It happens every year. Someone gets an unexpected opportunity to travel over Christmas. A family emergency comes up. Work suddenly requires you to be somewhere else. Or maybe you’ve just been so busy that booking pet care completely slipped your mind until now.
Whatever the reason, you’re facing a Christmas trip with no pet care sorted, and you’re starting to panic a bit. I get it. I’ve been a professional pet sitter in Christchurch for over ten years and trust me, you’re not the first person in this situation and you definitely won’t be the last.
The good news is that even at the last minute, you’ve got options. Some are better than others, but let’s talk through what actually works when you’re up against the clock.
Why Last-Minute Pet Care Can Be Difficult
Before we get into solutions, you need to understand why this is genuinely harder than earlier in the year. Professional pet sitters and boarding facilities book out for Christmas around eight to ten weeks in advance. Most of us can only care for a limited number of pets at once because we’re providing individual attention.
By mid-December, the majority of professional services are completely full. The ones that aren’t full are either new to the business or honestly might not be very good, which is why they still have availability.
Christmas also falls during peak summer holiday season here in New Zealand. That means casual pet sitters like university students or people who do it as a side job are often away themselves. Your usual go-to neighbour might already be committed to helping someone else. Even boarding kennels and catteries are stretched thin.
Your Best Last-Minute Options (Ranked By Reliability)
Option One: Professional Pet Sitters Who Keep Emergency Availability
We deliberately hold back a small amount of availability for genuine emergencies. If you genuinely need help, it’s worth asking.
Ring around every professional pet sitting service in Christchurch. Be upfront about the situation. Say something like, “I know it’s really late notice, but I’ve got an unexpected situation. Do you have any emergency availability or can you recommend anyone who might?”
Most of us know each other in this industry and if we can’t help you, we’ll often know someone who can. Emails get lost in the holiday chaos but a phone call shows you’re genuinely stuck and serious about needing help.
Option Two: Trusted Friends or Family
If you’ve got a friend or family member who’s offered to help, that can work, but please don’t just hand over your keys and hope for the best. Treat it like a professional arrangement even if you’re not paying them.
Sit down with them properly and go through everything. Show them where the food is, how much to feed, what’s normal behaviour for your pet and what’s not. Write it all down because people forget things when they’re stressed or busy. Give them your vet’s contact details and make sure they’re actually comfortable calling the vet if something goes wrong. Have an honest conversation about what happens if there’s an emergency and your pet needs expensive veterinary care.
The biggest problem with the friend favour is that people underestimate how much actual work is involved. They think popping round to feed a cat takes five minutes when it actually takes more like twenty to thirty if you’re doing it properly. They might agree to help and then realise they can’t actually commit the time, but feel too awkward to tell you until it’s too late.
Be really clear about expectations and give them an easy out if they’re having second thoughts. It’s much better to know now than to have them bail on Christmas Eve.
Option Three: Boarding Facilities With Cancellation Availability
Sometimes people cancel their boarding bookings at the last minute because their travel plans change. It’s worth ringing around every kennel and cattery in Christchurch to see if anyone’s had a cancellation. This is more likely to work for dogs than cats because boarding is more common for dogs anyway.
If you go this route, actually visit the facility first if you possibly can. Not all boarding places are created equal and the last thing you want is to come home to a stressed, traumatised pet who’s spent Christmas in substandard conditions.
Ask about their staffing over the Christmas period. Some places reduce staff numbers over the holidays which means less attention for your pet. Ask about their emergency protocols. What happens if your pet gets sick? Do they have a relationship with a local vet? Will they actually notice if something’s wrong?
For cats especially, boarding can be quite stressful. If your cat is elderly, anxious, or has any health issues, this might not be your best option even if availability exists.
Option Four: Pet Sitting Platforms and Apps
There are various apps and websites where you can find people offering pet sitting services. These can work in a pinch but please be really careful. You’re essentially inviting a stranger into your home and trusting them with a family member.
Check reviews thoroughly and not just the star rating. Actually read what people said. Look for red flags like inconsistent communication, late arrivals, or pets that seemed stressed after visits.
Do an in-person meet and greet or video call before you hand over keys. Trust your gut. If something feels off, it probably is.
Understand that people on these platforms often aren’t professional pet sitters. They might be students earning extra money or people doing it casually. That’s not necessarily bad but it does mean they probably don’t have insurance, professional training, or the experience to handle emergencies. Their livelihood doesn’t rely on them providing you with the best possible service they can so they may be inclined to leave you in the lurch if something personal comes up for them.
Option Five: Take Your Pet With You
If you’re driving anywhere within New Zealand, taking your pet with you might actually be less stressful than leaving them with inadequate care.
Obviously this doesn’t work if you’re flying internationally or staying somewhere that doesn’t allow pets. But if you’re visiting family in New Zealand for Christmas, have an honest conversation with them about bringing your pet. You’d be surprised how many people are actually fine with it, especially if you’re upfront about managing your pet’s behaviour and cleaning up after them.
For cats, this is harder because they generally hate travel and need time to settle into new environments. But for dogs, especially social dogs who are used to car travel, this can actually work quite well.
Some holiday accommodation is pet-friendly. Bach rentals often allow pets. It’s worth spending an hour researching whether you could actually bring your pet along before you commit to leaving them with questionable care.
What Absolutely Doesn’t Work
Let me save you some time and stress by telling you what definitely won’t work, even though you might be tempted to try it.
Leaving your pet alone with extra food and water is not okay. I know someone’s going to suggest this. Don’t do it. Aside from being potentially illegal depending on how long we’re talking about, it’s genuinely dangerous. Pets can get injured, sick, or distressed when left alone for extended periods. Automatic feeders jam. Water bowls get knocked over. Things go wrong.
Asking your neighbour who you barely know to pop in and feed your cat is risky. If they forget or can’t make it one day, your pet suffers and you have no recourse because it was just a casual favour. If something goes wrong, they probably won’t know what to do and might not even tell you until you get home.
Relying on a teenager from down the street with no pet care experience is asking for trouble. I’ve seen this go badly too many times. They mean well but they don’t know what to look for if something’s wrong, and they often underestimate how much time and responsibility is actually involved.
How to Avoid This Situation Next Time
Try to book your Christmas pet care in October. I know that seems ridiculously early but that’s when professional pet sitters start taking Christmas bookings. By November we’re getting full. By December we’re turning people away.
Have a backup plan. Even if you book professional care, life happens. Pet sitters get sick, family emergencies occur. Have a second person you can call if your primary plan falls through.
Build relationships with professional pet care providers before you need them in an emergency. Use their services throughout the year for the occasional weekend away or long work day. That way when you do need emergency help, you’re an established client rather than a stranger asking for a favour.
Put money aside specifically for pet care. I know Christmas is expensive but pet care isn’t optional when you travel. Budget for it the same way you budget for flights and accommodation.
The Bottom Line
If you’re in last-minute Christmas pet care panic mode right now, take a breath. You’ve got options and most situations can be sorted out with enough determination and flexibility. Start ringing around professional services first. Be honest about your situation and be prepared to pay emergency rates.
If that doesn’t work, reach out to trusted friends and family but set it up properly with clear expectations and backup plans. Consider whether you could actually take your pet with you. Look at boarding facilities if they have cancellations.
And next October when the first professional pet sitter starts advertising Christmas availability, book it immediately. Future you will be so grateful.
If you’re currently stuck and need emergency Christmas pet care in Christchurch, get in touch. I can’t promise I’ll have availability but I can at least point you in the right direction or suggest other options you might not have thought of.
Stay safe, travel well, and may your pets be happily cared for this Christmas, even if the planning was a bit more chaotic than ideal.
