You can earn by caring for rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, rats, chinchillas and other small pets through general pet sitting platforms such as Rover, Pawshake, PetBacker and Holidog, by listing small animal experience on your profile and offering drop-in visits or house sitting. Few platforms are built for small pets, so most of the advantage comes from knowing how to care for them well.
Owners of small pets often struggle to find sitters, because most sitters focus on dogs and cats. That makes small animal care a useful niche for new pet sitters. This guide explains which platforms you can use, what they charge, what the work involves and how to build a small pet sitting side hustle safely.
In this guide
- Why small pet sitting is a good niche
- Platforms you can use
- Fees compared
- What small pet care involves
- Services and pricing
- Building trust with owners
- Risks to manage
- Owen’s take
- FAQ
1. Why small pet sitting is a good niche
- Less competition. Many sitters only advertise dog walking and boarding.
- Short visits. Feeding, cleaning and checking small pets often takes less time than a dog walk.
- Repeat clients. Owners who find a sitter they trust with a rabbit or guinea pig tend to come back.
- Combinable. Many households have a dog or cat as well, so small pet experience broadens the bookings you can take.
The trade-off is responsibility. Small animals can become ill quickly, and many owners worry more about them than about larger pets. Knowledge and reliability are what you are really selling.
2. Platforms you can use
Rover
Rover lets sitters set their own rates for walking, sitting, boarding and drop-in visits in the US, Canada, the UK and many European countries. Rover’s own help pages say the platform is intended for dog and cat care, though some sitters do know how to look after other pet types, such as birds, rabbits, lizards or fish, and list that experience on their profiles. In practice, many Rover sitters advertise small animal experience and offer drop-in visits or house sitting to households that include small pets.
Pawshake
Pawshake connects local sitters and dog walkers with owners in several countries, with services including boarding, house sitting and drop-in visits. Sitters set their own prices.
PetBacker
PetBacker lets sitters, walkers and groomers set their own rates and pays through escrow, with a service fee that falls as you complete more jobs.
Holidog
Holidog connects pet owners with sitters who set their own prices for boarding, house sitting, walks and visits.
Mad Paws
Mad Paws is Australia’s largest pet sitting marketplace. Sitters set prices and owners book through the app.
Wag
Wag lets US walkers and sitters set their own rates and keep 100% of tips, with weekly payouts. It’s mainly used for dogs, so it is a secondary option for small pet care.
TrustedHousesitters
TrustedHousesitters pays no cash. Sitters care for pets and a home in exchange for free accommodation, which can include small pets. It suits travellers rather than people looking for income.
Local and word of mouth
Many small pet bookings come from neighbours, community groups, local vets, rescue organisations and pet shops that sell small animal supplies. A simple flyer or a post in a local group that mentions “rabbits, guinea pigs and small pets” can reach owners the big apps miss.
You can compare every pet care platform we’ve checked in our Pets Care directory.
3. Fees compared
| Platform | What sitters pay |
|---|---|
| Rover | 20% per booking in the US; other rates in other countries |
| Pawshake | 19% contribution per booking |
| PetBacker | Service fee that falls as you complete more jobs |
| Mad Paws | 20% per booking (15% for sitters who joined before June 29, 2017) |
| Wag | Owners pay about 1.67 times your rate; you keep your rate plus 100% of tips |
| TrustedHousesitters | Paid membership; no cash between members |
Fees change, so check each platform’s current terms.
4. What small pet care involves
Care needs differ by species, so always follow the owner’s written instructions. As a guide to what’s involved, RSPCA NSW, an animal welfare charity, sets out the daily basics for rabbits and guinea pigs:
- Hay as the main food. RSPCA NSW’s guide puts hay at most of a rabbit’s or guinea pig’s daily diet, with smaller amounts of leafy greens and pellets.
- Fresh water at all times. Check bottles and bowls on every visit.
- Vitamin C for guinea pigs. Guinea pigs need vitamin C-rich foods, such as capsicum, a few times a week.
- Company and exercise. Rabbits and guinea pigs are social and need space to move, hide and explore each day.
- Separate housing. Rabbits and guinea pigs shouldn’t be housed together, as rabbits can injure guinea pigs.
Other small pets have their own needs. Hamsters are often nocturnal, chinchillas need dust baths and cool temperatures, and ferrets need a lot of supervised play. Ask owners for clear notes, and don’t take on a species you don’t understand.
What to check on every visit
- Food eaten and droppings normal.
- Water topped up and bottles working.
- Cage or enclosure clean and secure.
- Temperature comfortable, out of direct sun and draughts.
- Animals active, alert and breathing normally.
A small pet that stops eating or producing droppings may need a vet urgently. Agree what to do in an emergency before the booking starts.
5. Services and pricing
Small pet sitting is usually offered as:
- Drop-in visits, once or twice a day, to feed, clean and check the animals.
- House sitting, where you stay overnight and look after all pets in the home.
- Boarding at your home, only if you’re experienced, have a safe set-up and the owner provides the enclosure.
- Add-ons, such as full cage cleans, giving medication or nail trims if you are trained.
Set prices by checking what local sitters charge for drop-in visits on the platforms you use. Charge more for medication, multiple enclosures, longer visits and holidays. Remember that platform fees come out of your rate.
6. Building trust with owners
- Show real experience. Mention species you’ve owned or cared for and any training, such as animal first aid.
- Hold a meet-and-greet. Visit before the booking to see the set-up and routines.
- Ask for written care notes, including food quantities, treats, cleaning routine, vet details and emergency contacts.
- Send updates. A photo and a short note after each visit reassures owners.
- Be honest about limits. If an animal seems unwell, contact the owner and vet promptly.
7. Risks to manage
- Escapes. Small animals can slip through tiny gaps. Check doors and cage latches every time.
- Heat stress. Guinea pigs and some other small animals don’t tolerate heat well. Keep them cool in hot weather.
- Other pets. Keep dogs and cats away from small animals during visits.
- Insurance. Some platforms provide protection during bookings, but check what it covers. If you work independently, consider your own pet sitting insurance.
- Your own animals. Don’t board small pets near your own animals unless you’re sure it’s safe, and don’t mix animals from different homes.
8. Owen’s take
Small pet sitting is a quiet niche with real demand, because owners of rabbits, guinea pigs and other small animals often can’t find anyone they trust. I’d add small pet experience to a profile on Rover or Pawshake, offer drop-in visits, and spread the word through local groups and vets. Learn the basics of each species properly, follow owners’ instructions to the letter, and treat every visit as if the animal were your own.
FAQ
Can I offer small pet sitting on Rover?
Rover says it is intended for dog and cat care, but sitters can list experience with other pets, and many offer drop-in visits or house sitting to households with small animals.
How much should I charge to sit rabbits or guinea pigs?
Check local rates for drop-in visits on your platform and price similarly, charging more for medication, multiple enclosures and holidays.
Do I need training to care for small pets?
Not formally, but you need solid knowledge of each species’ needs. Animal first aid training helps you stand out.
What’s the biggest risk when sitting small pets?
Missing early signs of illness, such as an animal not eating or not producing droppings. Agree an emergency plan and vet details before every booking.
This guide is part of our Pets Care section, with every platform we have checked in that area.
Sources
- Rover, “Loving Pet Care in Your Neighbourhood” (FAQ): https://www.rover.com/at/en/
- RSPCA NSW, “Meeting the needs of small pets”: https://www.rspcansw.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/RSPCA-NSW-Meeting-the-needs-of-small-pets.pdf
