Pet sitting in Louisiana starts from $18 per visit at the low end, with $25 a typical starting price and $35 at the higher end, as of October 2026. Sitters charge by the visit, so the total for a trip depends less on the price of one visit than on how long each visit is, how many your pet needs a day, and how many days you are gone. Overnight stays are priced separately and cost more.
What people pay
These are the starting prices stated by the pet sitters listed on this site.
| Starting price | Per visit, as of October 2026 |
|---|---|
| Low | from $18 |
| Typical | from $25 |
| High | from $35 |
A starting price is for the sitter's most basic visit, usually the shortest one, for one pet. It is the right number for comparing sitters at a glance and the wrong one for budgeting a week away. For that you need the price of the visit you will actually book, multiplied out.
What moves the price up or down
Length of the visit. This is the main lever. Louisiana sitters sell visits by the clock: a short potty break or a basic 15-minute stop, a standard 30-minute visit, and extended visits of 45 minutes or an hour. A quick stop covers food, water and letting a dog out. A longer one leaves time for a walk, play and company. The longer the visit, the higher the price.
Visits per day. A cat may do well with one visit a day. A dog usually needs several, spaced so it isn't holding on too long. Two or three visits a day is where a low per-visit price adds up, and it is the figure people most often leave out when they compare.
Overnight care. Some sitters stay the night in your home. That is sold as its own service at its own price, well above a daytime visit, because the sitter is giving up an evening and a night. A few offer overnight care by someone with veterinary training for pets that need closer watching; expect that to cost more again.
How many pets, and what kind. The starting price generally covers one pet or one household's usual pets up to a limit. More animals mean more time and often a per-pet charge. Some sitters have a cheaper visit meant for cats and small caged pets, since those visits involve no walk. Birds, reptiles and farm animals take particular knowledge, and only some sitters take them.
Medication and special care. Giving a pill with dinner is often included. Injections such as insulin, or a complicated routine, may carry a charge, and only some sitters do it. Say exactly what is involved when you ask for a price.
Dates and distance. Holidays are the busiest time of a sitter's year, and many charge more for them and book up early. A sitter may also charge more, or decline, if you live at the edge of the area they cover.
What is usually included, and what costs extra
| Usually part of a visit | Often extra, or a separate service |
|---|---|
| Feeding and fresh water | Additional pets beyond the sitter's limit |
| Letting the dog out, or a short walk if time allows | Longer walks or an extended visit |
| Scooping the litter box | Injections or involved medical routines |
| Cleaning up accidents | Holiday dates |
| Bringing in mail, watering a plant or two | Overnight stays |
| A message or photo so you know how it went | Last-minute bookings |
Sitters differ on the small things, so ask. Also ask whether there is a first meeting before the job. Most sitters want one, to meet your pet, learn the routine and collect a key. Some do it free and some charge for it.
How to compare two quotes
Compare the whole trip, not one visit. Work it out the same way for each sitter:
- Decide what your pet needs: how many visits a day, how long each, and for how many days.
- Ask each sitter for the price of that exact visit, with your number of pets.
- Add anything that applies: medication, holiday dates, a meet-and-greet fee.
- Multiply it out and compare the totals.
Then look at what you are getting for the total. Ask each sitter:
- Who will actually come, the person I meet or someone else?
- What happens if you are sick or your car breaks down?
- Will I get an update after every visit?
- Are you bonded and insured? Most sitters listed here state that they are, and it is fair to ask for proof.
- What do you do if my pet seems unwell? A sitter should contact you and your vet, not decide alone.
A sitter who costs a little more per visit but sends the same person every time, has cover for emergencies and tells you what happened is often the better value. If your dog only needs company and a yard break, several short visits may suit it better than one long one for similar money, so ask the sitter what they would suggest for your pet.
Is overnight care worth it?
It depends on the animal. Overnight care suits dogs that are anxious alone, pets on a tight medication schedule, and households where someone in the house overnight is a comfort in itself. Plenty of pets are content with daytime visits. If you are unsure whether your pet can be left through the night, your vet knows its health and is the right person to ask.
Where to compare sitters
Pet sitters are listed side by side, with their visit types and prices, on Pet sitting in Louisiana. Nearly all of them come to your home. You can also look by place: New Orleans, Metairie, Kenner, River Ridge, Mandeville, Baton Rouge, Shreveport and Bossier City.
This is general information, not professional, legal or veterinary advice, and it can be out of date or wrong. Check anything that matters with the business, and ask your vet about your pet’s health. Our terms have the details.