There was a time when boarding kennels and a few tins of dog food were considered the gold standard of pet care. But just as our homes and lifestyles have evolved, so too has the way we love—and look after—our furry companions. In today’s South Africa, a quiet revolution in pet parenting is unfolding. At the intersection of this change stand two brands reshaping the experience: WePetSit and Petworld.
This is the story of a shifting mindset, of how pet care is moving from transactional to relational, from one-size-fits-all to deeply personal—and how services like in-home pet sitting are rising to meet this moment.
The New Norm: Pets Stay Home While You Go Away
For many South African pet parents, the idea of leaving a dog or cat behind while traveling brings more anxiety than excitement. The stress of packing, drop-offs at unfamiliar kennels, and the heartbreaking goodbye at the gate—it’s enough to cancel plans entirely. And it's not just humans who feel it. Studies and lived experiences both tell us: animals thrive in familiar environments.
That’s the heartbeat of WePetSit, a Cape Town-based company established in 2010. With over 94,000 successful care visits under their belt, they’ve become the quiet backbone for thousands of households seeking peace of mind while they’re away. Their solution is simple but profound: keep pets in their own homes, and send trained, certified carers to them.
No cages. No kennels. No disruption. Just love, routine, and presence.
Trust Over Trend: The Certified Carer Difference
In a world that now demands transparency, expertise, and compassion from every service we use—pet care is no exception.
WePetSit’s sitters aren’t just animal lovers. They’re certified through a rigorous internal program that blends pet care, health management (including administering medications like insulin or epilepsy treatments), and entrepreneurship. The result is a unique model: each sitter operates with the professionalism of a franchisee, but the heart of a neighbourhood helper.
Clients aren’t just handed a name from a roster. They’re invited to meet their carer beforehand, with references and a free compatibility session. Feedback is requested after every job. There are signed agreements, insurance cover, WhatsApp updates, and backup plans in place.
As one of their recent clients put it: “We can enjoy our time away peacefully now, knowing our fur pet is in excellent hands” — a simple but powerful reminder of what’s at stake.
It’s a far cry from the informal arrangements many pet owners have previously relied on. And in a world increasingly shaped by remote work, travel flexibility, and pet-first lifestyles, this kind of thorough care is no longer a luxury—it’s an expectation.
The Pet Ecosystem Grows: Where Products Meet Personal Care
As South Africa’s demand for personalised care for their pets grows, WePetSit is leading the charge in redefining how and where pets are cared for. Their certified, in-home pet care model ensures that every pet receives consistent, compassionate attention in the comfort of their own environment—something traditional models often overlook.
While WePetSit delivers the hands-on, daily pet care that families rely on, Petworld complements this with a wide range of pet care products that support health, nutrition, and enrichment. It’s a natural alignment: Petworld supplies the tools, and WePetSit brings them to life through meaningful human interaction and real-world application.
This growing synergy is helping to build a more complete pet care ecosystem—one where services and products come together to create healthier, happier lives for pets.
A Shared Mission: Uplifting Pets Through More Than Just Products
It’s no surprise that WePetSit and Petworld align so naturally—both rooted in values of compassion and community upliftment. While this is their first formal collaboration, both brands are deeply committed to supporting animal welfare in meaningful ways. Petworld actively supports rescue organisations across Cape Town and Johannesburg, while WePetSit contributes to local causes through their Hungry Bowl Charity and community education efforts. Together, they reflect a shared mission: to uplift the lives of pets in our communities—not just through services and products, but through genuine care and consistent impact.
From Pet Parent to Petpreneur: The Rise of Micro-Pet Businesses
Another trend surfacing in this new pet era is the rise of pet-centric microbusinesses. WePetSit doesn’t just offer services; they create livelihoods.
Through their business startup certification, individuals aged 19 and up can become certified carers, running their own part-time or full-time pet sitting businesses under the WePetSit banner. With training, tools, business coaching, and an established client base, this model empowers people to earn income by doing something meaningful.
Empowerment Through Pet Care: Turning Passion Into Purpose
As their brochure proudly states, “We don’t hire—we empower”. It’s a scalable, purpose-driven opportunity that mirrors a broader societal shift: people seeking autonomy, balance, and community-driven work. For pet lovers who want to contribute to something bigger, this is a dream scenario.
What Pet Parents Are Saying
Client stories speak volumes. Like Cindy from Fishhoek, who shared that her sitter sent her daily pictures and reports, leaving her “heart happy” during a trip away. Or the family in Britannia Bay who described their sitter Dolly as “top-flight,” able to care for their animals and home with such grace that they couldn’t imagine traveling without her again.
From Edgemead to Blouberg, these stories repeat: trust, comfort, connection.
And that’s exactly what the modern pet parent is craving.
Why the Shift Away From Kennels?
In-home pet sitting isn’t just a luxury—it’s a practical health and wellness decision. Animals are less exposed to contagious illnesses like kennel cough, less likely to experience separation anxiety, and more comfortable sticking to their usual routines and environments. With families also caring more for rescue pets, senior animals, or pets with medical needs, the demand for individualised attention has soared.
While kennels still serve a purpose for some, many pet parents now see at-home care as the kinder, safer alternative. It’s all part of the wider transformation in how we relate to our pets—not just as animals, but as emotionally intelligent members of the family.
The Bigger Picture: A Community That Cares
At the heart of this shift is something deeper than services or products—it’s about values. And it’s here that Petworld and WePetSit find their deepest alignment.
Both brands invest in local welfare projects, support small businesses, and champion animal education. They’re not just selling to the pet market; they’re uplifting it. From donating to rescue organisations to offering first-aid workshops and discounts for VIP customers, the vision is clear: make pet parenthood accessible, ethical, and joyful.
The Takeaway: Pet Care Has Grown Up
In 2025, caring for a pet in South Africa is no longer about last-minute planning or patchy solutions. It’s about intentionality.
Whether you’re stocking up on essentials from Petworld or handing your house keys to a WePetSit carer, you’re part of a bigger story—one where our pets’ needs, personalities, and comforts are at the centre of every decision.
This new wave of pet parenting is tender, trustworthy, and undeniably local. And as we continue to shape the future of animal care in South Africa, it’s the brands that prioritise compassion, consistency, and community that will lead the way.
After all, in a world full of noise, what our pets really need is something quite simple: care that feels like home.
