Exotic Pet Sitting Cost (SF & Peninsula)
If you have ever searched for an exotic pet sitter and felt sticker shock, you are not imagining it. Exotic pet care is not priced like dog walking, and it should not be. So rather than make you dig for it, here is exactly what in-home visits and boarding cost with us in San Francisco and on the Peninsula — and an honest explanation of why specialized exotic care is priced the way it is.
In-Home Visit Rates
In-home visits mean a specialist comes to your home and cares for your pet in their own environment — feeding, fresh water, medication, enrichment, habitat checks, and photo updates. Most exotic pets do best with this, because it keeps their world consistent while you are away.
Individual visits (once a day)
| Visit length | Rate |
|---|---|
| 30 minutes | $85 / visit |
| 60 minutes | $115 / visit |
Routine visits (twice a day)
| Schedule | Rate |
|---|---|
| Two 30-minute visits | $140 / day |
| One 30-minute + one 60-minute visit | $165 / day |
| Two 60-minute visits | $190 / day |
Twice-daily care is what we recommend for most exotic pets — a morning visit to get fresh salad into the rabbits or check the reptile enclosure, and an evening visit for dinner, medication, and a proper lights-out check.
Boarding Rates
For owners who prefer overnight supervision, Alexandria hosts a small number of exotic pets at her San Francisco home, starting at $75 per night. Your pet gets their own quiet room, species-specific feeding, and daily updates. Boarding fills up quickly around holidays and travel season, so it is worth reaching out as soon as you have dates. You can read more on our exotic pet boarding page.
Travel Surcharges
San Francisco is our primary service area, so there is no travel surcharge for in-home visits within the city. For the Peninsula — Burlingame, San Mateo, Millbrae, Hillsborough, Foster City, Belmont, San Carlos, Redwood City — a travel surcharge applies, starting at $15 per visit. The exact amount depends on your specific location and our specialists’ availability, so the honest answer is that we quote it per household. Text us your address and dates and we will give you a firm number.
Why Exotic Pet Sitting Costs More Than Dog or Cat Sitting
The short version: exotic animals are a veterinary subspecialty, and the people who can care for them safely are not interchangeable with general pet sitters. The longer version is worth understanding before you compare rates:
- Clinical training. Our founder, Alexandria, worked as an exotic veterinary assistant at Bay Area Bird & Exotics Hospital, and every specialist we bring on is trained to the same standards. That is a different skill set than walking a dog.
- Medication administration. Oral syringes, topical treatments, nebulizer sessions, and subcutaneous injections when prescribed are part of our standard service. Alexandria administers subcutaneous RHDV2 vaccines as a House Rabbit Society medical-assistant volunteer. Most generalist sitters cannot offer this at all.
- Species-specific knowledge. Guinea pigs need daily vitamin C and cannot be fed like rabbits. Rabbits in GI stasis can decline in twelve hours. Reptiles need precise temperature and humidity. Birds hide illness until it is advanced. Catching these things early is the entire value of a specialist.
- The cost of getting it wrong. A preventable exotic emergency — a missed shed, an undetected respiratory infection, a rabbit that quietly stopped eating — costs far more in vet bills and heartbreak than the difference in sitter rates.
We are not the cheapest option, and we are honest about that. What you are paying for is care that is rooted in clinical exposure, not guesswork.
In-Home Visits vs. Boarding: Which Is More Affordable?
It depends on the length of your trip and your pet:
- For short trips (a weekend) and most pets, a single daily in-home visit at $85 is usually both the most affordable and the least stressful — your pet stays in their own environment.
- For pets on medication or twice-daily routines, twice-daily in-home visits ($140–$190/day) cost more but match the care your pet would get at home.
- For longer trips or owners who want overnight eyes on their pet, boarding at $75/night can work out to be the better value, since it bundles round-the-clock supervision into a flat nightly rate.
If you are not sure which fits, that is exactly what the free meet-and-greet is for — we will look at your pet’s needs and your dates and tell you honestly which option makes the most sense.
Getting an Exact Quote
Every household is a little different — species, number of pets, medication, location, and dates all factor in. Call or text us at 415-484-6493 and we will get a free meet-and-greet on the calendar and quote you honestly. You can also see our full in-home exotic pet care details, the dedicated San Francisco exotic pet sitter page, or the full FAQ.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does exotic pet sitting cost in San Francisco?
In-home visits start at $85 for a 30-minute visit and $115 for a 60-minute visit. Twice-daily routine care ranges from $140 to $190 per day depending on visit length. Boarding at our San Francisco home starts at $75 per night. San Francisco has no travel surcharge; Peninsula visits add a surcharge starting at $15 per visit.
Why does exotic pet sitting cost more than dog or cat sitting?
Exotic animals are a veterinary subspecialty. Our specialists are trained as exotic veterinary assistants and can administer medication — including oral syringes, topical treatments, nebulizer sessions, and subcutaneous injections when prescribed — which most general pet sitters cannot. They also recognize species-specific warning signs early, like a rabbit in GI stasis or a guinea pig with a respiratory infection. You are paying for clinical training, not general pet care.
Is in-home sitting or boarding more affordable for exotic pets?
For short trips and most pets, a single daily in-home visit at $85 is usually the most affordable and least stressful option. For pets needing twice-daily care, in-home visits run $140 to $190 per day. For longer trips or owners who want overnight supervision, boarding at $75 per night can be the better value. A free meet-and-greet is the best way to decide which fits your pet and dates.
Do you charge a travel fee on the Peninsula?
There is no travel surcharge for in-home visits within San Francisco, our primary service area. For Peninsula cities — Burlingame, San Mateo, Millbrae, Hillsborough, Foster City, Belmont, San Carlos, and Redwood City — a surcharge applies, starting at $15 per visit. The exact amount depends on your location and our specialists' availability, so we quote it per household.
How do I get an exact quote for my pets?
Call or text us at 415-484-6493 with your species, number of pets, location, and travel dates. We will schedule a free meet-and-greet at your home, walk through your pet's routine and any medication needs, and give you a firm quote. There is no charge or obligation for the meet-and-greet.