London’s pet care market is telling an unexpected ‘tail’ of two cities, as new research reveals the capital’s basic pet sitting rates are lower than other major UK cities – a rare instance where London life doesn’t come with an eye-watering price tag.

However, with general pet sitting still averaging £41.08 per night and specialist services commanding premium rates, London pet owners face mounting annual costs that can run into thousands of pounds.

Research by leading pet-sitting platform TrustedHousesitters shows that while daily pet sitting might appear affordable compared to cities like Leeds and Birmingham (both £61.62 per night), the cumulative cost of regular pet care is putting significant pressure on London pet owners’ budgets.

When it comes to specialist services, London shows its premium side. Dog kennels in the capital cost £61.62 per night, while doggy daycare reaches £56.49 per day. Dog sitting services average £46.22 per night, and cat owners can expect to pay £35.95 per night for dedicated cat sitting services.

For London pet owners, these costs can quickly mount up. Even with the capital’s relatively competitive rates, a family taking just two week-long holidays per year would face pet sitting bills of nearly £600 for their trips alone. And that’s before factoring in any additional needs like regular dog walking, particularly during peak holiday seasons when prices may surge further.

Breaking down average London’s pet care costs:

· Pet sitting: £41.08 per night
· Dog sitting: £46.22 per night
· Dog kennels: £61.62 per night
· Cat sitting: £35.95 per night
· Dog walking: £13.82 per walk
· Doggy daycare: £56.49 per day
· Cat drop-in visits: £11.30 per visit
· Catteries: £15.41 per night

Angela Laws, head of community at TrustedHousesitters, comments on the findings:

“While London’s basic pet care rates might appear competitive compared to other cities, these costs can still add up to a substantial yearly expense for pet owners, particularly during peak holiday periods. While we know our pet parents would move mountains for their furry family members, we also understand that quality care shouldn’t have to break the bank. That’s why our global community of pet lovers helping each other has become such a valuable alternative for owners looking to maintain high standards of care while managing costs.”

Pet owners can explore and compare costs in their local area using the interactive pet care calculator. For a more cost-effective alternative, TrustedHousesitters offers unlimited pet sitting through its global community of verified sitters for a simple, low-cost annual membership fee. Visit TrustedHousesitters to learn more.