You’d love to take a quick trip, but what about your beloved pet at home…?
When pet owners are away, it’s common to ask family or friends to look after their pets, or to leave them at a pet hotel.
But if your pet is shy and doesn’t do well in new environments, or has an active personality and can’t adjust to life in a cage at a pet hotel, an pet sitter‘s in-home care service might be a great new option.
What is a pet sitter?
A pet sitter (Pet Sitter) is someone who provides pet care services at the owner’s home or the sitter’s own home.
This is already a well-established service in Western countries, where it’s common to find and book available pet sitters nearby through major platforms like Rover and PetBacker.
In Japan, “Fluv, pet sitter SOS, and Orange pet sitters” are popular pet sitter platforms trusted by many pet owners.
Many pet owners highly recommend pet sitter services. Fluv is the most convenient, cost-effective, and trusted pet sitter platform in Japan. Fluv has over 8,000 pet sitters across Asia who have received American-style pet sitter training and passed rigorous screening.
What does a pet sitter do?
• In-home visits
A pet sitter visits the owner’s home to take care of the pet.
Services include: preparing and serving meals, cleaning and tidying the living environment, playtime, and reporting to the owner.
Key features: You can invite the pet sitter to your home beforehand so they can meet your pet and get familiar with the environment. This is an ideal service for cats that don’t like going out or dogs with limited mobility.
No matter which service you use, pet sitters always take photos of your pet and send reports to the owner, so you can check on your pet even while you’re away — giving you peace of mind!
Whether your pet stays at home or at the sitter’s place, they’ll be lovingly and carefully looked after.
Top pet sitters in Shibuya
TOMOE
I currently live with two dogs (a Shiba Inu and a Poodle) and two cats (a Ragdoll and a Munchkin). I love cats and dogs so much that I got my groomer’s license last year. I’m here to support anxious pets who are home alone by understanding their feelings, so you can leave them with me with confidence.
- Reviews: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
- Pricing: 💰 ¥5,000 / 30 min
- Services:
- 🐶 Dog care services
- Health check, walks, meals, water refill, playtime, litter/toilet cleaning
- Meal-only visits are available from 30 minutes
- Visits including walks are available from 60 minutes
- 🐱 Cat care services
- Health check, meals, water refill, playtime, litter box cleaning (refilling, replacing, and cleaning cat litter)
- ✔️ Every step is documented with a photo report (bath time, feeding, mealtime behavior, litter box use, hydration status, etc.)
- ✔️ Care and feeding are done according to your specific requests
- ✔️ For first-time clients, we’ll visit your home before the pet sitting date to confirm service details and arrange key handoff (30 min – 1 hour)
- 🐶 Dog care services
- Service area: Shibuya Ward, Shinjuku Ward, Minato Ward
- Booking link: https://fluv.com/profiles/dzp70Nb0OHcLL67D0cFz57yXVSq1?action=share&openExternalBrowser=1
Marimo
🐶🐱 Certified veterinary nurse — For the past four years, I worked as a veterinary nurse, always thinking about what’s best for both pets and their owners. I’ve also obtained my national certification as a registered veterinary nurse and use that experience to provide tailored care for each pet. I’m great at reading a pet’s feelings and gently helping them relax. From small dogs to large dogs, and cats too — I care for them with sincerity and love, doing my best to give both owners and pets peace of mind. I take the responsibility of caring for your precious family member to heart.
- Reviews: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
- Pricing: 💰 ¥4,000 / 30 min
- Services:
- Standard pet sitting services including walks, meals, playtime, litter/toilet cleaning, etc.
Weekends & holidays: Generally available all day 👌 (please inquire about times)
Weekdays: From 8:00 PM only (varies by area) — daytime visits may also be possible depending on the day, so feel free to ask! - 🐶 Dog care services
- Health check, walks, meals, water refill, playtime, litter/toilet cleaning
- Meal-only visits are available from 30 minutes
- Visits including walks are available from 60 minutes
- 🐱 Cat care services
- Health check, meals, water refill, playtime, litter box cleaning (refilling, replacing, and cleaning cat litter)
- ✔️ Every step is documented with a photo report (bath time, feeding, mealtime behavior, litter box use, hydration status, etc.)
- ✔️ Care and feeding are done according to your specific requests
- ✔️ For first-time clients, we’ll visit your home before the pet sitting date to confirm service details and arrange key handoff (30 min – 1 hour)
- Standard pet sitting services including walks, meals, playtime, litter/toilet cleaning, etc.
- Service area: Minato Ward, Koto Ward, Shibuya Ward, Nakano Ward, Suginami Ward, Toshima Ward, Kita Ward, Arakawa Ward, Itabashi Ward, Nerima Ward
- Booking link: https://fluv.com/profiles/tBTmFrEWuuWBysIwgcjGI9gq9kd2?action=share&openExternalBrowser=1
Which is right for my pet — a pet hotel, a pet sitter, or in-home pet boarding?
How to choose between a pet hotel and a pet sitter for your dog:
| Yes | No | |
| Does your pet get lonely easily? | 24-hour companion pet sitter | Pet hotel |
| Does your pet get along well with other pets? | Pet hotel | One-on-one pet sitter |
| Has your pet been spayed/neutered and vaccinated? | Pet hotel | One-on-one pet sitter |
| Can your pet adapt to new environments? | Pet hotel | In-home pet sitter |
| Has your pet been crate trained? | Pet hotel | In-home pet sitter or cage-free pet hotel |
| Does your pet have a medical history such as heart disease or skin conditions? | One-on-one pet sitter with veterinary assistant experience | Pet hotel |
| Does your pet need special care like medication, eye drops, or subcutaneous injections? | Pet sitter with veterinary assistant experience | Pet hotel |
| Does your pet need to learn socialization and interaction with other pets? | Multi-pet household-friendly pet hotel | Pet sitter |
| Is your pet under 1 year old or over 7 years old? | One-on-one pet sitter specializing in puppies or senior dogs | Puppy-specialized pet hotel or animal hospital |
| Does your pet need 24-hour camera monitoring? | Pet hotel | Pet sitter |
| Does your pet need to sleep with someone? | Pet hotel | Pet sitter |
| Does your pet need walks? | Pet sitter | Pet hotel |
| Does your pet need regular health checks and photo reports? | Pet sitter | Pet hotel |
| Does your pet need insurance coverage? | Book through a pet sitter platform | Pet hotel |
| Are you on a limited budget? | Pet sitter | Pet hotel |
How to choose between a pet hotel, cat-only hotel, and pet sitter for your cat:
| Yes | No | |
| Does your pet feel anxious when going out? | In-home pet sitter | Pet hotel |
| Does your pet get along well with other pets? | Pet hotel | Pet sitter |
| Has your pet been spayed/neutered and vaccinated? | Pet hotel | One-on-one pet sitter |
| Can your pet handle going out and changes in environment? (Without losing appetite or getting sick) | Pet hotel | In-home pet sitter |
| Does your pet have a medical history such as heart disease, skin conditions, or kidney disease? | One-on-one pet sitter with veterinary assistant experience | Pet hotel |
| Does your pet need special care? (Medication, eye drops, subcutaneous injections, etc.) | Pet sitter with veterinary assistant experience | Pet hotel |
| Does your pet need to learn socialization and interaction with other pets? | Multi-pet household-friendly pet hotel | Pet sitter |
| Is your pet under 1 year old or over 7 years old? | One-on-one pet sitter specializing in kittens or senior cats | Kitten-specialized pet hotel or animal hospital |
| Do you need 24-hour camera monitoring? | Pet hotel | Pet sitter |
| Do you need regular health checks and photo reports? | Pet sitter | Pet hotel |
| Does your pet need insurance coverage? | Book through a pet sitter platform | Pet hotel |
| Are you on a limited budget? | Pet sitter | Pet hotel |
| Do you have a security camera at home? | In-home pet sitter | Pet sitter or pet hotel |
| Does your pet eat raw food, fresh food, or canned food? | Pet sitter or pet hotel | Pet sitter or pet hotel |
| Do you have an automatic feeder? | In-home pet sitter for regular dry food refills | Pet hotel |
| Do you have multiple pets? | In-home pet sitter | Pet hotel |
| Do you have privacy concerns at home? | Pet hotel | An in-home pet sitter is better suited to cats’ natural habits |
Pricing information
| Service duration | Price per visit | Additional fees | |
| In-home pet sitter | 30 min | ¥4,000 – ¥6,500 | Price doubles for 5 or more pets |
| Home-style pet boarding | 8 hours or more | ¥3,000 – ¥6,000 | Additional fee of ¥500 – ¥4,500 depending on weight |
Frequently asked questions about pet sitters
1. How does the sitter get into my home when I’m away?
Through a pre-visit, the sitter comes to your home ahead of time to meet your pet for the first time and check the layout of the care environment, food bowls, litter box, and cleaning supplies. They’ll also get to know your pet’s personality. During this visit, you can discuss key handoff arrangements with the sitter. Typically, owners hand over the key through their apartment building’s front desk.
2. How are pet sitters screened? Is it safe to trust a stranger?
Fluv’s pet sitters are animal lovers with pet care or volunteer experience who undergo identity verification and training before being registered as pet sitters. Owners can check sitter ratings and reviews through Fluv’s review system, making it easy to choose a sitter you can trust.
3. My pet is very shy around strangers — is it okay to use a pet sitter?
If your pet is shy and takes time to warm up, a pre-visit allows your pet and the sitter to meet for the first time and build trust. If you’re still concerned, you and the sitter can discuss together whether this type of care is right for your pet.
If your pet is aggressive, a pet sitter service may not be suitable. This isn’t just to protect the sitter — it’s also to prevent your pet from becoming overly stressed and causing an accident.
4. My pet needs medication or wound care — can a pet sitter help with that?
If you have special needs, you can book a pet sitter with medical care skills. When making your booking, you can communicate with the sitter in advance to share the details of any medical care required.
Pet sitter in-home care video
🐾 Protecting the bond between you and your cat
Cats can’t speak for themselves, so the care you choose as their owner is everything.
That’s why your precious family deserves a trusted cat sitter.
Limited time only! Enter code ‘#FLUV3000’ when booking for ¥3,000 off ✨
Or get your first home visit (pre-meeting) for free!
Don’t miss this chance!
With the Fluv app, you can make a choice that brings peace of mind and love to both you and your cat.
📲 Download now and find the perfect sitter for your cat!
🔗 Download the official Fluv app (¥3,000 off campaign)
Check out Fluv’s official social media!
On our social media channels, we share adorable sitter diaries 🐶🐱, the latest campaign info, and helpful pet care tips! Follow us to stay up to date ♪
Instagram 🐾 Daily posts featuring Fluv updates and cute sitter reports!
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