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Every now and again, you might want to head out of town, leaving your fluffy companions at home. But instead of boarding your pets as you normally do, perhaps it might be a better idea to leave them in the home they are accustomed to living in. To make sure your pets are safe and they are happy while you are away (as much as they can be without you), here are some tips to keep in mind and advice you need to know.

In Home Pet Sitters

The best way to handle leaving your pets at home is to hire the services of a pet sitter who comes to your house on certain days. These sitters will generally check in on a number of pets, helping to feed them and to take care of litter boxes, time outside, etc. The services of these professionals tend to be reasonably priced, especially in comparison with those boarding establishments where you drop your pooch or feline off. That said, you should look into whether these professionals have a good reputation and whether they are bonded. This will help to keep your mind at ease when you hand over the keys to your home. If you live in an apartment complex, it might be a good idea to let your landlord know about your pet sitter so they aren't concerned someone is breaking into your place. It is also a good idea to let neighbors know as well to ensure no confusion.

Friends and Family

The cheapest way to have your pets taken care of when you are away is to ask a friend or a family member to stop by your home. Not only are they generally trustworthy, but they are reliable and easy to get a hold of should you have concerns. If you've concerned about your pets' health, you can also have these pet sitters stay at your home until you get back – if needed. Of course, it's never a bad thing to bring home a souvenir or some token of appreciation.

Automatic Feeders and Excess Food

If you're only going to be gone for a few days, you might be tempted to simply leave an automatic feeder on and extra water out. This will work for cats and other small creatures, but dogs need to go outside in order to be healthy, so if you're a dog owner, you need a sitter. Automatic feeders work well to distribute more than enough food to your pets over a certain period of time. Sometimes animals will have troubles deciding when to stop eating, so you might come home to a home that's filled with vomit from an overzealous animal. In the end, it's not only your comfort level when it comes to leaving your pets at home, but also the comfort level of your animals. It's a good idea to leave out the automatic feeders for a few days before you leave for your trip so the animals can grow used to them and you can check for any problems that might come up – and address them before you get on the plane!