The Purrfect Cat Sitter Profile Submission

Meowtel helps every cat and cat parent live their best life! And to do that, we need the best sitters. Whether you're looking to make cat sitting your full-time career or a substantial part of your life, here are a few things you should know about submitting your cat sitter listing for approval.

Pre-screening Stage

Embrace Our Approach to Cat Sitting

We are committed to quality cat care, and our approach revolves around four core aspects that will be explored in the pre-screening questionnaire:

1. Holiday Seasons: Cat sitters often find the highest demand during holidays and peak vacation periods. Those with sporadic availability or frequent unavailability during these times might find difficulties aligning with the needs of our community.

2. Consistent Availability: Emphasizing our role as reliable care providers, we value sitters who can consistently be there for our feline friends. Unpredictable schedules might face challenges to meet our clients' needs. If yours fluctuates often, you might want to wait to join us at a more stable time.

3. Attentiveness to Clients' Needs: We prioritize satisfaction for both cats and their parents by being attentive, proactive, and responsive.

4. Local Mobility: We value sitters who are willing to cover a range of 10 to 15 miles to meet the needs of cat parents in their local community.

These core points help shape our community, fostering a purrfect Meowtel experience every time. Before diving in, make sure you have a clear understanding of your schedule, any impending travel commitments, and periods when you won't be available. Remember, if your approach doesn't match ours, you're welcome to reevaluate and try again in 6 months!

Listing Submission Stage

Give Yourself Plenty of Time

The submission process for Meowtel can take anywhere from 30 to 45 minutes, so make sure you have enough time to complete everything. That includes completing a questionnaire, writing a bio, and uploading pictures, among other things. We will begin reviewing each submission only after a listing is 100% complete. You can always change things during the process, but uploading duplicate photos or providing inaccurate information can hinder your chances of becoming a Meowtel cat sitter. Stay authentic, and you'll be setting yourself up for success!

Make Sure Our Emails Don't Go to Spam!

All email communication during this process will come from [email protected]. Double-check that it's on your approved senders' list. We would hate for an impurrtant message to go to your junk folder! We send SMS messages as reminders during the process, too.

Have Your Resume or LinkedIn Profile Handy

Make sure to include a detailed, up-to-date resume/CV, or a LinkedIn profile that includes the time range spent at each job. Please include all professional experience, whether it's related to cat sitting or not! If you're retired, recently reentering the workforce, or a student or recent graduate, that's ok! Simply explain that in your bio or in your resume summary. Go to our blog for some tips to craft your resume from scratch.

Familiarize Yourself with Meowtel and Write Your Sitter Bio

Learn how Meowtel works to make sure your bio aligns with our Terms of Service. To maintain a fair and focused platform, avoid mentioning competitors, external websites, or services we do not offer like grooming or boarding. For a full understanding of the services Meowtel offers, check out this FAQ page.

Your bio is where cat parents get to know you. Write a thoughtful, professional bio that introduces you and your feline expertise. Share your cat care skills, including any medication administration knowledge you have. Highlight your availability and commitment to providing consistent, loving care to build long-lasting relationships with cat parents, and remember to keep your bio informative, typo-free, and sprinkle in some of your own personality! Remember, cat sitting is a business, and this is your chance to highlight your unique skills. Need some inspiration? Read on for more tips on crafting a great bio.

Upload Your Pictures: Get Your Cat and Smile!

Choosing great pictures can give your profile extra paw-zazz. For your profile photo, pick a clear, smiling headshot, ideally with your cat making a special appearance. This combination not only showcases your personality but also your love for cats, significantly enhancing your profile's appeal. Just make sure that your face is centered in the frame and fully visible to connect with potential clients at first glance. For your gallery photos, show off your kitties and your cat-photography skills! Read more about choosing the best sitter photos.

Choose Professional References

We require two professional references to process your submission and keep in mind that family members and your significant other are not eligible to serve as your professional references. Pick someone from a current or past employer, a pet sitting client, or someone you volunteer with, and remember to let them know we'll be reaching out! If you need more guidance, check our blog for tips on choosing your professional references.

Optimize Your Service Zone

Choosing your Service Zone is crucial which is why we suggest covering a 10 to 15-mile radius. This generally translates to 10 to 20 zip codes but it can vary by city. Limiting your zone can significantly slow business growth. Likewise, choosing more than 40 zip codes can be counterproductive; while extensive coverage has value, managing requests across that many zip codes can pose considerable challenges and may result in multiple unfulfilled requests. 

For the best results on Meowtel, keep your Service Zone between 10 and 30 zip codes, open your availability widely, ideally 3 months ahead with many consecutive open days. Remember, sitters not appearing on the calendar miss out on potential bookings.

Set Competitive Rates

Now it is time to set your rates. You can offer drop-in visits once per day, twice per day, or overnight visits. For drop-in visits, your options for visits are 20 minutes, 45 minutes, or 60 minutes. Your rates should be all-inclusive so consider your transportation costs such as gas, parking, or public transportation costs. To start with, we recommend setting your rates slightly below the averages for your area. You can always increase these rates as you gain experience and reviews!

Highlight your Skills, Transport and Schedule Constraints

Let cat parents know whether you have a car, use public transport, or ride a bike. Alongside this, provide clarity on any schedule constraints you might have. For instance, if you attend a weekly exercise class on Wednesday nights and won't be available then, it's essential to let cat parents know in advance. Lastly, don't forget to highlight your qualifications and experience in administering medication to cats, if applicable. These details make a difference and can always be updated later if necessary!

Vetting Stage

Respond to Deadlines, Be Proactive

During the process, we may ask you for additional information that must be completed in a timely manner. It is super helpful if you're able to respond before the deadlines we communicate. This means a shorter wait time for you, and it shows us your reliability, time management, and responsiveness.

Continue Building Skills in Your Local Community

If you find that your area is not yet served or you are informed that your area doesn't have enough customers to bring more sitters on board, don't be discouraged! We value your passion for cat sitting and encourage you to continue building your skills and experience in your local area. In the meantime, consider volunteering at local shelters or offering your services to friends and family to gain experience. Be sure that your dedication to cat care will be a valuable asset when Meowtel reaches your market.

Finally

This whole process, from creating a free account to sitter onboarding, usually takes between 10 and 14 days. The most responsive candidates and references can activate in under 3 days. For those ready to commit full-time, the earning potential and the joy of connecting with cute cats every day can be a rewarding career path!

The typical, casual sitter can make anywhere between $500 and $1,000 per month. The best cat sitters make around $5,000 a month! But the number of kitty head-butts and purrs are priceless.

Ready to submit your listing for approval? Get started here - the kitties are waiting.

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