are covered in case of an accident or unexpected situation.

From feeding to playtime, get help meow on Airtasker

Cat sitter holding a food bowl while two cats wait to be fed (Source: iStock)

Going away for an extended period? Don’t let your feline friend feel alone at home by hiring a cat sitter who can take care of its needs and wants—from feeding and grooming to playtime and litter cleaning.

With Airtasker, it’s easy to find a cat sitter with the experience and skills you’re looking for. Just sign up on the platform and create a task so you can begin your search for a competent and reliable Tasker in your area.