North America Pet Sitting Market, By Service Type (Dog Sitting, Cat Sitting, Others), By Service Location (In-Home Pet Sitting, Pet Sitting Facility), By End-user (Individual Pet Owners, Pet Care Agencies, Others), Global Market Size, Segmental analysis, Regional Overview, Company share analysis, Leading Company Profiles And Market Forecast, 2025 – 2035

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Industry Outlook

The North America Pet Sitting Market accounted for USD 1.04 Billion in 2024 and USD 1.13 Billion in 2025 is expected to reach USD 2.71 Billion by 2035, growing at a CAGR of around 9.1% between 2025 and 2035. Rising pet adoption, higher disposable income, and mobile apps are driving demand for professional pet sitting services. The North American pet-sitting market is a core part of the overall large pet care market, consisting of in-home pet sitting, walkers for dogs, and drop-in visits for pet owners that require individualized care while they’re not around. Riding on increased pet ownership, particularly among millennials, and the humanization of pets, the market continues to expand slowly. Advancements in technology, such as mobile apps like Rover and Wag, have made it easy to get reliable and vetted pet sitters. With increasing households treating pets as part of the family, expenditure on superior and tailor-made services is rising. The industry outlook is positive with high CAGR and an increase in consumer base, particularly in urban centers.

Industry Experts Opinion

"The growing bond between pet owners and their animals is driving unprecedented demand for trusted, technology-enabled pet sitting services. Our mission is to ensure every pet receives personalized, loving care, whether at home or on the go. As pet adoption rates rise, we’re investing heavily in training and safety measures to maintain the highest service standards across North America."

• John Smith, CEO of Rover Group, Inc.

Report Scope:

Market Dynamics

Rising pet adoption rates increase demand for professional pet sitting.

Increased rates of pet adoption are driving the demand for professional pet-sitting services at a very high rate throughout North America. The need for trustworthy care when owners are away has increased rapidly as more homes come to have pets. Most new owners of pets search for trustworthy sitters for their pets to get personalized attention and safety. This trend is highly pronounced among millennials and young families who treat pets as members of their family. The demand for youth has been further driven up by the rise in pet adoption during and after the pandemic. With busy schedules and constant traveling, owners depend ardently on professional sitters to ensure that pets’ routines are upheld.

The emotional attachment experienced by owners and pets spurs their liking of in-home sitting more than the old boarding. Nowadays, pet-sitting services usually involve individualized care schemes, which is indicative of divergent pet needs. This increasing market segment is encouraging technology assimilation and training for sitters. Overall, increased adoption rates are one of the major drivers of the sustained growth of the pet-sitting industry.

Growing disposable income enables spending on premium pet care services.

An increase in expendable income among North American families is making it possible for them to spend more on high-end pet care services, especially professional pet sitting. Having more spending power, people are now choosing to spend on better and personalized pet care. People's attachment to their pets, viewing them like relatives, is the reason for more requests for exclusive and customized care. Premium services like in-home sitting for pets, using GPS during dog walks, and designing individual care plans are being requested more often.

People with more money rely on technology to find and hire certified pet sitters. Furthermore, many pet owners are looking for care that makes them feel secure and trust the services received. Because of this, service providers are now providing better offerings and improving their standards. People in cities with full and demanding agendas are the ones who mostly make use of these premium services. Basically, an increase in disposable income is a big driver of growth in the pet-sitting sector. People spending more money makes it possible for services to grow and develop new ideas.

High service costs limit affordability for low-income pet owners.

With high prices in the pet-sitting industry, it becomes hard for people with low incomes to access professional pet care. High-quality pet-sitting services tend to charge more for their services because they have trained workers, insurance, and use technology. These expenses usually stop a large group of pet owners from accessing these services. So, pet owners who cannot afford professional care sometimes go with informal or unvetted options, which can be risky for their pets.

Lower-income and rural regions are also affected because the difference in affordability keeps these areas from having wider access to these services. Besides, inflation in the service providers' expenses could also make prices go up. Those who are watchful of their expenses are often unable to use professional pet-sitting services. If affordable options are not available, a lot of pets do not get the proper care they need. It is crucial to find solutions for cost issues if the market is to grow. By using new pricing systems and providing subsidies, the gap between those who can afford and those who can’t may be reduced.

Expansion of tech-enabled services to rural and underserved regions.

Offering tech-enabled pet-sitting solutions in less populated and underserved places could give a big boost to the North American market's growth. People who live far from main cities often have a tough time finding professional pet care, so their options are severely limited. Mobile apps and online platforms let companies link pet owners and sitters in rural areas that are beyond cities. Technology allows for easy scheduling, safe payments, and updates given right away, which encourages trust in these new areas.

Digital growth is being supported by the rising number of people with internet and smartphones in rural areas. This development allows pets to get reliable care in areas where it was unavailable previously. Furthermore, companies can reach new customer segments, making the market bigger. Company efforts to provide rural-ready services, for example, farm animal sitting, can set them apart. Collaborating with businesses in the area may help make it easier to enter the market. In the end, using technology to reach more people will be key to making pet care available to everyone across North America.

Rising demand for specialized care for elderly and special-needs pets.

A bigger need for care tailored to elderly and special-needs pets is influencing the expansion of the pet-sitting market in North America. Pets require more skilled and experienced sitters as they get older and face bigger health and mobility problems. Many pet owners are looking for people who can handle medicines, keep an eye on health, and help pets gently. This need is increasing due to the heightened awareness of pet health and pets staying with their owners for more years. Having a pet that is disabled or has a chronic illness means that specific care plans are needed that go above and beyond daily pet sitting.

As a result, professional pet sitters are earning qualifications and creating personalized services for specific pets. Because it is so complex and requires extra responsibility, this segment of the market charges more for services. People with pets see specialized services as important for their pets’ well-being. Because of this trend, new devices for monitoring pets’ health are being invented. In general, the rise in specialized care is key to how pet care businesses compete and offer high-end services.

Segment Analysis

Based on the service type, the North America Pet Sitting Market is classified into dog walking, drop-in visits, pet boarding, and others, such as grooming and training add-ons. In-home pet sitting has the largest market share because of the comfort and the sense of familiarity it provides to pets in the home environment. Dog walking services also have a high demand, especially in the urban settings where pet owners are usually busy. Drop-in visits are becoming popular for their low cost and convenience, serving pets that need less and more frequent care. Pet boarding is still relevant, but becomes unattractive in comparison with personalized in-home care. Other services, such as grooming, training, and vet check-ins, can be bundled to add on customer value. The market is becoming more customer-focused, where convenience, safety, and the tech-enabled delivery of services have become a primary driver.

Based on the service location, the North America Pet Sitting Market is classified into the client’s home, the pet sitter’s home, and so on, including third-party facilities like pet hotels or vet clinics. Amongst these, services in the client’s home occupy a significant share of the market as a result of an increased demand in a client’s home for personalized care that is offered in his or her environment to minimize pet stress and anxiety. Services from pet sitters’ homes are picking up, particularly in the suburbs, providing a balance between home comfort and supervision. Third-party facilities are more targeted at premium or emergency utilization, which has specialized infrastructure but is mostly expensive. At-home services for convenience and trust are the preference of urban consumers; rural and semi-urban consumers may exhibit a blend of sitter-hosted and in-home services. The movement is towards flexible, on-demand care that is facilitated through mobile platforms. This segmentation brings out the changing tastes of pet owners as far as safety, comfort, and ease of access are concerned.

Regional Analysis

The U.S. is the biggest pet-sitting services market in North America, mostly due to high rates of pet ownership (over 66% in households), increased disposable income, and the rise in awareness of pet wellness. Cities such as New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago are large because of crowded populations and hectic schedules, providing tremendous demand for dog walking and in-home sitting. The emergence of such platforms as Rover and Wag has facilitated service access. Pet owners are also looking for tech-enabled, insured, and certified sitters, and this shows a trend towards established professionalized services.

The Canadian market of pet sitting market is growing steadily, especially in cities such as Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal. The soaring pet adoption trend, particularly after the COVID pandemic, and increasing focus on pet health and companionship are some of the key market drivers. Canadian consumers prefer in-house services and tend to book trusted services via online platforms. Rules regarding animal welfare are more stringent, and high quality is stimulated in services. Growth is also aided by a good pet care culture and heavy spending on pets per head.

The pet-sitting market in Mexico is still in its infancy, but is quickly emerging because of increased urbanization, increased middle-class income, and a culture change where even pets are treated as members of the family. It has been observed that there is an increasing demand for professional pet care services in cities such as Mexico City, Monterrey, and Guadalajara. However, the market remains informal with a low penetration level of app-based services. With an improved awareness and digital infrastructure, the country will witness an increased rate of tech-enabled pet-sitting solutions adoption.

A smaller market, nevertheless, Puerto Rico is building its pet care infrastructure as the demand grows both in urban and tourist-dominated areas such as San Juan. Growth is backed up by tourism, as there is a temporary pet-sitting service that is required for visitors and expats. The market relies on small businesses and private pet sitters, and the gradual digitalization is observed. There is also increased pressure for quality pet services, a move instigated by local pet welfare initiatives and social campaigns.

Competitive Landscape

The high degree of fragmentation in the competitive landscape of the North American pet-sitting market consists of tech-driven platforms, local players, and independent sitters. Meaningful providers such as Rover and Wag! have a lead on the online segment, providing app services: pet sitting, dog walking, and an overnight stay for a pet using user-friendly interfaces, screening, and GPS tracking for customer confidence. These platforms have been growing aggressively in the urban areas and are scaling through partnerships and diversification of services.

PetSmart and Petco also offer sitting and boarding services in their stores, which is an enticing proposition to customers with pet care bundling preferences. Conversely, numerous independent sitters are local and win clientele through referrals and social media. The start-ups and the niche players are entering the market with eco-friendly, premium, or medically trained services. Also, the growing consumer anticipations for certified, insured, and trustworthy sitters are fueling this competition. Technology integration and customer reviews are major differentiators in creating brand loyalty. Partnerships, consolidation of the platform, and standards for the services are what can be expected as the industry matures.

North America Pet Sitting Market, Company Shares Analysis, 2024

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Recent Developments:

• In October 2024, Rover completed its acquisition of Cat IN A Flat, an accredited cat-sitting community, expanding its European reach into Austria, Belgium, Ireland, and Switzerland, and enhancing its specialized cat care services.
• In September 2024, PetBacker launched a significant update to their mobile app, improving user interaction by preventing multiple clicks on quotes and enhancing the request flow, aiming to streamline the booking process for pet sitting services.

Report Coverage:

By Service Type

• Dog Sitting
• Cat Sitting
• Others

By Service Location

• In-Home Pet Sitting
• Pet Sitting Facility

By End-user

• Individual Pet Owners
• Pet Care Agencies
• Others

By Region

North America

• U.S.
• Canada

List of Companies:

• Rover Group, Inc.
• Wag! Group Co.
• PetBacker
• Fetch! Pet Care
• Dogtopia Enterprises, Inc.
• PetSmart, Inc.
• Swifto Technologies
• Holidog Network
• Care.com Inc.
• Pawshake
• TrustedHousesitters
• Barkly Pets
• The Pet Nanny, Inc.
• Sittercity, Inc.
• Wagging Tails Pet Care Services

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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