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

I have been cat sitting for about 20 years. In the beginning, it was mostly through word of mouth and friends of friends, but in recent years I have also worked for a local pet sitting service and fostered through local shelters.

What do you enjoy most about cat sitting?

As a cat owner, I know that cats are social animals and finding a good sitter who 1) knows that, 2) takes great care, and 3) pays close attention to your cats makes it so much easier to be away from them. I love providing comfort for families knowing that their fur babies are being properly cared for in their absence. I also love helping with cats with special needs--like medication, injections, etc. Plus animals are the absolute best! If I could pet every animal in the world, I would. Meeting and interacting with cats brings me great joy as I feel like I understand them and their needs, and they give me everything that I need just by being themselves.

Do you have kitties yourself? What are their names?

I have four of my own fur children. Bits, my tuxie, and Jupiter, my black girl, are the oldest, 3 years old, and are litter mates. My other house panther is Squid, our most social guy and just over a year old. Then we have Plum, our long haired tortie baby who is almost a year old. She excels at all things kitten, including and especially being adorable. Our eldest Awesome recently crossed the rainbow bridge at 15 where she met her brother & littermate Danger that left us a few years prior. We love them all very much!

What is your typical process for working with a new cat parent?

I always like to schedule a meet-n-greet with new clients as I can learn the most about a cat when the cat parent is present. We can go over all of their needs and little quirks. You can tell me the cat’s preferences—beds, toys, hiding places, favorite treats, etc. You can see how I interact with the cats so that you know you can trust me. As a cat parent myself, that’s very important to me.

How do you ensure the safety & security of the cats and the home while cat sitting?

When I arrive at your home, I am very careful to open the door slowly, using my foot to block the exit just in case you have any escape artists. My first step once I'm inside is to find each of your cats to ensure that everyone is present and in a healthy state. I always take pictures of the cats immediately, even if they are hiding, so that you know that your babies are safe in their home. When I leave, I follow all directions for locking up, and I exit extremely carefully the same way I enter your home. I also take a photo for you of the locked door so you know that I have paid attention to making sure everyone is accounted for.

What is your favorite cat toy?

Cats love and need something tangible they can hunt and grab onto, so anything hanging off the end of a stick with a string or elastic makes the best cat toy. It is the most interactive, and as I am in control of the toy, I can mimic movements to activate their hunting instincts.

How do you handle cats that are particularly timid or anxious?

With timid/anxious cats, I always make sure to come into the home with a calm and quiet matter. Cats in general can be easily overwhelmed, and I find this to be the best approach in general. If they will come into the room with me, I squat down and put out a finger without looking them in the eye to see if they want to greet me. If I get a nose boop, that’s a great green light, especially if a head rub comes with it! If not, no worries. I like them to tell me what they want from me. If they are hiding, I may try to coax them out with Churu if they’ll let me, but if they want to keep hiding, that’s ok too. It doesn’t hurt my feelings. I still like to hang out quietly in the house with them for a bit after.