Everyday life with a petArticle 4 of 6 · 8 min read
Who looks after your pet when you travel
Helps you choose between a licensed residencia, a paid pet sitter and a house-sitter when you travel without your pet. It covers what affects price, how to check a licence, when to book and what health proof you need.
Key rules
- Licence: A residencia must be registered with its regional animal-welfare authority, so ask for its registration number and confirm it.
- Booking: Book 2 to 3 months ahead for July, August, Easter and Christmas.
- Vaccines: Each residencia sets its own vaccine list, so confirm it and the timing before you book.
- House-sitting: A house-sitter usually costs the owner nothing, but platforms charge membership fees.
Which option fits
A licensed residencia suits most owners who want a regulated business with a vet programme. A paid sitter suits pets that cope badly in kennels. A house-sitter suits owners who want someone living in the home. The comparison table below puts the three side by side.
Residencias (kennels and catteries)
Prices depend on the region, the size of the animal and the season. Dogs usually cost more than cats, and large dogs more than small ones. Expect higher prices in Madrid, Barcelona and tourist areas, and in summer and at Christmas. Some residencias charge extra for medication, grooming or transport.
Ask several local residencias for a written quote and compare the extras, not just the daily rate.
Check the licence
Residencias must be registered with the animal-welfare authority of their autonomous community. Many also need a licence from the town hall. They must have a veterinary programme, facilities that meet technical standards and a register of the animals. Some regions also require trained staff.
Ask the residencia for its registration number. Then confirm it with your regional animal-welfare authority or your town hall. Register names and rules differ by region.
Health requirements
Each residencia sets its own rules, so ask for the exact vaccine list and timing before you book. Typically they want:
- An ISO microchip.
- A health document showing up-to-date vaccinations.
- Recent internal and external deworming.
Dogs usually need distemper, parvovirus, hepatitis, leptospirosis and rabies. Rabies is compulsory in many regions. Many residencias also ask for the kennel cough vaccine, usually given at least 2 to 4 weeks before the stay. Cats usually need the trivalent vaccine, and often feline leukaemia if they go outdoors.
A dog in heat, or one with fleas or other parasites, may be refused. Some residencias also ask for your ID and for details of your pet's medication and vet.
Paid sitters and dog walkers
Sitters and walkers set their own prices. These depend on the city, the length of the visit and the number of animals. A walk or a short visit costs much less than overnight care at the sitter's home or yours. Overnight care costs more in big cities and in holiday periods.
You can find sitters through pet-care platforms such as Rover, Holidog, Gudog, Trusty and Mascoteros, or through local community groups. Compare several profiles, read the reviews and check what insurance cover the sitter has.
A sitter who keeps several animals at home may count as a núcleo zoológico, depending on the region. If so, they need the same registration as a residencia. Ask to see it.
House-sitters
House-sitting is mainly an exchange. The sitter lives in your home and looks after your pets and house in return for free accommodation. You usually pay the sitter nothing. The sitter pays the platform an annual membership. On some platforms owners pay a membership too. On others they can post for free or for a smaller fee.
Platforms include TrustedHousesitters, Nomador, HouseCarers and Mindmyhouse. Fees and tiers change, so check current pricing before you sign up. Paid sitting through platforms like Rover is a different model.
When to book
Book 2 to 3 months ahead for July, August, Easter and Christmas. Popular residencias can fill even earlier. For other holiday periods, book 4 to 8 weeks ahead at the least. The rest of the year, 2 to 4 weeks is usually enough. Cities and tourist areas fill faster.
Check vaccination requirements when you book, because some jabs must be given weeks before the stay. The timeline, documents and checklist below cover the steps.
Kennel, pet sitter or house-sitter compared
Match the option to the pet first, then to the trip. A kennel is the cheapest in effort but the riskiest for health and stress. A house-sitter is the best fit for most pets and usually costs the least in fees.
| Kennel (residencia) | Visiting pet sitter | House-sitter | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Paid per night. Dogs cost more than cats, and large dogs more than small ones. Higher in Madrid, Barcelona, tourist areas, summer and Christmas. Medication, grooming and transport can cost extra. | Sitters set their own prices. A walk or visit costs much less than an overnight stay. Overnight care costs more in big cities and holiday periods. | Usually no payment to the sitter, who stays free in your home. The sitter pays a yearly platform membership. Some platforms also charge owners a membership, while others let you post for free or for a smaller fee. |
| Main risk | Contagious disease (kennel cough, parvovirus) and stress from noise and unfamiliar surroundings. | The pet is alone for long periods, and an escape or emergency can go unnoticed. | The sitter's reliability and experience. There is no formal insurance or regulation, and some sitters cannot cope with a reactive dog. |
| Best for | Sociable, vaccinated, healthy adult dogs. | Cats, senior pets and anxious pets, which keep their routine at home. Infection risk is low. | Most pets, including those on medication. Best for puppies and kittens, who need frequent attention. |
| Poor fit | Anxious, elderly, very young, unvaccinated or medically fragile animals, and dogs that fight with other dogs. Worst choice for puppies and kittens. | Pets that need constant company or care. | Reactive dogs, unless the sitter has the experience to handle them. |
| Book ahead | Summer, Easter and Christmas: 2 to 3 months. Popular kennels can fill even earlier. | Same lead times as a kennel. | Same lead times as a kennel. |
Lead times for all three
- Other holiday periods: 4 to 8 weeks is the minimum.
Cities and tourist areas fill faster. Many kennels ask for up-to-date vaccinations, so check this when you book.
Choosing for each trip
- Short trip, healthy and sociable dog: a kennel is fine. Get quotes from several local ones and ask what extras they charge.
- Cat, senior or nervous pet: a visiting sitter or house-sitter. Cats generally do better at home than in a cattery.
- Long trip, or a pet on medication: a house-sitter gives continuous company and security. Read reviews and talk to the sitter before you commit.
- Puppy or kitten: a house-sitter. Avoid a kennel.
- Peak season: book first, then compare. The best options go early.
For sitters and house-sitters, compare several profiles and reviews. Ask what insurance cover they have. Prices and membership tiers change, so check current pricing on each platform before you decide.
Check current prices with local kennels and sitters, and check each house-sitting platform's current membership fees.
Timeline and deadlines
-
Book a residencia or sitter for July, August, Easter or Christmas: 2 to 3 months before you leave
-
Book for other holiday periods: at least 4 to 8 weeks before you leave
-
Book for the rest of the year: 2 to 4 weeks before you leave
Documents you need
-
Health document (cartilla sanitaria or EU pet passport), issued by your vet, showing up-to-date vaccinations
-
ISO microchip registration for your dog or cat
-
Proof of recent internal and external deworming, from your vet
-
Your ID, if the residencia asks for it
-
Details of any medication your pet takes and of your vet, if the residencia asks for them
Checklist
-
Ask several local residencias for quotes and compare them, including extra charges for medication, grooming or transport
-
Compare several sitter profiles, reviews and insurance cover before you choose
-
Check the current membership fee of any house-sitting platform before you sign up
-
Ask the residencia which vaccines it requires and when they must be given
-
Gather your pet's health document, microchip details and deworming proof
Frequently asked questions
Does it cost me anything to use a house-sitter?
Usually no, because a house-sitter stays in your home and looks after your pets in exchange for free accommodation. The sitter pays a yearly membership to the platform. On some platforms you also pay a membership, while others let you post for free or for a smaller fee.
How can I check that a residencia is legally registered?
Ask the residencia for its registration number, then ask your regional animal-welfare authority or your town hall to confirm it. Residencias count as núcleos zoológicos (registered animal establishments), and rules differ by region. A sitter who keeps several animals in their own home may need the same registration, depending on the region.
Do I need to vaccinate my dog against kennel cough before boarding?
Many kennels ask for the kennel cough vaccine (tos de las perreras), usually given at least 2 to 4 weeks before the stay. Ask your residencia whether it requires it when you book. Dogs in heat or with fleas may be refused.
Do paid sitters and dog walkers charge the same everywhere?
No, sitters and dog walkers set their own prices, and these change with the city, the length of the visit and the number of animals. A walk or a visit costs much less than overnight care.
More in Everyday life with a pet
Need certainty before you act?
For important relocation decisions, speak with a qualified human specialist.
Always verify important information with the relevant official authority or a qualified adviser before acting. This website uses large language models together with various public data sources, official government documents and other established sources. Due to the amount of data on this website, some information might be wrong. Information may also be incomplete or outdated.