10+ Meowtel reservations completed 10+ Meowtel reservations completed
Background-checked Background-checked
Active in the last week Active in the last week
Meowtel Sitter for 1+ year Meowtel Sitter for 1+ year
Ernie's Cats
Background Checked
Repeat clients: 4
Hello,

I'm Ernest

A cat sitter in Berkeley, CA

5.00/5.00
Exceptional
15 REVIEWS

You aren't charged until Ernest confirms your request. Cancel anytime up to 48 hours before the reservation begins for a 100% refund.

Check if Ernest services your area

Good news! Ernest covers your area.

Unfortunately, Ernest does not cover your area right meow.

Over 125,000+ happy kitties serviced on Meowtel

I'm Ernest | Cat Sitting in Berkeley, CA

Photo
Photo #2
Photo #3
Photo #4
Photo #5
30 more view all

Learn More About Ernest

What is your experience with cat sitting, and how long have you been doing it?

I took on my first cat sitting client back in 2017. The original plan was to cat sit as a side job, but that quickly changed once I realized the need for good cat care and how much I enjoyed getting to know new cats and their families.

What do you enjoy most about cat sitting?

It enjoy knowing that I can give pet parents piece of mind while they’re away from their home and cats. And of course hanging out with cats lol

Can you tell us about your favorite cat sitting reservation?

My favorite job would be caring for Daisy. I remember the first time I saw her. She wasn’t in the best shape, but sweet as can be. Long story short, the family ended up leaving the country and we kept Daisy. She’s actually still with us 3 years later. She came to us with stage 3 CKD, which we’ve managed to keep stable.

Do you have kitties yourself? What are their names?

My wife and I have 10 cats, their names are: Smokey- 16 years old Daisy- 13 years old Jaxy- 14 years old Luna- 7 years old Bella- 6 years old Murphy- 5 years old Bunny- 4 years old Max and Lily- 3 years old Baby- 2 years old

Are you usually available during holidays?

Yes, I’m usually available during the holidays. I grew up in Berkeley, so I don’t go out of town for the holiday.

What is your favorite cat toy?

My favorite cat toy would probably be a wand toy. Most kitties have a hard time resisting wand toys haha

Ernest's Reviews

Sort by
Attention to Detail
4.9
Communication
5.0
Tidiness
5.0
Larissa

Larissa

Ernie was so great while we were away! He sent adorable pictures of our cats and they warmed up to him so quickly! He even helped us with some issues with ants that were affecting our kitties while we were away

Meowtel-verified reservation with drop-in visits
December 31, 2025
Jasmine

Jasmine

I can't speak highly enough about the level of care Ernest gave our kitties! He sent updates and photos with every visit. He definitely went above and beyond for us, turning up the heat for our boys as it was so cold, and sweeping up the litter our cats tracked. We will definitely be using Ernest again when we're out of town!

Meowtel-verified reservation with twice per day visits
December 2, 2025
James

James

Ernie’s experience giving medication was very helpful. Our senior kitty can be slow to warm up but he had it covered. Gave peace of mind for our trip out if state.

Meowtel-verified reservation with twice per day visits
May 23, 2025
Robyn

Robyn

Ernie did a great job with our 2 cats. He wrote up great visit summaries so we knew how they were doing and took plenty of photos. He left the house really clean as well.

Meowtel-verified reservation with twice per day visits
May 15, 2025
Kathryn

Kathryn

Ernest did a great job taking care of our cat, Jerry! Just 15 minutes before we had to leave for the airport, Jerry started throwing up. We were really anxious about leaving him and requested some extra visits from Ernest. Ernest made it work, even on short notice. He always took time to interact with Jerry and went above and beyond in multiple ways like emptying the Litter Genie, taking out the trash, and even (with our permission) bringing a pheromone plug in to keep Jerry calm. Definitely recommend!

Meowtel-verified reservation with drop-in visits
December 28, 2024
Robyn

Robyn

Ernie took great care of our cats while we were away. He sent lots of photos at each visit. And he even gave our cat his inhaler, which I know isn't always easy. The house looked great when we came home.

Meowtel-verified reservation 1+ week long
January 1, 2025
Kaitlin

Kaitlin

Ernie was such a great sitter! My cat Tom is a shy boy and Ernie was able to get him to warm up so fast. He really kept my mind at ease while away on holiday.

Meowtel-verified reservation with drop-in visits
December 29, 2024
Jasmine

Jasmine

This was our 2nd time having Ernest take care of our cats and we were so grateful for the level of care given. Our cats have really warmed up to him and we are looking forward to working with Ernest again for future visits!

Meowtel-verified reservation with drop-in visits
January 6, 2026
Robyn

Robyn

Ernie did a great job taking care of our cats again. He sent updates every visit and the cats love him.

Meowtel-verified reservation 1+ week long
October 12, 2025
Ryan

Ryan

Meowtel-verified reservation with drop-in visits
July 16, 2025
Kathryn

Kathryn

This was our second time booking Ernest to look after our cat. Highly recommended!

Meowtel-verified reservation with drop-in visits
July 7, 2025
Ben

Ben

Meowtel-verified reservation with drop-in visits
January 13, 2025
Jessica

Jessica

Our cats love Ernie! We no longer worry about going on vacation because we know Ernie will take great care of our cats. He is very communicative and is great at sending picture and video updates. We can’t recommend him enough.

November 14, 2024
Chris

Chris

Ernie was a fantastic sitter! The communications were excellent and he handled any surprises quickly and effectively. My feral rescue took to him immediately and I almost started to wonder who the kitten would pick when I got back!

November 14, 2024
Meowtel

Meowtel

Ernest is a background-checked cat sitter in the Berkeley area. Their profile has been verified and their references have been checked by Meowtel.

November 14, 2024

Ernest's Service Area & Rates

  • Meet & Greets
  • Drop-in visits to your home
  • $34.46 / 20min $49.18 / 45min $63.88 / 60min
  • Ernest's Holiday Surcharge is 15%
Service Area

Availability

SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
Unavailable Available
Cat Parents
Love Us
Excellent rating
on TrustPilot
People
Love Us
Always Communicate & Pay Through Meowtel

Always Communicate & Pay Through Meowtel

Doing so helps ensure you receive the benefits of Meowtel's Trust & Safety practices, including quick support from a real human.

Ernest's Skills & Services

Transportation

  • Car

Medication Administration

  • Topical Ointments
  • Eye/Ear Drops
  • Oral Medication / Pills

Each Visit Includes

  • Litter box cleaning
  • Feeding
  • Water refresh
  • A text update with at least 1 photo
  • Playtime and belly rubs

Cancellation Policy

Cat parents may cancel within 24 hours of making their reservation and receive a full refund, and the sitter will not receive any earnings. After the first 24 hours, the following cancellation rules apply:

Cat parents will receive a full refund to their Account Balance if they cancel anytime up to 48 hours before the start date of the reservation, and the sitter will not receive any earnings.

Cat parents will receive a 50% refund, and the sitter will earn 50% of their planned earnings if the cat parent cancels between 24-48 hours of the start of the reservation.

No refund will be issued within 24 hours of the reservation, and the sitter will keep 100% of their planned earnings.

Trust & Safety

Enjoy Meowtel's world-class customer support with every reservation. Our dedicated team is here for you and your cat every step of the way.

If the Meet & Greet isn't the right fit, or if you have any concerns during the reservation, please call 1-844-636-9835 so we can help you re-book with a new sitter.

Featured Cat Sitters Near Berkeley, CA

  • From $29.80 Diego's profile
    New Client Offer
    Diego A.
    (3)

    With a patient approach to understanding feline boundaries, Diego offers specialized overnight care and has experience with daily oral medication to keep your kitty happy and relaxed. 🐾 Expert at building trust with shy cats, they are open to new clients and available to support your pet care needs. 😺

    Compassionate and professional cat care 🐾
    VIEW PROFILE
  • From $35.50 Sarah's profile
    Sarah B.
    (3)

    Meet Sarah, a dedicated cat parent with ­over 20 years of pet care experience­! She excels at quickly earning a cat's trust and is skilled in administering various medications, including injections.🐾 Always ready to spoil your feline friends! 💖

    Experienced, Caring, Attentive, Trustworthy ­
    VIEW PROFILE
  • From $31.10 Alejandra's profile
    New Client Offer
    Alejandra R.
    (1)

    Alejandra offers patient, engaging care with a strong focus on kitty comfort and communication! They're experienced with administering oral medication, eye/ear drops, and inhalers. With their own beloved cats thriving, they know how to nurture feline happiness! 🐾😺

    Patient, engaging, experienced cat sitter!
    VIEW PROFILE
  • From $31.10 Bea's profile
    Bea K.
    (14)

    Sitter on Meowtel for 7+ months, Bea offers decades of cat care experience with a gentle touch for every kitty. Experienced with injections💊 and ready for last-minute bookings. 🎉

    Experienced, compassionate, reliable care. 💖
    VIEW PROFILE
  • From $33.95 Tiffany's profile
    Tiffany I.
    (3)

    Tiffany is an experienced lifeling cat lady offering specialized care for your unique companion. They provide a gentle approach while ensuring your cat is well-fed, hydrated, and has a clean litter box. Providing expert care for your cat while you're away! 😻🏡

    Gentle, expert feline care. 🐾
    VIEW PROFILE
  • From $30.45 Chantel's profile
    Chantel T.
    (5)

    With 2 years of experience, this sitter offers expert care for kitties of all temperaments. They specialize in medication administration and providing a calm, patient environment for shy cats 🐾🐱

    Gentle, experienced cat care 🐈
    VIEW PROFILE
  • From $33.30 Annie's profile
    Annie H.
    (16)

    With 2 years of professional experience, Annie brings a gentle, patient approach to every visit. She has a special heart for shy kitties, ensuring your feline companion feels comfortable, safe, and loved while you are away. 🐱✨ Trusted care for your fur babies.

    Gentle care for shy cats 🐾. Experienced with oral medication, Expert in nervous cat care, Friendly and flexible scheduling
    VIEW PROFILE
  • From $32.65 Niki's profile
    Niki P.
    (19)

    Niki brings years of cat care experience, connecting with kitties on their own terms. They skillfully administer topical ointments, eye/ear drops, and oral medication. Expect lots of extra love, pets & playtime for your furbabies! 😻🐾 Available on weekends & most holidays.

    Cat Whisperer, Experienced, Loving 🧡
    VIEW PROFILE

Frequently Asked Questions

Berkeley cat sitting rates will vary based on the pet sitter's experience and the services they offer, but the average price for a cat sitter is $37.00. Prices will also depend on how long your cat needs company for, whether that be a drop-in visit or overnight stay in your home. Cat sitters on Meowtel offer 20, 45, and 60-minute drop-in visits that allow for fully tailored care for your kitties. Your caregiver may also need to charge a little more if they have to travel far, so you can find the best options which are close by.

Every cat sitter on Meowtel completes a background check. Ask your sitter about a free Meet & Greet so you (and your kitties!) can feel comfortable with your sitter before you leave.

Cats are territorial animals and don't do well in new environments. The presence of other cats, dogs, and even birds in kennels or animal hotels cause an immense amount of stress for your kitties. This is why Meowtel was created, so tailored in-home care is brought to you.

We recommend that you book daily visits with your sitter to keep your cats in their routine and to help minimize feline anxiety while you're away.

Each Meowtel cat sitting visit typically includes the whole 9 yards: feeding, refreshing the water bowls, litter box scooping, tidying up, medications, updates with photos, lots of playtime, as well as any special requests you may have. Every kitty is different and that's why sitters on Meowtel offer tailored, in-home services since cats don't do well outside their own homes. Plus, ask your sitter about a free Meet & Greet so you can meet them before you leave to confirm it's a purrfect fit.

Ernie's Cats
5.00 • 15 reviews • From $34.46