I'm Melissa
The Cat Whisperer To All Walks Of Cats
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In-home cat sitting visits typically include:
Melissa is experienced with 3 types of medications
Check if Melissa services your area
Unfortunately, Melissa does not cover your area right meow.
I'm Melissa
Cat Sitting in Valrico, FL
Well, hello! My name is Melissa! Nice to meet you!
My friends call me the cat whisperer. I have also had people call me a "Disney Princess" when dealing with spicy babies.
I've been known to handle all walks of cat life from days old neonates to shy to spicy and senior kitties.
I worked at a shelter for a year and I am approaching year two as a veterinary receptionist in a local clinic. I've recently started school as an aspiring veterinary technician. I also volunteer at a wildlife sanctuary.
I am comfortable with doing oral meds, both liquid and pill forms, topicals, ear & eye medications as well.
My family has a total of 5 kitties. Three are here Earthside - Princess Zane 4Y, Hobbes Xavier 2Y [foster fail], and Orion Theodore 2Y. We have two kitties on the Rainbow Bridge as well - Orange Joe and Hazel Rae... **Feline Veterinary Medical Association Member**
Well, hello! My name is Melissa! Nice to meet you!
My friends call me the cat whisperer. I have also had people call me a "Disney Princess" when dealing with spicy babies.
I've been known to handle all walks of cat life from days old neonates to shy to spicy and senior kitties.
I worked at a shelter for a year and I am approaching year two as a veterinary receptionist in a local clinic. I've recently started school as an aspiring veterinary technician. I also volunteer at a wildlife sanctuary.
I am comfortable with doing oral meds, both liquid and pill forms, topicals, ear & eye medications as well.
My family has a total of 5 kitties. Three are here Earthside - Princess Zane 4Y, Hobbes Xavier 2Y [foster fail], and Orion Theodore 2Y. We have two kitties on the Rainbow Bridge as well - Orange Joe and Hazel Rae.
I've had numerous foster kittens, moms with kittens and spicy, baby beans - as I like to call them.
While at the shelter, I was the one that coworkers would call in the room if a cat couldn't be handled. I would sit in the room, totally still and calm and the cat would usually come over to me in about 5 minutes or less.
When meeting your cat/s at our meet and greet, I watch to see what their body behavior says to me. If their fur is standing on end, I know to let them decompress at their own pace. If the kitty seems interested in me, I will either squat or sit on the floor and extend my hand/arm. This allows them to interact with me, while also giving them their own space.
I do practice Fear Free routines with all animals. I will make myself small, so that I don't seem like a threat to them. I will sit still and quiet on the floor and allow them to approach me.
While your cat is in my care, they will be loved, pampered and spoiled rotten. Each one will be treated with respect and boundaries. If the cat doesn't like being picked up? No worries. I will sit with them on the floor to make sure they are comfortable while mom & dad are away.
I look forward to meeting you and your kitties!
Learn More About Melissa
What do you enjoy most about cat sitting?
The things I enjoy most about cat sitting are bonding with other people's animals and the different personalities of the cats themselves. I feel all cats are unique and they must all be given their spaces and boundaries, depending on their personality type.
Do you have kitties yourself? What are their names?
My family has a total of 5 kitties. Three are here Earthside - Princess Zane 4Y, Hobbes Xavier 2Y [foster fail], and Orion Theodore 2Y. We have two kitties on the Rainbow Bridge as well - Orange Joe and Hazel Rae. Orange Joe aka Jojo, we had since the day he was born. We adopted Zane from a shelter at 2 months old. Hobbes was a 5 day neonate that I "failed" with. Orion was given to me by my sister at 2 months old. Hazel Rae was a senior kitty that we adopted from the same shelter as Zane.
What is your typical process for working with a new cat parent?
I absolutely love doing meet and greets! I'm even okay with coming over multiple times for your furry loved one to get used to my voice and scents. I like to meet with the pawrents, so I know the schedule of the cat/s I will be looking after. Does Fluffy like to be picked up? Does Daisy enjoy being pet? All these things are very helpful to make my visits more comfortable for your kitties.
Are you usually available during holidays?
Yes, I am usually available during holidays, so that your kitties are not alone. I will leave temporarily on holidays to also spend time with my family and kitties.
What is your favorite cat toy?
My favorite cat toys to use are wands, balls, and anything that I can toss. I like the wands because cats get to stretch all their muscles out. Balls, pom-poms and hair ties are fun to watch them hunt, pounce, bap around and play fetch.
How do you handle cats that are particularly timid or anxious?
Time and space. All cats have boundaries. I use Fear Free routines, where I will make myself smaller, as to not intimidate them. I also sit on the floor, making myself a statue and allowing the cat to approach me when ready.
Medication Experience:
Skills:
In-home cat sitting visits typically include:
Melissa is experienced with 3 types of medications
Check if Melissa services your area
Unfortunately, Melissa does not cover your area right meow.
Kristen
August 15, 2026
Melissa went above and beyond in caring for my kitties while we were out of town. You can tell she is a true animal lover and I knew that my cats were in good hands.
Read moreResponse from Melissa
It was such a pleasure to take care of Molly & Jasper while you were away. Thank you for entrusting me with their care.
Read more
Meowtel
July 31, 2026
Melissa is a background-checked cat sitter in the Valrico area. Their profile has been verified by Meowtel.
Read moreService Area & Availability
Drop in visits rates
Overnight stay rate
Melissa's is 20%
Holiday Surcharge
Due to high demand during holidays, sitters on Meowtel have the option to set their own holiday price increase, which can be found in the rates section of their profiles. If your reservation falls within three (3) days before and/or after a federal holiday, or on the holiday itself, a holiday surcharge, determined by your sitter, will be added to your reservation.
These are the date ranges in 2026 to which the holiday surcharge applies:
- January 1-4: New Year's 2026
- January 16-22: MLK Day
- February 13-19: Presidents Day
- May 22-28: Memorial Day
- June 16-22: Juneteenth
- July 1-7: July 4th
- September 4-10: Labor Day
- October 9-15: Columbus Day / Indigenous Peoples' Day
- November 8-14: Veterans Day
- November 23-29: Thanksgiving
- December 22-28: Christmas
- December 29-31: New Year's 2027
Melissa's holiday surcharge is 20%.
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325,000+
Reservations Completed
Trust & Safety
Every reservation is backed by the Meowtel Promise, giving you and your cat world-class customer support every step of the way.
If it doesn't feel like the right fit at the Meet & Greet, or if you have any concerns during the reservation, please call 1-844-MEOWTEL (1-844-636-9835) so we can help you re-book with another sitter.
Veterans Day is coming up soon (November 11th, 2026)
Cat sitters on Meowtel are usually pretty busy, don't forget to book your sitter!
Frequently Asked Questions
Reservations officially begin at 12:00 AM in the sitter's time zone on the start date. Cat Parents may cancel within 24 hours of booking and receive a full refund, as long as the reservation has not yet started. After the first 24 hours, the following cancellation rules apply:
- More than 48 hours before the reservation start date: Full refund. The sitter will not receive any earnings.
- 24–48 hours before the reservation start date: 50% refund. The sitter will earn 50% of their planned earnings.
- Within 24 hours of the reservation start date (or after it has begun): No refund. The sitter will earn 100% of their planned earnings.
All refunds are initially applied to the Cat Parent's Meowtel Account Balance for use toward a future reservation or tip. Funds may be returned to the original payment method at any time.
Meowtel is a marketplace that connects cat parents with independent sitters. For eligible reservations booked and paid for through Meowtel, the Meowtel Promise explains how we support cat parents if something unexpected comes up.
If it doesn't feel like a purrfect fit after a Meet & Greet or during a reservation, our support team is here to help at 1-844-Meowtel (1-844-636-9835). We'll take time to understand what happened and help you consider next steps, which could include help with a new reservation.
Valrico cat sitting rates will vary based on the sitter's experience and services, but the average price is $26.00. Prices depend on visit duration (20, 45, or 60 minutes) and whether you need drop-in visits or overnight stays.
Every cat sitter on Meowtel completes a background check. Ask your sitter about a 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. This is why Meowtel was created, so tailored in-home care is brought to you.
We recommend booking daily visits to keep your cats in their routine and help minimize feline anxiety while you're away.
Each visit typically includes: feeding, refreshing water bowls, litter box scooping, tidying up, medications, updates with photos, lots of playtime, and any special requests. Ask your sitter about a Meet & Greet!
Rating breakdown
Kristen
August 15, 2026
Melissa went above and beyond in caring for my kitties while we were out of town. You can tell she is a true animal lover and I knew that my cats were in good hands.
Response from Melissa
It was such a pleasure to take care of Molly & Jasper while you were away. Thank you for entrusting me with their care.
Meowtel
July 31, 2026
Melissa is a background-checked cat sitter in the Valrico area. Their profile has been verified by Meowtel.