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Honest comparison

Pet sitter or kennel in Ireland?
What is actually better for your pet.

A boarding kennel suits some dogs and some short stays. For most Irish pets, an in-home sitter is calmer, keeps your pet’s routine, and covers the whole household in one booking, with 0% owner fee and €20,000 vet protection included.

Find a pet sitterHome comfort. Cashback included. €20,000 vet protection.
€20-€35
typical kennel rate per dog, per night
€20,000
vet expenses covered per Petme booking
1 booking
covers your whole household on Petme
4.9 / 5
average Petme sitter rating
Side by side

Boarding kennel vs a Petme sitter

Both keep your pet safe while you are away. The difference is comfort, attention, and how your pet actually experiences the stay.

Boarding kennel or cattery
Where your pet stays
Shared commercial facility
Attention
Split across many animals
Routine kept
Facility schedule
Daily photo updates
Rarely
Multiple pets
Charged per animal
Vet protection
Varies by facility
In-home care
Where your pet stays
A real home
Attention
One-to-one
Routine kept
Your pet's own routine
Daily photo updates
Yes, from your sitter
Multiple pets
One booking covers all
Vet protection
€20,000 included
When each option fits

There is no single right answer

Pick the option that matches your pet's temperament and your dates.

A sitter is usually better when

Your pet is anxious, elderly, on medication, or strongly routine-bound. You have more than one pet. Your cat would find a cattery stressful. You want daily photo updates and your pet to stay in its own home.

A kennel can make sense when

Your dog is highly sociable and enjoys group play, the stay is short, you prefer a licensed commercial facility with fixed opening hours, or no suitable sitter is free for your dates.

Included either way on Petme

€20,000 vet protection on every booking

Kennel cover varies by facility. On Petme, every confirmed booking includes vet protection up to €20,000 for accidents or illness during the stay, at no extra cost, valid at any registered Irish vet.

Learn about the Petme Protection Plan
Available cities

In-home pet sitters across Ireland

Verified sitters in your city, with real reviews, cashback, and €20,000 vet protection.

DublinCorkLimerickGalwayWaterfordDroghedaDundalkSwordsBrayNavanKilkennyAthloneCarlowEnnisTralee
Common questions

Pet sitter vs kennel: your questions

Is a pet sitter better than a kennel in Ireland?
For most pets, an in-home sitter is less stressful than a kennel because your pet keeps its own bed, routine, and surroundings, with one-to-one attention rather than a shared facility. A kennel can suit a very sociable dog or a short stay, but a sitter usually wins on comfort and on covering multiple pets in one booking.
Is it cheaper to use a pet sitter or boarding kennels?
It depends on stay length and number of pets. Irish boarding kennels typically charge €20-€35 per dog per day, similar to a sitter's nightly boarding rate. A sitter often works out cheaper for households with two or more pets, since one booking can cover them all instead of paying per animal.
How much do kennels cost in Ireland?
Boarding kennels in Ireland generally run €20-€35 per dog per night for standard care, rising to €35-€50 for premium or luxury facilities. Catteries sit in a similar band. Prices climb around Christmas and the summer holidays, when spaces book out weeks ahead.
Will my dog be less stressed with a sitter?
Usually yes. A sitter keeps your dog in a home environment with familiar smells, normal walk times, and human company, which avoids the kennel-cough risk and noise stress of a large boarding facility. Anxious, elderly, or routine-dependent dogs in particular tend to settle better with a sitter.
What about cats: sitter or cattery?
Cats are territorial and often cope poorly with a cattery, so a drop-in cat sitter who visits your home for feeding, litter, and play is usually the calmer choice. Your cat stays on its own turf, and you get daily photo updates instead of collecting a stressed cat after a stay away.
When does a kennel make more sense?
A kennel can be the right call for a highly sociable dog that enjoys group play, for owners who want a licensed commercial facility with fixed opening hours, or when no suitable sitter is available for the dates. For everything else, an in-home sitter typically offers more comfort and flexibility.
Does Petme include vet protection like a kennel does?
Yes. Every Petme booking includes vet protection up to €20,000 for accidents or illness during the stay, at no extra cost, valid at any registered Irish vet. You do not need separate insurance to use a Petme sitter. Learn about the Petme Protection Plan
Can a sitter give medication or care for a senior pet?
Many Petme sitters are comfortable giving medication and caring for senior or special-needs pets, but it varies by sitter. Message sitters in chat, explain exactly what your pet needs, and set up a free meet and greet before you book so you can confirm they are the right fit.
How do I find a trusted pet sitter near me in Ireland?
Open your city page on Petme to browse verified sitters near you with real reviews, message as many as you like, and arrange a meet and greet. Every sitter is identity-checked, and you only book once you are confident. Find pet sitters in your Irish city

Give your pet a calmer stay at home

No surcharge. No fee. Cashback on every booking and €20,000 vet protection included.

Find a pet sitter