Pet sitting for pocket pets: Caring for compact creatures

Pet sitting pocket pets and small animal care can be a tiny treat for any animal lover. They may be small in size, but they have a huge amount of love to give! From familiar faces like hamsters, gerbils, and guinea pigs to lesser-known miniature monsters like sugar gliders. 

To help prepare you for any upcoming pocket pet sits, we’ve nested together some useful tips and tricks on caring for the smaller side of TrustedHousesitters. So, come with us as we burrow into the miniature world of pocket pet care.

What is a pocket pet?

The pocket pets list or family includes hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, rabbits, rats, ferrets, and mice. This list can also include hedgehogs and sugar gliders, depending on where you’re house-sitting. We’ll talk more about sugar glider care a bit later, but they’ll require special attention with a different cage set-up and lifestyle to the other small animal pets.

How to care for little animals as pets

All pet-sitting opportunities should be approached in the same way, even if your new pet pal is the size of an espresso cup. Every pet requires a different amount and type of care, including more than simply remembering to feed them each day. Here are some helpful tips on how to care for each type of pocket pet.

Hamsters, gerbils, and mice

Let’s start with our smallest pocket pet friends. Hamsters, gerbils, mice, and other small rodents arguably have the easiest care requirements. Of course, you’ll need to change their food and water each day, top up their sawdust and bedding, and possibly clean their cages if you’re on a long-term sit.

Hamsters are hardcore loners - they don’t like living with other hamsters, they often don’t like being handled and don’t like things being moved about in their homes. All very reasonable traits! Always check with the pet parents beforehand how they react to human hands near or in their cage. Whilst some hamsters may not be bothered by human presence, others may find the daily feeding experience scary. See what their parents do first.

Gerbils and mice are far more sociable, but please chat with the pet parents first before reaching into the cage for a cuddle. These little ones are happiest in fellow rodent company with lots of new things to chew on, plenty of bedding to burrow in, and even a few tiny toys to play with.

Rats

Arguably the smartest pocket pet on our list, rats are amazing animals to sit for. Once you know how far along they are with human socializing, you’ll be able to work out how to keep them mentally stimulated throughout the day. Some are happy to be let out in a secure pen to explore, others will want to be carried around and be involved with what you’re doing. They love puzzles and toys, so ask their parents what you can do for their playtime each day.

Like most rodents, rats are happy with a diet of raw vegetables, fresh fruit, nuts, and store-bought rodent kibble. Don’t give them anything new to eat without first checking with their pet parents. 

Rats are also very clean creatures, allocating hours of their day to washing and grooming themselves. As a pet sitter, this means you don’t have to worry about providing any rat bathtimes.

Guinea pigs

Guinea pigs are a favorite amongst young family homes. Their gentle nature and cautious curiosity make them great pocket pets for children. When pet sitting, it’s good to ask how much human interaction they enjoy, if they’re used to being picked up, and if they require a lot of grooming. Long-haired guinea pigs may need to be brushed daily.

Food-wise, these little champs love their greens, fresh fruit, grass, and hay. Their pet parents will know the best treats and foods to give them each day, so always double-check before they leave. Similarly, some guinea pigs might have an outdoor run where they can stretch their little legs and catch up with each other over a patch of grass.

Known for their distinctive squeaks and chirruping sounds, don’t be alarmed if you’ve never heard them before. Just as cats purr or dogs wag their tails, guinea pigs make little squeaking noises to let you know they’re content and/or excited. 

Ferrets

The fun world of ferret pet sitting is not for the faint-hearted. On par with rats on the intelligence level, these frisky fur sausages are master escape artists and love to wriggle into any small gaps. Like rats, they need daily exercise and stimulation which can come in the form of toys and mini assault courses. However, their ability to slip through small spaces means they’ll need to be watched closely during playtime and if ever let out of their cage.

If your new ferret friend is used to human handling, they can be surprisingly comforting cuddle buddies who will be happy to lie on your chest whilst you watch TV. Some ferrets may have their lead and harness to go on walks outside on grassy patches. 

When it comes to food, ferrets are a bit different. These windy wrigglers are carnivores, so will need a daily supplement of meat to eat. Their parents will be able to offer guidance on what they can and can’t eat.

Sugar gliders

Finally, as the most exotic pet on our list of pocket pets, sugar gliders are quite unusual to come across on TrustedHousesitters. However, this doesn’t mean they aren’t out there. Formally known as Petaurus Breviceps, as pets these tiny fellows require a large amount of space. Sugar gliders should be housed in a tall wire cage with plenty of branches to jump from and climb, as well as lots of hideaway holes to burrow in.

As nocturnal animals, they’ll only come out at night and should be left to sleep during the day. As always, talk to the pet parents about handling and ask what they would be most comfortable with you doing whilst you’re pet sitting.

Despite their name, sugar gliders shouldn’t be fed anything sugary or sweet, including fruit. These guys are happy to chow down on some mealworms and other bugs which you’ll be able to buy at most local pet stores.

Do you want to find your pocket pet–sitting adventure? Have a look at all our amazing house sits available around the globe for pets looking to meet their next paw pal. Fancy becoming a full-fledged member and part of our animal-loving community? Check out our pricing plans for both pet parents and sitters, and see which one would suit you best.