Pet Sitting Insurance
Pet sitting insurance is liability protection for the pets you love and the business you’re building.
$26.10/ month
Insurance that cares for pets as much as you do.
- Includes Pet Protection Coverage for pets in your care
- Built-in vet reimbursement and lost key coverage
- Flexible protection that grows with your business
- Proof of insurance in minutes
Backed by
Pet Sitting Business Insurance Made for You
Pet sitting insurance is business insurance tailored to protect your furry clients and your finances against a pet sitter’s biggest risks:
Property Damage and Harm to Others
Pet sitting insurance offers $2M general liability coverage in case of pricey claims and lawsuits.
Pet Accidents and Injuries
Pet Protection Coverage (Animal Bailee) shields you and pets in your care, custody, or control.
Emergency Vet Care
Veterinarian Reimbursement refunds you so you can get pets the help they need right now.
Lost Keys
Lost Key Liability Coverage handles rekeying costs when you’re locked out of a client’s home.
Get the no-fear coverage you need to treat animals like family and show pet parents you’re a sitter they can trust.
Buy Online in 10 Minutes or Less
Instant Proof of Insurance
Employee Dishonesty Coverage
(Similar to Bonding)
Friendly, Certified Customer Service
Let Us Take Care of That
When animals get sick or injured under your care, support matters. We have your back so you can make pet safety the top priority. Here’s how we’ve helped sitters like you:
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Insurance for Pet Sitters Explained
What is Pet Sitting Insurance?
Pet sitting insurance is financial protection from accidents, injuries, and damages that happen while you’re caring for a client’s pet. Pet sitter insurance from PCI includes the right coverages to keep pets safe and protect your business.
General Liability Insurance: Covers bodily injury and property damage to others, harm caused by your products and services, advertising mistakes, damage to spaces you rent, and others’ medical expenses
“While I was playing with Rambo the husky in my client’s living room, he left a deep scratch on their hardwood flooring. They expect me to pay for a $5,000 replacement.”
“My client’s cat, Spooky, snuck around me as I let out their dogs during a drop-in visit. I searched the neighborhood but couldn’t find him.”
Veterinarian Reimbursement: Repayment for vet bills when an animal in your care needs emergency treatment
“Cooper and Luna fought during feeding time, leaving Cooper with a limp and Luna with a deep cut on her ear. I took them both to the vet right away.”
Lost Key Liability Coverage: Reimbursement for rekeying a client’s home if you lose the keys
“The client’s storm door blew shut and locked behind me as I let Daisy out for a bathroom break. I had to call a locksmith to get back into the house.”
See our coverage details page for more about each coverage and your limits.
Who Needs Pet Sitting Insurance?
Pet sitter insurance is for you if you take care of someone else’s animals in a location you don’t own. We recommend it if you pet sit, house sit, do drop-in visits, or offer overnight pet care. Coverage gives you peace of mind that you’re protected against pricey claims when you’re starting a pet sitting business.
Consider liability insurance for pet sitters if you’re a:
- Solo pet sitter (full-time, part-time, or occasional)
- App-based sitter (for example, Wag, Meowtel, and Rover pet sitters)
- Independent pet sitting business
- Pet sitting agency and franchise
- House and pet sitter
What Does Pet Sitting Insurance Cover (and What Doesn’t It Cover?)
Pet sitting insurance is specifically designed to cover the risks of caring for pets and running a business. It protects you from paying for pet injuries, hospital bills, repair costs, and lawsuits out of pocket, but it can’t cover everything.
| What pet sitting insurance can cover | What it doesn’t cover |
|---|---|
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Reimbursing vet bills if a client’s pet needs emergency care |
Pet sitting for more than five pets at once, or for more than 30 days in a row |
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Pets who get lost, injured, sick, or even die while in your care |
Businesses making more than 25% of their annual revenue from house sitting without a pet present |
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Damage to a client’s property |
Individual dogs with a “dangerous dog” designation from local authorities or a history of aggression |
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Physical injuries to clients or bystanders, like dog bites |
Pets that aren’t common companion animals or are kept for commercial or breeding purposes |
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Legal defense and lawsuit costs if you get sued |
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Overnight care and basic grooming (like bathing and brushing) |
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Rekeying costs if you lose a key or get locked out |
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*Note: These situations are intended as examples and are not a guarantee of coverage or an exhaustive list of all covered liabilities or exclusions.
Questions about a specific pet or service? Check out our exclusions page for more details, or talk to one of our licensed, U.S.-based support agents.
How Does Pet Sitter Insurance Protect Me if a Pet Gets Hurt?
PCI is the best pet sitter insurance to have when you’re in the worst situation — an animal getting hurt on your watch. We know you care for clients’ pets like family, but accidents can happen to anyone with unpredictable animals in the mix. Pet sitter business insurance protects you from two key angles:
- Pet Protection covers lawsuits and claims against you if an animal is hurt or dies while in your care.
- Veterinarian Reimbursement pays you back for emergency vet bills if an animal is hurt while you’re on the job and needs immediate medical care.
How Much Does Pet Sitter Insurance Cost?
Insurance for pet sitters starts at $26.10/month or $292.20/year with PCI. Your final price depends on:
- Your business size: The more you grow, the more you have to protect. Your insurance needs to reflect that to protect your investment.
- Your claims history: If you’ve filed pet care claims in the past, your cost may be higher.
- Which add-ons you choose: Your policy comes with the core protection every pet sitter would need, but we also offer optional coverages you can add (or not) to fit your business and budget.
Many solo pet sitters start with our base policy and add coverage as they add services or staff. You can customize your policy with these optional coverages:
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| Add-On | What It Covers | Starting Price | Who Needs It |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Broadened Property Damage (popular!) |
Expands coverage for damage to stuff in a client’s house (furniture, decor) |
$2.42/month |
Sitters working inside clients’ homes |
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Covers employee injuries on the job |
Free custom quote |
Business owners with staff |
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Additional Pet Protection |
Increases limits for pets in your care |
Three options from $1.99/month |
High-volume sitters or multi-pet households |
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Additional Vet Reimbursement |
Raises emergency vet reimbursement limits |
$3.99/month |
Sitters caring for higher-risk pets (like senior and special needs animals) |
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Covers business equipment and supplies |
Three options from $4.08/month |
Sitters with crates, work phones, or transport gear |
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Covers theft by employees; aka the bond in “bonded pet sitter” |
$4.92/month |
Businesses with staff |
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Adds a landlord, client, or facility to your COI |
$0.83/month |
Sitters asked to add it by a contract, venue, or partner |
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Covers data breaches and cyber incidents |
Two options from $6.58/month |
Sitters booking or storing client info online |
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Covers vehicles used for your pet business |
Free custom quote |
Sitters transporting pets |
Start an application to customize your coverage in minutes and see your total price before you buy.
Coverage Details for Pet Sitting Insurance
Click on the info icons to learn more about each coverage in your liability insurance for pet sitters.
Limits of Insurance
General Liability Coverage
The most your policy will pay in a 12 month policy period for bodily injury and property damage claims that you become legally obligated to pay due to your business services.
Limit per Incident: $1,000,000
Limit per Year: $2,000,000
Animal Liability Limit
The most your policy will pay in a year for bodily injuries and property damage to others because of an animal in your care
Limit per Incident: $100,000
Limit per Year: $200,000
Products-Completed Operations Aggregate Limit
The maximum amount your policy will pay in a 12-month period for bodily injury and property damage claims that result from the products you use to perform your services.
Personal and Advertising Injury Limit
The amount that your policy will pay for claims arising out of one or more of the following offenses:
- False arrest, detention or imprisonment
- Malicious prosecution
- Wrongful eviction or wrongful entry
- Oral or written publications that slander or libel a person or organization
- Oral or written publication or material that violates a person’s right of privacy
- The use of another’s advertising idea in your advertisement
Each Occurrence Limit
The maximum your policy will pay for a bodily injury or property damage claim that you become legally obligated to pay due to your business services.
$1,000,000
Damage to Premises Rented to You Limit
Applies to damage by fire to premises rented to the insured; also applies to damage regardless of cause to premises (including contents) occupied by the insured for 7 days or less.
Any One Premises: $100,000
Medical Expense Limit
A general liability coverage that reimburses others, without regard to the insured’s liability, for medical or funeral expenses incurred by such persons as a result of bodily injury or death sustained by accident under the conditions specified in the policy.
Any One Person: $5,000
Pet Protection (Animal Bailee) – Animals in Your Care, Custody, or Control
This provides your pet business with coverage in the event that you are legally liable for injuries or damages sustained by an animal in your care, custody, or control.
Limit per Incident: $2,500
Limit per Year: $5,000
Veterinarian Expense Reimbursement (Regardless of Fault)
This provides coverage for medical expenses—regardless of who is at fault—for a client’s pet in your care, custody, or control.
Limit per Incident: $1,000
Limit per Year: $2,500
Deductible: $250
Lost Key Liability Coverage
If you were to lose the keys to a client’s residence, this coverage could help you manage the cost of installing new locks or having the building rekeyed.
Limit per Year: $2,000
Please note these are brief definitions of coverage. Your policy may be more restrictive in its language. Refer to the actual policy for a complete description of coverages and exclusions.
Why the Best Insurance for Pet Sitters Comes from PCI
Business insurance companies that don’t specialize in pet care often skip coverages essential for sitters. PCI covers the risks that gnaw at your peace of mind to get you back to loving your job.
These are real scenarios pet sitters face and coverages we include in every pet sitter insurance policy to keep you protected:
You can get our affordable insurance for pet sitting risks online and update it anytime. With support from our top-rated carrier and friendly, licensed customer service agents, PCI gives you confidence from cart to claim.
Hear From Our Favorite Humans
Pet Sitting Business Insurance FAQs.
Does Rover Cover Me for Pet Sitting?
No, Rover doesn’t offer insurance to their contractors. Buying your own pet sitter business insurance keeps you and the pets you care for safe when the unpredictable happens. Check out our Insurance for Rover Pet Sitters to explore the differences between the Rover Guarantee and pet sitters insurance.
Do I Need Insurance to Be a Pet Sitter?
Yes! Insurance for pet sitters is essential to get pets the care they need and to shield your business from bills and claims if an accident happens. Some clients and employers require you to carry dog sitter insurance or cat sitter insurance to watch animals, so getting insured can open up new opportunities.
Should a Pet Sitter Be Bonded and Insured?
You may see “bonded insured pet sitter” in the requirements for pet sitting jobs. Dishonesty bonding aims to give clients peace of mind and protect pet businesses. If your employee steals from a client, a bond is designed to pay the client back. We offer a similar protection called employee dishonesty coverage that’s more affordable with less strings attached for you.
What If Something Gets Damaged While I’m Pet Sitting at My Client’s House?
The general liability coverage in your pet sitter insurance could pay for repairs if part of the client’s home (like the walls or fixtures) gets damaged. To cover damaged belongings (for example, a cat rips their owner’s couch or you accidentally stain their antique rug), we suggest adding Broadened Property Damage to your policy now and thanking yourself later.
Is My Family Covered If They Pet Sit for Me?
Your PCI pet sitter insurance could protect family members who help you with pet sitting gigs – if they meet some conditions. The policy will cover your spouse and kids under 18 years old, as long as they are carrying out pet business operations. Check out our main FAQ page to learn more.
Are There Limits to the Number of Pets or the Number of Days Covered?
Pet sitter insurance from PCI will cover you while you sit for up to five pets at a time for no longer than 30 days in a row (including overnight stays).
If you need to cover six or more pets at once, or pet sit the same animals over 30 consecutive days, we don’t leave you in the cold. PCI partners with CNA, an A-rated carrier, for pet sitters who need expanded coverage. Get a quote from CNA or call PCI at 888.568.0548 for help finding your perfect policy.
Does This Cover Dog Bites and Injuries to Other People?
Yes, Pet Sitting Insurance covers physical injuries, like dog bites, to other people. If you take your client’s dog on a walk and the dog bites a neighbor, the General Liability Insurance in your pet sitting policy could cover costs like hospital bills, attorney fees, and court costs.
This coverage is designed for other people, not you or your employees. You could cover your employees with Workers Compensation or your own injuries with personal health insurance. We also can’t cover bites by dogs with a “dangerous dog” designation from authorities or a history of biting. Make sure you always get a bite history to keep yourself, pets, and others safe.
Does Pet Sitting Insurance Cover House Sitting?
Yes, Pet Sitting Insurance also covers house sitting, as long as sitting without a pet present doesn’t make up more than 25% of your annual income.
If you’re more of a house sitter who also looks after pets, consider House Sitting Insurance. Matching your coverage to your focus helps clients see how you’re protected (especially if you advertise on house sitting apps).
How Fast Can I Get a COI or Add Additional Insureds?
It takes 10 minutes or less to apply for Pet Sitting Insurance and get your Certificate of Insurance (COI). If you already have a PCI policy, you can access your COI and add additional insureds 24/7 through your online dashboard. Just go to the Download Documents section and choose Proof of Insurance.
How Do I Get Pet Sitter Business Insurance?
Applying for pet sitting insurance online is quick and easy:
- Go to our online application.
- Choose the coverages that you want.
- Tell us a little about your business.
- Get your instant quote.
- Enter your payment info.
And voila, you’re covered and back to chin scratches and tummy rubs in minutes.
Important note: Vet Reimbursement and Pet Protection have a seven-day waiting period before they’re active, so it’s crucial to get covered now for peace of mind later.
See Who Else We Cover
Expanding your service menu? We also cover these pet pros and more:
