Sorting out pet care while on vacation is one of the most stressful parts of planning a trip. You want your pet happy, safe and cared for, without cutting your holiday short with worry. The good news is that with the right care option and a little preparation, you can travel with confidence.
This guide walks you through your choices, the UK rules to follow, how to get your pet ready, and how eufy indoor cameras let you check in from anywhere.
Key Takeaways
- Never leave a dog home alone for a holiday. UK welfare bodies generally advise that dogs should not routinely be left alone for more than four hours.
- Choose a care option that suits your pet: an in-home sitter, a licensed boarder, or trusted family.
- Check that any kennel, cattery or home boarder holds a local council licence.
- Prepare food, medication, clear instructions and your vet's details before you go.
- Use an indoor camera to check in on your pet and speak to them while you are away.
Can I Leave My Dog at Home While on Holiday?
No. You should not leave a dog at home while on holiday without proper care, as doing so may breach your legal duty to meet its welfare needs. Under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 you have a legal duty to meet your dog's needs, and welfare bodies such as the RSPCA and PDSA advise that no dog should be left alone for more than about four hours as a routine.
A dog left alone overnight, or for days, can become distressed, and failing to meet its needs for that long may amount to neglect. For a holiday, that means arranging regular, reliable care so your dog is not left alone for extended periods. For more on daily limits, see our guide on how long can a dog stay home alone.
Best Pet Care Options While You're Away
There are three main ways to take care of pets while on vacation. Each suits a different pet and budget.
In-Home Pet Sitter
A pet sitter cares for your pet in your own home, either staying over or making regular visits throughout the day. Your pet keeps its routine and familiar surroundings, which suits nervous or older animals. It also makes your home look occupied, while security cameras can provide extra visibility while you are away. Agree visit times, feeding, walks and updates in advance.
Boarding Kennel or Cattery
A boarding kennel or cattery looks after your pet at a dedicated, staffed facility. It suits sociable, healthy pets and provides structured care in a staffed facility. Always check the licence and star rating, ask about vaccination requirements, and visit first to see the space and meet the staff.
Friends or Family
A trusted friend or family member can be the most reassuring option, as your pet already knows them. It is often the most affordable choice too. Make sure they understand the routine, can commit to the whole trip, and know what to do in an emergency. Leave everything written down so nothing is guessed.
How to Choose the Right Care Option
The best choice depends on your pet, not just your budget. Weigh up these three things.
Your Pet's Age and Health
Puppies, kittens, elderly pets and those with medical needs may require closer supervision and easy access to a vet. Depending on the individual pet, a live-in sitter or a stay with someone familiar may be more suitable than boarding.
Temperament and Separation Stress
A confident, sociable pet may enjoy the company of a boarding facility, while an anxious one is likely to cope far better at home with a sitter. Think about how your pet reacts to strangers, other animals and changes in routine.
Length of Your Holiday
For a night or two, regular visits from a sitter or trusted neighbour may be enough, provided your pet is not left alone for unsuitable periods. For a week or more, a live-in sitter, a licensed boarder or a stay with family gives the steady daily care your pet needs. Match the level of care to how long you will be away.
Pet Care Rules and Checks in England
Several welfare and licensing rules protect your pet while you are away. Under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, you and anyone caring for your pet must meet its five welfare needs: a suitable environment, a suitable diet, the ability to behave normally, appropriate company, and protection from pain, suffering, injury and disease.
In England, commercial boarding kennels, catteries, home boarders and dog day care providers generally need a local authority licence under the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018. Licensed businesses are given a star rating from one to five, so always ask to see the licence and rating.
Make sure your pet's microchip details are up to date. Microchipping is compulsory for dogs across the UK and, since 10 June 2024, for cats in England.
Prepare Your Pet Before You Travel
A little preparation makes the handover smooth and keeps your pet's routine steady.
Keep Food and Medication Ready
Leave enough of your pet's usual food so their diet does not change, along with clear feeding amounts and times. Set out any medication in labelled doses with written instructions, and note where spares are kept in case your trip runs long.
Leave Clear Care Instructions
Write down the daily routine: feeding, walks, play, sleep and any quirks or commands your pet knows. The more detail you leave, the more confident your sitter or boarder will be, and the more settled your pet will stay.
Share Vet and Emergency Details
Leave your vet's name, address and phone number, your pet's medical history, and a second emergency contact. Tell your vet that a carer may bring your pet in, and confirm how any treatment would be paid for while you are away.
Monitor Your Pet While on Holiday
Even with the right carer in place, most owners still want to see for themselves that their pet is settled. Pet cameras let you look in on your pet, watch for signs of stress and even talk to them from anywhere, turning a quiet moment on holiday into reassurance rather than worry.
eufy indoor cameras offer local storage options without a required monthly fee, while some models also support optional cloud or NAS storage. Two indoor models suit pet monitoring particularly well.
|
Model |
Best for |
Resolution |
Coverage |
AI Detection |
Storage |
|
Indoor Cam C220 |
Everyday room monitoring on a budget |
2K |
360° coverage with pan and tilt |
Motion and human detection |
microSD up to 128GB, no monthly fee |
|
Indoor Cam E220 |
Following your pet around the room |
2K |
Pan 355°, tilt 96° |
Human and pet detection |
Local, cloud or NAS; local storage requires no monthly fee |
Indoor Cam C220 for Everyday Monitoring
The Indoor Cam C220 is a simple, affordable way to keep watch over a whole room and check in on your pet during the day. Its pan-and-tilt design provides 360° room coverage, so a single camera in the living room or kitchen is usually enough to keep your pet in view wherever they settle.
Who it's for: pet owners who want an easy, low-cost way to see their pet live and watch the whole room.
Key features:
- 2K video with pan and tilt for 360° room coverage.
- On-device human detection with AI tracking, keeping the focus on real activity rather than every shadow.
- Clear night vision for checking in on your pet after dark.
- 24/7 recording, so you can review activity throughout the day.
- A privacy mode that physically turns the lens away when you are home.
- Local microSD storage up to 128GB, with no monthly fee.
Indoor Cam E220 for 360° Pet Tracking
The Indoor Cam E220 goes a step further with automatic motion tracking as your pet moves around the room, helping keep an energetic dog or restless cat in view. If your pet rarely stays in one spot, its auto-tracking follows detected movement automatically.
Who it's for: owners who want the camera to track their pet's movement and alert them to activity.
Key features:
- 2K video with a lens that pans 355° and tilts 96° for near-complete room coverage.
- On-device AI that detects people, pets and crying, then auto-tracks the movement it finds.
- Night vision for clear monitoring once the lights go out.
- Two-way audio, so you can talk to your pet and hear them back.
- Customisable activity zones that focus alerts on the spots that matter.
- Flexible local, cloud or NAS storage, with no required monthly fee for local storage.
When Visiting Care May Not Be Enough
Sometimes home is not the right place, even with a sitter. Consider a licensed boarder, a stay with family, or vet boarding rather than leaving your dog while on holiday at home if:
- Your pet is very young, elderly or unwell, and needs close supervision or medical care.
- Your pet has severe separation anxiety and struggles to cope alone between sitter visits.
- You cannot arrange reliable daily care for the whole trip.
- Your pet needs regular medication that a visiting sitter cannot realistically manage.
Conclusion
Good pet care while on vacation comes down to choosing the right carer, following the UK welfare rules, and preparing your pet before you go. Match the care to your pet's age, health and temperament, leave clear written instructions, and keep an eye on things with an indoor camera, so you can travel knowing your pet is safe and settled.
FAQ
Do Dogs Get Upset When You Leave Them for Vacation?
Many do. Dogs are social animals, and a sudden change in routine or a long absence can cause stress, sometimes shown as barking, pacing or destructive behaviour. The key is keeping their routine as normal as possible, ideally in their own home with a familiar sitter, or with a trusted boarder. Leave their bed, toys and your scent, and make sure someone gives them company, exercise and affection every day. A calm, well-planned handover makes a big difference.
Will My Dog Be OK if I Go Away for 2 Weeks?
Yes, provided suitable care is arranged. Many dogs can be well cared for during a two-week trip by a trusted sitter, licensed boarder or family member who keeps their routine, exercise and diet consistent. What matters most is consistent, suitable care and ensuring your dog is not left alone long enough to become distressed. Share detailed instructions, your vet's details and emergency contacts, and check in through a pet camera if it helps put your mind at rest.
Who Can Look After My Dog While I Am on Holiday?
You have several options: a live-in or visiting pet sitter who cares for your dog in your own home, a licensed boarding kennel, a licensed home boarder who takes your dog into theirs, or trusted friends and family.
Licensed dog day care can provide daytime care where appropriate, but you will still need to arrange overnight care. In England, make sure commercial boarders and kennels hold the required local authority licence, and that the person can meet your dog's daily needs for food, exercise, toileting and company.
