I'm Michaelle
Cat Care Extraordinaire
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Meowtel provides customer support 365 days a year to help cat parents feel informed and supported at every step - including before a reservation is made.
In-home cat sitting visits typically include:
Michaelle is experienced with 3 types of medications
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I'm Michaelle
Cat Sitting in West Des Moines, IA
Learn More About Michaelle
What is your experience with cat sitting, and how long have you been doing it?
I have been cat sitting for over 4 years. My customers are friends, family members, and the shelter I foster thru. I am looking to care for cats in their homes vs. mine as they do so much better in their own environment.
What do you enjoy most about cat sitting?
Ensuring that they know they are loved and doing my best to make it as easy and less stressful for the kitty and their family. I also love sending photos and little captions and/or stories on how things are going.
What is your typical process for working with a new cat parent?
I provide a free meet and greet where we talk about how I can best care for your kitty/kitties and to share pertinent information on what you can expect from me.
How do you handle cats that are particularly timid or anxious?
I take the advice of the cat parent on what works best. Sometimes it takes a couple of visits before the cat feels safe to engage and that is ok. I have found the wait, watch and let the cat approach me tactic works best. If a cat is so fearful they prefer to hide, it is important to know where so that they can be observed. Sometimes offering a treat opens the door to an interaction. Monitoring food, water and litter output is especially important for a cat that hides.
Medication Experience:
Skills:
In-home cat sitting visits typically include:
Michaelle is experienced with 3 types of medications
Check if Michaelle services your area
Unfortunately, Michaelle does not cover your area right meow.
Barbara
March 23, 2025
Michaelle was a great pet sitter. She exceeded all of our expectations. She stayed long enough at each visit that the cats warmed up to her more than they have with any visitor before. She sent cute pictures, videos and updates. We never had to worry about our furbabies. I will be recommending Michaelle to everyone and we will definitely book with her next time we are out of town.
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Sue
January 23, 2025
My husband and I highly recommend Michaelle. She's been our cat's vacation sitter for years. She is reliable and caring and our cat loves her. We know we never have to worry when Michaelle is in charge.
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Vicky
January 23, 2025
Michaelle will provide care for your cats as if they were her very own and has a lot of experience doing just that! She's reponsible, trustworthy, friendly and approachable.
Read more
Meowtel
January 23, 2025
Michaelle is a background-checked cat sitter in the West Des Moines area. Their profile has been verified and their references have been checked by Meowtel.
Read moreService Area & Availability
Drop in visits rates
Michaelle's is 10%
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
Michaelle's holiday surcharge is 10%.
Communicate & Pay Through Meowtel
Using Meowtel's messaging and payment tools helps keep booking details in one place and gives you access to platform support if you need help.
300,000+
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.
Memorial Day is coming up soon (May 25th, 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.
West Des Moines cat sitting rates will vary based on the sitter's experience and services, but the average price is $23.00. 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 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. 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 free Meet & Greet!
Rating breakdown
Barbara
March 23, 2025
Michaelle was a great pet sitter. She exceeded all of our expectations. She stayed long enough at each visit that the cats warmed up to her more than they have with any visitor before. She sent cute pictures, videos and updates. We never had to worry about our furbabies. I will be recommending Michaelle to everyone and we will definitely book with her next time we are out of town.
Sue
January 23, 2025
My husband and I highly recommend Michaelle. She's been our cat's vacation sitter for years. She is reliable and caring and our cat loves her. We know we never have to worry when Michaelle is in charge.
Vicky
January 23, 2025
Michaelle will provide care for your cats as if they were her very own and has a lot of experience doing just that! She's reponsible, trustworthy, friendly and approachable.
Meowtel
January 23, 2025
Michaelle is a background-checked cat sitter in the West Des Moines area. Their profile has been verified and their references have been checked by Meowtel.
😻 For a Limited Time Only: Enjoy $10 off when you book Michaelle!
Free Cancellation (48+ hrs)