Do you have kitties yourself? What are their names?

Currently, I have one cat, and her name is Samantha S’mores (former picked by me, latter being her original name). She’s a chocolate, bicolor ragdoll, plays fetch, and loves attention. I was only blessed with her becuase her breeder did an early “retirement” due to Samantha developing anxiety. This also meant earning my kitty required passing the breeder’s bonus criteria. And I’m thankful for that process: My shy and fearful little lady has become a fluffy ball of bossiness, and she makes me smile every day. Growing up, my family had three cats at various points: Chelsea, Thomas, and Colby. All three lived long lives before crossing the rainbow bridge.

What advice would you give a customer looking to hire a cat sitter?

Overshare information! Early detection of health concerns requires recognizing “sluggish” and “lethargic” behavior. All cats are unique, which means there is no universal norm for normal behavior. Consider proximity! The unexpected sometimes happens, and someone nearby will be better able to help out. Give options! Beyond the essential/daily needs (food, water, etc), consider the “as time allows” tasks. For example, does your cat need to be brushed? The answer for a short-haired tabby might be different than a Maine Coon. Or if the cat doesn’t seem to want to play, what else can be done? Having options and priorities helps maximize visit time to the fullest.

What is your favorite cat toy?

Alas, the fancy toys don’t interest my cat, so I have no favorite. However, her favorite toys include cardboard boxes, paper packaging, plastic zip ties, and pieces of string (much to my robot vacuum’s delight). Her favorite actual cat toy is basically a big piece of sturdy yarn attached to a plastic handle. It was part of a previous Target Pride collection, and there’s a picture of her in the reviews. She also loves playing fetch with these inexpensive dental shrimp toys from Amazon. Eventually, they disappear into the robot vacuum or get buried in the litter box. At ~$1.50 each, it’s not worth the effort to rehabilitate them, so I rely on a monthly subscription.

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

The main focus is helping the cat feel safe, so nothing can be forced. Instead, I move calmly, maintain distance, and focus on tasks like litter box cleaning or food dish refilling. I will also get on my side and give slow blinks to show that I am safe. If something essential requires handling the cat (e.g., meds), I try to invest time in building familiarity. Often, that means arriving early with a book or laptop to unofficially be around the cat before conducting the actual visit, especially in the beginning. That first time an anxious cat comes up and starts purring—it’s a special joy. No matter how often it happens, each time still feels magical.