Your care cards and iCloud
Care cards are saved on your device first, so you can use them when iCloud is unavailable. Optional private iCloud sync keeps them available on your devices signed in to the same Apple Account. Pet Handoff does not require a separate account.
If sync needs attention, open Pet Handoff Settings and tap Retry. If you need to enable iCloud, open the Settings app, tap your name, then iCloud. Return to Pet Handoff when iCloud is available; sync will retry automatically.
Pet Handoff Pro and purchases
Pro is a one-time purchase through the App Store, with no subscription. It unlocks unlimited pets and PDF or image exports, removes the export watermark, and lets you add pet photos. The free version includes one pet, one watermarked PDF or image export, and unlimited plain-text sharing.
To restore a purchase, open Settings > Upgrade > Restore Purchases, or use Restore Purchases on the Pro screen. Use the same Apple Account used for the purchase. If the purchase is not found or Pro remains locked, try again later and contact support.
Previewing and sharing a handoff
Open a pet, choose Preview handoff, then copy plain text or choose Share PDF or Share image. iOS shows the system share sheet so you can select the destination. Review the handoff before sending it; the destination you choose receives the information included in it.
Sitting stays: TestFlight preparation
Sitting stays are being prepared for TestFlight and are not yet available in the public App Store release. If your beta includes Stays, you can plan daily care windows for selected pets, invite up to three sitters, and follow their check-ins in a shared timeline. This is separate from lifetime Pro. There is no monthly subscription.
A purchased stay is planned to cost $4.99 in the United States for up to 30 days of care; the purchase screen shows Apple’s actual localized price. Dates can be extended within that allowance, followed by one explicitly requested extension of up to 48 extra hours. Sitters join free. Downloading the stay timeline and photos is included.
Inviting a sitter through Messages
Both owner and sitter need iCloud. Sitters need Pet Handoff on an iPhone or iPad; Android and Google sign-in are not supported yet.
Open the stay, choose Invite or manage caregivers, and enter the sitter’s Apple Account email address. Confirm that address with the sitter first. Pending invitations count toward the three-sitter limit. Once added, choose Send private link, then Messages in the share sheet.
The sitter must open the link using the invited Apple Account. Forwarding it does not grant another account access. If the invitation fails, check the email, iCloud sign-in, app version, and connection. During testing, both devices must use the same TestFlight environment. Never send anyone your Apple Account password.
To remove a sitter, open the same invitation controls and remove their access. Previous timeline entries remain. To stop care early, choose Complete stay while connected to iCloud.
Check-ins, notes, and reminders
Caregivers can mark a task completed, report running late, or explain that they could not complete it. Photos are optional unless the owner requested one for completion. Check-ins save on the device first and share when connected.
Completed check-ins cannot be edited or undone. Use Add note or photo for a separate timestamped entry; the original check-in remains unchanged.
Enable reminders and updates in the stay, and allow notifications in device Settings. If an update has not arrived, refresh the stay and check your connection. iOS can delay background updates; notifications are not guaranteed immediate. “No update yet” does not mean the sitter missed the care task. Owners can send a gentle nudge after a care window and grace period, limited to once per window every two hours.
Keeping the timeline and photos
Owners can choose Download timeline PDF or Download photos and save copies with the system share sheet. Downloads are available during the stay and for 30 days after completion. The deadline is shown in the stay. These downloads do not use your free care-card export allowance.
Ending the download window does not automatically delete archived data. Scheduled expiry closes sitter access inside the app; revoking the underlying iCloud share requires an owner device to connect. Copies someone has already saved outside the app cannot be recalled.
Contact support
Email chrisw.apps87@gmail.com. Include your device model, iOS version, app version, and a short description of the issue. Please leave out passwords and payment-card details, and avoid sending personal pet or contact information unless it is needed to explain the problem.