A pet feeding schedule template you can hand over
By The Pet Care Card teamUpdated 4 min read
Short answer
A usable feeding schedule lists each meal by clock time with an exact amount in cups or grams, names the food and where it is stored, states the treat allowance, lists foods to avoid, and says what to do if the pet does not eat. Amounts should never be described in scoops or handfuls.
Feeding is the instruction a caregiver follows most often, so it is worth making it precise.
The template
- Meal 1 — time — food — amount — with or without medication
- Meal 2 — time — food — amount
- Treats — which ones — maximum per day
- Water — bowl location — refresh frequency
- Foods to avoid — including anything that upsets their stomach
- If they do not eat — what to try, and when to call you
Use measurable amounts
Grams are best, cups are fine, scoops are not. If you use a scoop, leave that exact scoop out and say whether it is level or heaped.
Pre-portion for short stays
For a weekend, bagging each meal removes every possible mistake and lets you see at a glance whether meals were given.
Multi-pet households
Say where each pet eats and whether they need separating. Note which pet steals food, because that is usually the cause of a mystery upset stomach.
When a pet will not eat
Give one simple fallback, such as adding a spoon of the usual wet food, and a clear threshold for calling you or the vet. A cat that has not eaten for 24 hours needs a call.
Frequently asked questions
- Should I change my pet's food before a trip?
- No. Keep the diet identical while you are away. A food change plus your absence is a common cause of stomach upset during a stay.
- How do I handle free-feeding with a sitter?
- Give a daily total and ask the sitter to top up to that amount and report what is left, so you still know how much was eaten.