Scent, Sound, and Sight: How to Make Your Pet Feel at Home While You’re Away

Tips from Lezlie’s Pet Sitting in Marietta, GA

When you’re away from home, your pet may feel your absence in ways that go far beyond your physical presence. Animals perceive the world differently than we do — especially through scent, sound, and sight. That’s why creating a familiar sensory environment is essential when leaving your pet in the care of a sitter.

At Lezlie’s Pet Sitting in Marietta, GA, our sitters know how important it is to preserve your pet’s emotional comfort during your time away. Whether you have a sensitive cat, a clingy pup, or a senior pet with special needs, here’s how to make them feel right at home — even when you’re not there.

1. Scent: The Nose Knows

A pet’s sense of smell is their strongest and most emotionally linked sense. Your scent is tied to comfort, safety, and home.

How to help:

Leave worn clothing: A shirt, sweatshirt, or pillowcase that smells like you can work wonders for anxiety.
Avoid washing bedding: Resist the urge to launder your pet’s bed before you leave. Their familiar scent helps soothe them.
Keep feeding and litter areas the same: Sudden changes to the layout or location of their food and potty areas can confuse and upset some pets.

At Lezlie’s Pet Sitting, we always ask about scent-sensitive items. Some clients even leave a blanket from their bed so pets can burrow into a smell that feels like “home.”

2. Sound: Comfort in Familiar Noise

Just like humans, pets are sensitive to noise. Sudden silence or unfamiliar sounds (like loud appliances or construction outside) can spike their stress.

Tips to maintain a soothing soundscape:

Play familiar music or TV shows: If you normally leave a show on for background noise, let your sitter know.
Use a white noise machine: For pets that startle easily, this can help block outside sounds like passing cars or barking dogs.
Avoid loud surprises: Let your sitter know if your pet is afraid of the vacuum, thunder, or alarms.

At Lezlie’s, our sitters often use Spotify playlists or YouTube channels specifically for pet relaxation. Some dogs even nap better to the sound of talk radio — just like when their owner is home.

3. Sight: A View Into Their World

Animals take in visual cues about your absence — and the consistency of their environment can make a big difference.

Suggestions to preserve visual routine:

Leave curtains in their usual position: Pets often watch the world through their favorite window spot. Let them keep that view.
Keep lighting consistent: Ask your sitter to turn lights on or off according to your regular schedule.
Maintain furniture layout: Resist moving around furniture or crates before leaving — even small changes can disorient some pets.

At Lezlie’s Pet Sitting, we always take note of the little things — like a dog’s favorite sunny patch or a cat’s chosen windowsill — and make sure those routines are respected.

4. Routine is Sensory Too

It’s not just about what your pet senses — it’s how and when they sense it. The timing of walks, feedings, potty breaks, and play impacts how relaxed and secure they feel.

Stick to routine by:

Writing out your pet’s daily schedule in detail
Listing specific phrases or commands you use (“Want to go outside?” vs. “Potty time!”)
Noting bedtime rituals (treats, crate time, or brushing)

At Lezlie’s, we don’t offer cookie-cutter care. Every visit is based on your instructions so that your pet feels like nothing’s changed — except who’s holding the leash.

5. Special Considerations for Anxious Pets

If your pet is known to suffer from separation anxiety, consider these extra steps:

A calming spray or plug-in pheromone diffuser (like Adaptil or Feliway)
Leave a video of yourself talking to them
Ask your sitter to send daily photos or videos so you can see your pet’s body language

Lezlie’s Pet Sitting is experienced with pets who are shy, nervous, or reactive. We don’t just care for pets — we meet them where they are emotionally, and adjust our approach accordingly.

6. A Word About Safety and Trust

Creating a familiar sensory environment only works if your sitter is attentive and respectful. At Lezlie’s, every sitter is trained to observe not just what a pet needs, but how they feel. We monitor changes in behavior, appetite, litter habits, and energy — all of which may indicate stress or discomfort.

You can trust that every sight, sound, and scent your pet experiences while you’re away will be familiar, safe, and comforting.

Final Thoughts

You can’t explain to your pet why you’re going away — but you can help them feel safe in your absence. By preserving their sensory world — their smells, sounds, sights, and routines — you’re giving them the gift of continuity.

At Lezlie’s Pet Sitting in Marietta, GA, we make sure every pet feels secure, respected, and deeply cared for. Whether you’re gone for a weekend or several weeks, we work to ensure your pet’s senses tell them: “Everything is okay.”

Scent, Sound, and Sight: How to Make Your Pet Feel at Home While You’re Away