Pet care attitudes are evolving. Our latest research shows that more families are choosing familiar faces for pet care, and as the cost of living continues to bite, everyday heroes are stepping up to help.

Introducing the Grandpawrents. 

A “Grandpawrent” is a parent or in-law who steps up to help care for their children’s or grandchildren’s pets, and, according to a new MoneySuperMarket survey, over half (51%) of them are doing so more than once a week.

Meanwhile, the days of paid pet sitting may be numbered as 63% of Brits say they’d never use a kennel, and 65% wouldn’t opt for a house sitter – and it’s not just down to cost, but meeting their needs too. 

Some pets find kennels isolating, and there’s always the worry about care quality, disease, and the overall environment. House sitters come with their own reservations — it’s not only trusting a complete stranger in your home, but with your beloved pet, too. It’s no wonder Grandpawrents are quickly becoming the favourite solution.

Our data shows that relying on Mum, Dad or the in-laws instead of a professional sitter saves owners an average of £36.60 per session, which adds up to £256.20 a week. For Gen Z pet owners, whose parents petsit an incredible 138 times a year, this totals £5,050.80 saved annually. 

Curious how much the nation’s Grandpawrents have saved you? Or maybe you’re a Grandpawrent hoping to see what your pet-sitting is really worth. Our calculator does the maths for you — now you just have to decide whether to send the invoice…