Where to Start: Setting Up Your Pet to Be Home Alone

If you are leaving your dog or cat at home and are not sure where to begin, start in the right order: animal type, then absence length, then setup, then gear. Most people do it backwards and buy the camera first. Work out the situation, get the setup right, and add gear only where it solves a specific problem.

One welfare check first: if your pet is already showing signs of distress, such as being destructive, not eating, or unable to settle when you leave, the first step is a vet or a qualified, accredited behaviour professional, not a product. Sort that before anything else.

Find your situation

Dog

Dog, workday

How long is too long, the minimum safe setup, and the signs your dog is not coping.

 Cat

Cat, workday

Water, litter, feeding, hydration and enrichment for an indoor cat left during the day.

 Overnight

Overnight or short trip

What can be automated, what needs a person, and how to judge the risk.

 Checklist

Check what is set up

A before-you-leave checklist for food, water, doors, heat, hazards and backup care.

Then, if you need gear

Once the setup is right, these buyer guides cover the gear that actually helps. Useful before commercial, with NZ pricing to verify and honest non-affiliate options.

See all buyer guides