Meowtel
If you have a new furry and adorable addition to your family and are interested in finding out what breed your kitten may be, we’ve compiled some tips that can help. Whether your cat is a stray, a rescue, or was bought for you by a loved one, we can help you narrow it down and make identifying the breed of your kitten just a little bit easier.
> Read "Tips for Identifying Your Kitten’s Breed"
Meowtel
One thing is for certain: cats are brilliant, socially-aware creatures, and their love and respect for you as their cat parent is the main factor for why they act the way they do. And without being defensive, we as their owners must recognize our shortcomings and offer them the best life possible! The cats, after all, don’t always understand the things they do, and it’s important for us to meet them halfway and teach them how to act.
> Read "6 Tips for Disciplining Your Cat"
Meowtel
The best way to combat animal cruelty is to educate ourselves on what animal cruelty looks like and what warning signs to recognize. Arming ourselves with knowledge and knowing what to look out for could be the difference between life and death for millions of innocent animals.
> Read "April is Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month"
Meowtel
With so many ways to honor Earth Day, we wanted to find ways for cat lovers, owners, and enthusiasts alike to observe this holiday in a way that is centered around their favorite animal: cats.
> Read "Cats and Earth Day"
Meowtel
Every year during the last week of March pet lovers across the globe observe Poison Prevention Awareness Month: a national day that is important not only for humans but our beloved furry companions as well. An accidental poisoning is one of the most terrifying scenarios a cat parent can be faced with.
> Read "Poison Prevention Awareness Month: Keep Your Cat(s) Safe This March"
Zachary Visconti
Sometimes it can feel like a lot of work to groom your cat, especially if they’re of the long-haired variety! When untended or unmaintained, long-haired cats can develop nasty mats, which can even cause pain to your furry friend at times.
> Read "How To Groom Your Long-Haired Cat"
Zachary Visconti
If human psychology isn’t already difficult enough, cat psychology is less researched, less funded, and generally less understood, making it feel nearly impossible to understand our furry friends. Not only are we a different species, but cats aren’t quite intelligent enough (as far as we know!) to let us know what their experience is like, so how can we expect to understand their needs?
> Read "Cat Psychology: Routines and Schedules For Your Cat"
Sonya Petcavich
Here at Meowtel, we strive to achieve our mission of helping every cat and cat parent live their best life. Keeping our community safe is a core component of achieving this mission so we're pleased to provide our guidance on how to appropriately conduct Meowtel reservations in the wake of COVID-19.
> Read "COVID-19 Guidance For Our Community"
Meowtel
September is Animal Pain Awareness Month. Just like humans, our cats can experience pain on different levels. Some conditions cause acute pain, which is usually visible and easy to identify, but others can cause chronic discomfort that is often mistaken for age-related behavioral changes.
> Read "Animal Pain Awareness Month: How to know if your cat is in pain"
Sonya Petcavich
We're excited to share with you some major changes we are bringing to the platform on September 1st. Over the past few months, we’ve interviewed hundreds of sitters and customers and learned a lot about how we could improve.
> Read "September Sitter Changes"
Zachary Visconti
While flying with cats isn't always the ideal option, it often is the only option. Here is a break-down of all major U.S. airlines' policies including the cost to travel with your cat and the requirements before you can book your flight with your cat.
> Read "How Much Does it Cost to Take Cats On a Plane?"
Melanie Deisz
Why some cats are more prone to hairballs, when you should be concerned, and steps you can take to remedy the hairball and bile surprises.
> Read "Why Cats Get Hairballs and How To Remedy Them"
Ana Hagedorn
Do cats have 20/20 vision? How do they see so well at night? What exactly does their world look like? All your cat vision questions answered.
> Read "Cat Vision: How Does Your Cat See the World?"
Meghan Workman
Here's the 411 on Coronavirus and cats: symptoms, kitty testing, prevention, handling infection, and cat to human transmittal.
> Read "Can Cats Get COVID-19?"
Meowtel
This is the busiest time of the year for animal shelters, due to this increase of kitten litters. To help, American Humane founded Adopt-a-Cat Month: this initiative aims to promote cat adoptions across the U.S. and to highlight the importance of cat spaying and neutering.
> Read "June is Adopt A Cat Month"
Shelley Masini
In between setting up a makeshift home office, finding toilet paper, expanding my mask collection, and staying healthy, I've learned some valuable life lessons from my cat.
> Read "What I Learned From My Cat During Quarantine"
Meowtel
We love this summer holiday but unfortunately, it’s not always as enjoyable for our kitties. Here are the steps you can take to ensure your cat has a smooth Independence Day.
> Read "Keeping Your Cat Safe on the 4th of July"
Sonya Petcavich
Fosters and adoptions are skyrocketing because everyone wants a furry feline companion while sheltering in place. Here are the changes that the cat world has been experiencing, including adapting to a “socially distanced” kitten season and empty shelters.
> Read "Cat Adoptions Soar During Covid-19"
Ana Hagedorn
The cat(nip) is out of the bag! Check out these four fun facts you may not know about the plant that kitties crave.
> Read "Four Interesting Facts About Catnip"
Krista Franklin
Life is a roller coaster with many highs and lows, and sometimes finding your purpose can be difficult. We’d like you to meet Meowtel sitter Krista. With the love of cats, she was able to overcome obstacles, grief, and negativity. Now she is at a place in her life where she is truly happy. Read her story, and know that you, too, can find joy and happiness.
> Read "A True Sitter Story: Follow Your Dreams and Pet Every Cat on the Way"
Melanie Deisz
Need a rainy day project? Grab a cup of coffee, get comfy, and create a cozy cat bed for your fur-avorite feline. These six do-it-yourself beds will make you want to hit snooze on life and craft the day away. Tell Peanut to get ready for the ultimate cat nap!
> Read "How To Make 6 Cat Beds for Your Furbaby"
Melanie Deisz
You arrive at your cat sitting visit and discover that your client’s home has been broken into. What do you do? While we hope you never experience this, it is important to be prepared for the unexpected. In this article, we’ll explain how to safely handle a break-in and steps to take if you find that kitty has gone missing.
> Read "Your Client's Home Was Broken Into. Now What?"
Ana Hagedorn
We know that cat parents want a trustworthy, reliable, and cat-centric sitter to care for their purrbabies. To make sure each and every cat family receives the purrfect hospitality, Meowtel has an exceptionally thorough onboarding process and are very selective about who we allow to join our platform. Learn why you’ll find the purrfect sitter for your kitty on Meowtel and what makes our sitters the best of the best.
> Read "Meowtel Cat Sitters Deliver that Purrfect Hospitality"
DiAngelea Millar
Inflammatory Bowel Disease is a journey of uncertainties, but know that you are not alone. This is a story about Blanche Elizabeth Devereaux’s experience with IBD, how her doctors reached a diagnosis, and what her cat mom DiAngelea learned along the way.
> Read "Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) - A Cat Parent's Perspective"
Ana Hagedorn
National Music Month got you feline festive? Celebrate music (and cats!) with Meowtel’s Top 9 Cat Hits. We’ll even share our Spotify meow-sic playlist with you if you ask nicely. Happy listening!
> Read "Meow-sic to My Ears: Cat-Inspired Songs for National Music Month"
Melanie Deisz
At Meowtel, sitter safety is our top priority. We have zero tolerance for any harassment or abuse, and that includes situations between customers and sitters. If you encounter any of the circumstances in this article, please reach out to Meowtel so we can further address your concerns.
> Read "Knowing When to Put Your Foot Down: How to Handle an Array of Customer Situations on Meowtel"
Melanie Deisz
Spoiler alert: Feline overpopulation is a huge problem worldwide. But we’ve got the solution–spay and neuter your cats! Still skeptical? Get the facts on why having Fluffy fixed will help her live her best life.
> Read "Spaying/Neutering Your Cat: The Benefits of Sterilization"
Melanie Deisz
Enrichment games are a fur-tastic way to keep Fluffy entertained and mentally stimulated. They also help slow down kitties that eat too quickly. Beat kitty boredom with these five fun feeders!
> Read "How to Make Your Own Kitty Enrichment Feeders and Toys"
Melanie Deisz
Meowtel cat sitters are the best of the best! As a result, there is a standard of communication cat parents expect to receive from their sitter. Take a look at our handy-dandy visual of what you should include in your daily updates to clients to ensure that your text messages are up to par.
> Read "Anatomy of a Text Update"
Melanie Deisz
Just like humans, cats prefer to give and receive love and affection in a variety of ways. Ensure your kitty has the purrfect Valentine’s Day by communicating with them in their own love language. Find out which of the five love languages your kitty speaks.
> Read "Meow and Furever: Your Cat's Love Language"
Melanie Deisz
Brushing your cat’s teeth is not a task for the faint-hearted. However, this and other measures are important for a kitty’s dental health.
> Read "Dental Health For Cats - Your Cat Needs a Dentist Too"
Melanie Deisz
Air travel with a feline companion can be a daunting task. This handy guideline will help you prepare for your flight, know what to expect during travel, and provide alternatives if Fluffy prefers to keep all four paws on the ground.
> Read "The Ins and Outs of Flying with Your Cat"
Sonya Petcavich
A letter from our Chief Success Cat, Sonya Petcavich: Dear Meowtel sitters–you are ameowzing! Thank you for all of your hard work. Now that things have calmed down a bit from the holiday catness, I encourage you to take some time to reflect on 2019, set some goals for 2020, and take a break to focus on yourself.
> Read "Slow Season Self Care"
Melanie Deisz
Cat toys don’t have to cost a fortune to be fun for Fluffy! Here are eight simple do-it-yourself projects to entertain kitty using items you may already have around the house. Crafters be warned… you’re going to love making these homemade toys!
> Read "How To Make Your Own Kitty Toys: Pawsitively Playful for You and Your Furbaby"
Melanie Deisz
Find out how cats—and cat sitting—gave one person newfound confidence and happiness.
> Read "How Cat Sitting Changed My Life"
Melanie Deisz
First impressions are everything. When clients are looking for the purrfect cat sitter, they will likely be comparing your Meowtel profile to those of other sitters in their city. Therefore having a captivating profile page is a crucial factor in obtaining new clients. We’ll break down what you should include in your Meowtel sitter bio to help you stand out from the clowder.
> Read "Cat Sitter Profile 101: Writing a Professional, Engaging, and Unique Sitter Introduction"
Shelley Masini
Introducing two cats to each other can be stressful not only for the kitties, but also for you–the human. But guess what? It doesn’t have to be! We’ve got some tips and tricks to help cat parents live their best life during this fur-amily transition.
> Read "How to Stay Sane When Introducing Two Adult Cats to Each Other"
Melanie Deisz
Are you unhappy with your cat’s current diet and considering a change? Contrary to popular belief, you can’t just switch from one bag of kibble to the next. You also can’t starve your cat until they decide they’re hungry enough to eat the new food. Doing so can cause serious health problems for kitty. So, let’s talk about the things you should keep in mind when transitioning your cat to a new diet.
> Read "Food for Thought: How to Properly Switch your Cat's Diet"
Melanie Deisz
If you’re looking for a healthy snack for your cat’s Christmas pawty, we’ve got the purrfect solution! Making homemade cat treats is as simple as 1-2-3 and is a meowvelous bonding activity for you and your feline sous chef. It’s also a great alternative to all those ingredients and preservatives found in manufactured treats. Here are our fur-avorite do-it-yourself recipes… nom nom nom!
> Read "How To Make Cat Treats: Catmas Time Treats for the Holiday Season"
Melanie Deisz
Cells phones are arguably the greatest thing since sliced bread. You literally have a world of resources at your fingertips. And of course nowadays there is an app for literally everything - even for your cats! Meowtel presents our fur-avorite apps and websites that will keep you and your cat entertained for hours to come. Enjoy!
> Read "Top-Rated Cat Apps and Websites for a Pawsitively Good Time!"
Melanie Deisz
There is no such thing as too much documentation. As a sitter, it is important that you follow the client’s rules; documenting that you have done so will only help you. If you are unclear about what updates to message your clients or when you should send extra pictures, that’s okay. We’ll help clarify when and what you should be reporting to cat parents.
> Read "When and What to Document as a Sitter"
Natasha Nichols
Celebrate 25 days of Catmas with 25 pawsome gifts! From cat trees, to stocking stuffers, to the latest in cat technology, we’ve got the purrfect present to make your kitty’s Christmas meowy and their holidays bright!
> Read "2019 Holiday Gift List for Cats"
Melanie Deisz
We are fortunate enough to live in an era where technology is unsurpassed and easily accessible by anyone, including your cats! From pet cameras with built-in laser pointers and treat dispensers to security cameras with two-way audio and room panning capability, we’ve got the purrfect pet cam recommendations for you - all specs included!
> Read "Best Cat Cameras on the Market: Pros, Cons, and Tech Specs"
Melanie Deisz
With so many brands and varieties of cat food on the market, it can be overwhelming selecting the best cat food for your feline friend. We’ll help you break down which ingredients are key to feline health, which ones are simply unnecessary fillers, and which ingredients could be dangerous for your cat.
> Read "Cat Food – What to Look For and Ingredients to Avoid"
Melanie Deisz
Everyone poops, including your cat. While scooping the litter box is not the most fun part of being a cat owner, monitoring your cat’s stool is a very important part of their health regimen. Many poo factors such as color, consistency, odor, frequency, and litter box habits can be indicative of health concerns. Do you know what your cat’s poop is telling you? Get the scoop.
> Read "What Your Cat’s Poop is Telling You"
Meowtel
Sometimes life is unpredictable and can quickly land you into financial struggle. Yet one cat sitter was able to get themselves out of debt and build a substantial savings to fall back on, all with the help of Meowtel’s fantastic felines.
> Read "How Meowtel Helped Me Build Savings While Playing with Cats"
Melanie Deisz
Natural disasters like fires, hurricanes, and earthquakes affect millions of Americans each year and can happen to anyone unexpectedly. In an emergency, kitty is counting on you to help them to safety. Be prepared–make an evacuation plan and a disaster kit for you and your cat today.
> Read "Cat Safety – Animal Preparedness for Natural Disasters"
Melanie Deisz
Chocolate, garlic, and grapes, oh my! Did you know that there is an entire menu of food items that are off-limits for your furry feline friends? While your cat may try to convince you that just one bite can’t hurt, we recommend that you keep these common people snacks well out of paw’s reach.
> Read "Human Foods to Avoid Giving Your Cat"
Elise Morgan
You’ve decided you want to get Fluffy a playmate, so what’s next? Bringing a new cat into the family is a big change for you, Fluffy, and for the new furbaby. Here are some tips to make sure the transition goes smoothly so everyone can live their best life–together.
> Read "How to Accommodate for an Additional Cat in the Home"
Melanie Deisz
Some cats are just scaredy cats! Find out how you as a cat sitter can provide the best care for these shy kitties.
> Read "How to Handle a Scaredy Cat"
Melanie Deisz
“Help! My cat is destroying my furniture!” Destructive scratching is an unwanted but very common kitty behavior. Luckily there are many solutions to curbing naughty nails while still providing your cat with an outlet for their instinct to scratch.
> Read "Tips to Help Stop Destructive Scratching"
Melanie Deisz
Letting your cat outdoors comes with many risks. While some people may argue that kitty needs outside time, there are many suitable alternatives to fulfill your cat’s instinctual needs while keeping them safely indoors.
> Read "Indoor vs. Outdoor - Should You Let Your Cat Go Outside?"
Melanie Deisz
How many cat clients is too many? Ensure you aren’t overextending yourself as a Meowtel sitter.
> Read "Cat Sitters: Don’t Overextend Yourself!"
Melanie Deisz
Playtime is important for cats—even when you’re away! Good cat sitters make sure your cat gets all they need, even play.
> Read "Meowtel Sitters Love Playtime, Too!"
Melanie Deisz
A profile picture is your chance to make a good first impression on cat parents seeking sitters.
> Read "Cat Sitter Profile Picture 101"
Melanie Deisz
Being attacked by a cat can be a traumatizing experience. Knowing why cats attack and recognizing the warning signs of aggression can help cat parents and sitters prevent and handle such an encounter.
> Read "How to Handle a Cat Attack and What to Do to Prevent It"
Melanie Deisz
An indoor jungle makes for great decor, but it may not be good for your cat. Find out which common plants are poisonous to kitties.
> Read "House Plants and Cats: Top Ten Toxic Plants"
Melanie Deisz
Overnight cat sitting assignments require some decorum and common sense. Here are our tips.
> Read "Overnight Etiquette for Cat Sitters"
Melanie Deisz
Finding a cat litter that suits you and your furry friend can be tricky. Read these observations on the various types from a cat lover.
> Read "The Great Litter Debate: Which Kind is The Best Kind?"
Melanie Deisz
Many questions surround the raw food diet for cats. Here’s one cat parent’s experience with raw food.
> Read "To Raw Food Diet or Not? The Kitty Parent Question"
Natasha Nichols
If you think about it, having a cat can be a lot like having a toddler. They’re curious, like to knock things over, poop a lot, and while they might not shove things up their nose, they do regularly put things in their mouth that they shouldn’t.
> Read "10 Common Household Items You May Not Realize are a Risk for Your Cat"
Shelley Masini
Despite common misconceptions, we cat moms and dads know that our feline furbabies love spending time with us, just as much as we love spending time with them! And there's nothing like being apart to remind us just how precious that time together is.
> Read "How to Spend Quality Time with Your Cat When You’re Home"
Veronica Head
When you go away on vacation, you’re left with a few options for your furry friend. While it’s possible to board your cat at a local kennel, you might also opt to have someone watch your furchild within the comfort of their home.
> Read "How to Find the Purr-fect Cat Sitter"
Melanie Deisz
John and Catherine entrust Meowtel with their feline buddies. Here’s their experience with cat sitter Amy in Los Angeles.
> Read "Customer Case Study: John and Catherine, CA (LA)"
Melanie Deisz
Sydney is an experienced Meowtel cat sitter in Santa Monica. Read more about her experience looking after Los Angeles kitties.
> Read "Cat Sitter Case Study: Sydney, CA"
Melanie Deisz
Don’t forget your feline friends in your allergy awareness. Cats suffer from this affliction just like humans!
> Read "May is Allergy Awareness Month For Cats Too"
Melanie Deisz
Cats, like people, have different thresholds of what they’re willing to tolerate when it comes to temperature. Personally, I cannot stand the heat and would rather be cold. I can only take off so many layers of clothing and still be legal but I can layer, layer, layer!
> Read "Keeping Your Kitties At The Purrfect Temperature"
Melanie Deisz
Terribly morbid, I know - but this is something all cat sitters must think about. I hope that you will never have to deal with anything like this but if you do, you need to be prepared.
> Read "How To Handle A Suddenly Sick Or Deceased Cat"
Melanie Deisz
Welcome back to part 2 of how to become a top notch sitter! In this second part of the series, I will outline some ideas to help you become the best sitter you can be.
> Read "Tips To Become A Top Notch Sitter – Part 2"
Melanie Deisz
You clearly love cats if you’ve signed up to be a cat sitter with Meowtel. That’s great! Now here is a list of ideas that will help you become a stand out sitter! Enjoy this riveting two part series!
> Read "Tips To Become A Top Notch Sitter – Part 1"
Melanie Deisz
The first step in finding the right sitter for you and your cat is to understand what kind of parent you are. Do you view your cat as a pet, a member of the family, or a child you would do anything for?
> Read "Be The Best Cat Parent You Can Be"
Sonya Petcavich
If you have a cat who’s acting out, you are not alone. The good news is that it’s usually pretty easy to find the inspiration of your furry housemate’s wrath.
> Read "How Can I Stop My Cat From Acting Out?"
Sonya Petcavich
Are you thinking about boarding your cats while you go on vacation? Figuring out what to do for your feline friends when you head out of town can be stressful.
> Read "3 Things You Need to Know About Cat Boarding"
Meowtel
All of us cat people want to know: How long can you leave a cat alone? And do cats miss you when you’re gone?
> Read "How Long Can You Leave A Cat Alone?"
Jessica Brody
Becoming a new cat owner doesn’t have to be hard. When you add a new furry member to your household, everyone wants things to go smoothly.
> Read "How to Be the Best First-Time Cat Owner"
Meowtel
Siberian cats, also known as Siberian Forest cats or Moscow Longhairs, are native to Russia and are one of the oldest cat breeds: maybe even the ancestor of all longhaired breeds.
> Read "5 Unique Things About the Siberian Cat"
Meowtel
The American Bobtail cat gets its name from its very short tail and resemblance to the wild Bobcat. There are other bobtailed cats in the world, (specifically the Manx and the Japanese Bobtail).
> Read "5 Things to Love about the American Bobtail"
Meowtel
We all want our feline friends to live long, healthy lives. Making sure your cat gets seen by the veterinarian for routine preventive care and checkups is vital to that goal.
> Read "6 Ways to Help Your Cat Love The Veterinarian"
Meowtel
The Sphynx cat is a rare and unusual breed with a hairless look that sets it apart from other cats. These cats need special care, but all the extra time and effort you devote is well worth it.
> Read "5 Things to Love About the Sphynx Cat"
Meowtel
The Abyssinian cat is one of the smartest and most popular cat breeds in the United States. Known for its unique fur and its country-wide popularity, the Abyssinian cat has been a happy addition to many homes.
> Read "5 Unique Things About the Abyssinian Cat"
Meowtel
Can your cat catch a cold? Of course, they can. Just like we humans, cats can catch colds, and they do so somewhat frequently. However, colds are not passed on between humans and cats since the viruses that cause colds are species-specific.
> Read "What To Do When My Cat Has A Cold"
Meowtel
Manx cats are an amazing and adorable breed of many feline lovers. It is best known for a mutation that results in a small, stub-like tail (or in some cases, no tail at all).
> Read "All About The Manx Cat"
Meowtel
When describing the American Shorthair, the expression happy medium springs to mind. These American cats are medium in size.
> Read "All About The American Shorthair"
Meowtel
Sometimes we’re around our pets so much we start treating them like they’re human, and that’s great. Our furry friends deserve the best possible care we can give them.
> Read "Here Are Some Tips For Moving With Pets"
Meowtel
The Himalayan cat is also known as Himmie. This is a charming cat developed by breeders from the crossbreed of a Siamese mantle and Persian frame.
> Read "All About The Himalayan Cat"
Meowtel
The litter box is the primary negative of cat ownership for most cat people. However, if your cat decides that the litter box isn’t the best place to use the restroom, that is even worse.
> Read "6 Ways to Stop Litter Box Issues"
Meowtel
“Ouch! That Hurts!” When your cat bites you or your guest, it can be embarrassing and painful. It’s important to teach your cat not to bite people.
> Read "5 Things to do When Your Cat Bites"
Meowtel
Persian cats are cute, social and gentle pet animal. Of all the cat breeds in the world, none is more distinctive or highly recognized than the Persian.
> Read "All About The Persian Cat"
Meowtel
Never heard of the Bengal cat breed before? You’re in luck because I’m just about letting you in on some brief history.
> Read "All About Bengal Cats"
Meowtel
Being a responsible cat owner is a must if you’re to adopt a cat. Cats should be treated with care, and it is the owner’s responsibility to keep the animal healthy.
> Read "Five Ways To Be A Better Cat Owner"
Meowtel
Today, the Siamese cats are one of the most popular breeds of cat, principally because it is known as an affectionate and sociable breed.
> Read "All About Siamese Cats"
Meowtel
We love Ragdoll cats because they’re beautiful, they learn quickly, and they pick up tricks easily. In this post, we hope you learn to love them too!
> Read "Ragdoll Cats"
Meowtel
When you get a cat, or if you are an owner, no one generally talks about their cats getting sick. There is a good reason for that because cats are very healthy creatures, and for the most part, they are low maintenance.
> Read "The 10 Most Common Cat Diseases"
Meowtel
Cats have various reasons for clawing the furniture, such as to mark territory, to sharpen the claws, and to stretch out their muscles.
> Read "4 Simple Ways To Stop A Cat From Clawing Furniture"
Meowtel
It is known for its liveliness, intelligence, and its distinctive physical appearance. It has been said that the name “coon” comes from “raccoon” because of the similarities of the tails of the two animals.
> Read "All About The Maine Coon Cat"