San Mateo splits close to evenly between owners and renters, with 19,652 of 39,544 occupied homes rented. Of the city's 42,391 units, 17,166 sit in buildings of five apartments or more, including 6,373 in buildings of 50 or more. An indoor cat in a Downtown San Mateo or Bay Meadows apartment suits drop-in visits once or twice a day. Dogs in houses in San Mateo Park, Baywood or Beresford suit overnight stays, where the sitter is on site. At home, 18,912 residents speak Spanish and 9,657 speak Chinese, so say which language you prefer when you message a sitter. Share your building access details early.
San Mateo, CA
Cat sitting and pet sitters in San Mateo, California
You pay the sitter's own rate with a 0% owner fee, and each completed booking adds cashback to your balance. That helps when winter break runs December 17 through January 4.
0% owner fee + cashback
$59better off on Petme
$420
On Petme$407+$13 Cashback
Typical platforms$466+$46 Owner fee · 11-15%
Petme adds 0% owner fee and pays cashback (capped at $20 a booking). Typical platforms charge between 11% and 15% owner fees. Sitters set their own rates, so totals vary.
San Mateo, CA
Booking a sitter in San Mateo on Petme
0% owner fee
0% owner fee: you pay the sitter's own rate, whether it is one visit in Sunnybrae or a long stay.
Cashback toward your next booking
Cashback lands in your balance after every completed booking, so the Thanksgiving week trip costs less.
ID and background checked
Every sitter is ID-verified and background-checked before taking bookings, including for apartments near Hillsdale.
Photos, videos and reviews
Sitters can share photos and videos on Petme, and owners near Central Park leave reviews you can read before booking.
Verified pet sitters in San Mateo
ID check and background check on every profile. Rates and reviews when you open one.
Sally
Availability confirmed today
Usually replies within a few days
I’ve grown up with dogs, cats, rabbits, and guinea pigs, and animals have always been a big part of my life. As a dog groomer and lifelong animal lover, I love getting to know each pet’s personality a
Belmont
From $30
Margarita
Availability confirmed 6d ago
Usually replies within a few hours
Stanford student for pet care!
Palo Alto
From $20
Celeste
Availability confirmed 13d ago
Usually replies within a few hours
Hi, I'm Celeste! I'm currently a student at San Francisco State University. I've loved animals my entire life and believe every pet deserves kindness, patience, and respect. I provide safe, attentive,
Daly City
From $20
Alice
Availability confirmed 9d ago
Usually replies within a few hours
Treating your pets with all the love and care they deserve!!
Daly City
From $7
Nohemi Gomez
Availability confirmed 5d ago
Usually replies within a few hours
Purfect care for your life long family member
San Leandro
From $25
Kassandra
Availability confirmed 4d ago
Usually replies within a few hours
Your fur babies new favorite auntie! 🐶💚
San Leandro
From $28
Jay
Availability confirmed today
Usually replies within a few days
Feline-Centric Boarding – Free Roaming – Window perches and scratchers in every room with small trees wrapping around the house.
Oakland
From $45
Michelle
Availability confirmed 11d ago
Usually replies within an hour
Lifelong cat lover offering reliable drop-in visits for cats and small-medium dogs in San Francisco.
San Francisco
From $35
Ali s
Availability confirmed 6d ago
Usually replies within a few hours
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Top Rated Sitter
Oakland
From $45
Jake
Availability confirmed today
Usually replies within a few hours
I’ll provide a very calming energy for your dog to feel safe and relaxed while we’re on walkies as well as an infinite amount of tummy rubs, love, and respect!
San Francisco
From $20
Richard
Availability confirmed 6d ago
Usually replies within a few hours
I am somebody who is always on point, eye for detail and directions or instructions.
Sunnyvale
From $15
Julia
Availability confirmed 6d ago
Usually replies within a few hours
Animal whisperer looking for an excuse to hug doggos 💖
Oakland
From $35
Illyria
Availability confirmed 4d ago
Usually replies within a few hours
Lifelong animal lover in Berkeley. Proud frog owner. Safe and reliable care.
Berkeley
From $20
Charlotte Seibt
Availability confirmed 6d ago
Usually replies within a few hours
I value an animal's comfort and try my best to create/maintain a safe environment where their unique personalities can safely explore and express themselves, while I make sure they get their excercise
San Jose
From $15
Typical rates
What sitters in San Mateo usually charge
Sitters set their own rates. These are the usual ranges for the area; Petme adds no owner fee on top.
Drop-in visits
$22 to $36 a visit
Dog walking
$22 to $36 a walk
Apartment cats near Hillsdale and houses in Baywood
A mild climate, winter storms and the school breaks
A San Mateo cat sits through a mild year, so the thermostat stays out of the job. The SFO gauge counts 90-degree afternoons at 4.2 a year, and nights at 32 or colder at 0.2. Winter storms are the variable, with 4.14 inches of rain in December and 3.96 in February, and that is when a visit runs long enough to check the windows. Travel follows the San Mateo-Foster City schools. Thanksgiving break runs November 23 to 27, and winter break December 17 through January 4. Spring break lands March 29 to April 2, and twice-a-day visits stack across all of these.
Leashes, licenses and parks for walkers
Section 8.02.060 requires a dog on public property to be controlled on a leash. Section 8.02.040 puts an annual license on every dog and cat over three months old, and that includes an indoor cat, so keep the tag current before a sitter arrives. Section 8.02.490 makes five or more dogs or cats per dwelling unit a permit matter. A dog walker can use Central Park, Seal Point Park, Beresford Park or the Coyote Point Recreation Area. Ask a sitter about experience with your dog's size and temperament, and share its usual route. Tell them which park is closest to your door.
Pet care services in San Mateo
Pet Boarding
Overnight stays at a sitter's home with personalized care and attention in San Mateo
Dog Walking
Scheduled walks to keep your dog active, happy, and well-exercised in San Mateo
House Sitting
In-home care where a sitter stays at your place with your pet in San Mateo
Drop-in Visits
Quick check-ins for feeding, playtime, and potty breaks in San Mateo
Doggy Daycare
Daytime supervision and socialization while you're at work in San Mateo
Related Petme pages
More for San Mateo pet owners
Nearby
Pet sitters near San Mateo
FAQ
Questions from San Mateo pet owners
How does cat sitting in San Mateo work?
A sitter visits your home once or twice a day to feed, scoop and check on your cat, and you book in the Petme app. Apartments are common here, so send building access and key details before the first visit.
Is a cat sitter better than cat boarding in San Mateo?
A sitter keeps your cat in its own home, so you skip the carrier ride. Boarding moves the cat; Petme sitters come to you, so the food, litter and routine stay where they are.
Can I book house sitting in San Mateo?
You can message sitters in the Petme app to ask whether they stay overnight at your home, which suits dogs, several pets or a home you would rather not leave empty. Agree the routine in the chat first, and share building access or key details early.
Is pet sitting in San Mateo safe?
Every sitter is ID-verified and background-checked before taking bookings, and previous owners post ratings and reviews. Should your pet need a vet mid-booking, the Protection Plan can go toward eligible costs, with $22,000 as the ceiling.
What does a pet sitter in San Mateo cost?
Your cost is the sitter's own rate, with no owner fee added by Petme. After each completed booking, cashback goes into your balance and is used on the next booking. Typical local ranges are shown lower on this page.
Where can a dog walker in San Mateo take my dog?
Walkers can use Central Park, Seal Point Park, Beresford Park or Coyote Point Recreation Area. City code requires a dog on public property to be controlled on a leash, and every dog needs a current city license. Tell your sitter which park is nearest.
Find your San Mateo sitter in the app
0% owner fee, cashback toward your next booking, and every sitter ID and background checked.
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