The biggest drawback to pet-sitters is that your pet is left alone a great deal of the time, because most pet-sitters probably can't spend much time giving your pet individual attention. If your pet becomes ill or manages to escape, a pet-sitter may not come back to notice before some time has passed. And, finally, some people just aren't comfortable having people in their home while they're gone.

One of the better solutions is to trade pet-sitting services. Most animal lovers have friends who also have pets, and making a deal with a friend to cover each other whenever you're gone can work out very well. Trading care is a solution that's both reassuring -- if you have friends who love animals as much as you do, that is -- and inexpensive. All the arrangement requires is your own time in return.