Prefer not to board at a facility?

Why some owners skip the boarding shop

A licensed pet hotel is the regulated option in Singapore, and it is the right fit for many trips. Some animals still find a busy facility stressful. Others — especially cats, seniors, or pets on medication — settle better in a home. Short trips, first-time separations and a preference for one carer rather than a roster of staff are common reasons owners look elsewhere.

If you do want a facility, start with PetBuddy’s directory of AVS-licensed boarding. Confirm a booking directly with the business before you travel. The rest of this article is for the other case: you would rather try a home sitter.

Home-sitting platforms

Two platforms many Singapore owners already know are Pawshake and PetBacker. They connect you with people who offer boarding in their own home, house sitting in yours, drop-in visits or walks. Profiles usually show photos, services, prices and reviews from previous bookings.

These hosts are not AVS-licensed boarding facilities. A platform can help with messaging, payments and reviews, but it does not turn a private home into a licensed pet hotel. Friends’ experience is that a well-reviewed sitter, after a meet-and-greet, can be a good alternative — especially for a pet that prefers a quieter setting. Treat that as a personal recommendation, not a guarantee.

Facebook pet sitting and boarding groups

Another option is a Facebook group for pet sitting or boarding in Singapore. These groups are common, often more neighbourly, and sometimes cheaper than a shop or an app. Search Facebook for local pet-sitting or boarding groups, then read recent posts rather than pinning your hopes on a single listing.

We do not name a specific group here: membership, rules and quality change, and PetBuddy does not endorse any one community. Every arrangement is a private booking. Groups usually have fewer safeguards than Pawshake or PetBacker — no in-app payment trail, no standardised review history, and little recourse if something goes wrong. Extra caution is worth it.

Check before you book

Whether you found someone on an app or in a Facebook group, go for a visit or a short trial before a long stay. Look for recent, specific reviews — not only star ratings — and ask questions until you can picture the day.

• Meet in person (or do a video call if you are already away) and watch how your pet responds.
• Ask who else lives in the home, how many animals will be there, and whether the pet will be crated, free-roam or walked.
• Share feeding, medication, and emergency-vet details in writing, including a clinic you trust.
• Agree a backup if the sitter falls ill, and how you will get updates.
• On Facebook especially, ask for recent references, avoid large cash deposits to strangers, and do a short trial night first.

If anything feels unclear after the visit, keep looking. A good sitter will not rush you. If your pet has complex medical needs, a licensed facility or a vet-linked boarder is often the safer plan.

Sources

• Pawshake Singapore
• PetBacker Singapore
• AVS public registry of licensed pet boarding facilities