I'm Barbara
Barb's Cat Service Arlington Hts
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In-home cat sitting visits typically include:
Barbara is experienced with 2 types of medications
Check if Barbara services your area
Unfortunately, Barbara does not cover your area right meow.
I'm Barbara
Cat Sitting in Arlington Heights, IL
I have had cats all through my childhood. Fun fact- My dad was a veterinarian! Fast forward 35 years and we have had many cats, all since adopted from Kay's ... Hi there everyone! My name is Barb and I have been a cat mamma for over 30 years! I love all cats and enjoy getting to know their personalities. My goal is to leave you with total peace of mind that your kitties are well taken care of.
I have had cats all through my childhood. Fun fact- My dad was a veterinarian! Fast forward 35 years and we have had many cats, all since adopted from Kay's Animal Shelter. Our current cat is Louis (tabby) who is 10. We recently lost our cat Whiskers (tuxedo cat) who was 16; we miss him dearly. I also volunteer at Heartland Animal Shelter and care for the most adorable cats there.
For any medications, we will chat to assure that I can administer successfully by myself. Happy to bring in any packages and mail while you are away or water plants.
Learn More About Barbara
What is your experience with cat sitting, and how long have you been doing it?
I have been cat sitting for Meowtel for almost 5 years. I have had cats my whole life. I also am a cat liaison at Heartland Animal Shelter.
What do you enjoy most about cat sitting?
I love when I have a client who says that they were able to enjoy their vacation because I quickly gave them confidence that their cat was in good hands. I also love to win over a shy cat.
Do you have kitties yourself? What are their names?
We have a 10-year old tabby named Louis. He loves to snuggle under blankets and head butt you for attention. Sadly our 16-year old cat Whiskers passed away a week before Christmas. We miss him dearly.
What is your typical process for working with a new cat parent?
I have a list of questions I pose in the meet and greet to insure that I understand the routine for the cats. I make sure that the key or code for entry works. I explain how I will communicate via the Meowtel app with updates and pictures. I make sure the veterinary forms are completed. I encourage the clients to type out instructions of the cats routine and any special instructions to leave with me as that is what I do when someone watches my cat.
How do you handle cats that are particularly timid or anxious?
I love to win over shy cats. I sit on the ground and make myself approachable. I gage when I can try to pet them. I let them sniff my hand prior to get comfortable. I sometimes bribe them with treats :)
Medication Experience:
Skills:
In-home cat sitting visits typically include:
Barbara is experienced with 2 types of medications
Check if Barbara services your area
Unfortunately, Barbara does not cover your area right meow.
Sydney
August 25, 2025
We booked Barb for a ten day vacation and she did a great job caring for our two cats! She was accommodating with our schedule for the home visit prior to our trip. She kept all three of our litter boxes clean, cleaned up some surprise cat vomit, filled their water, and fed them wet food as directed. She sent daily updates (with photos) and also brought in our mail. She even got our shy girl to play! Her communication was 10/10. We will definitely be booking with Barb again!
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Josephine
August 18, 2025
Barbara really came through for an emergency booking, and was wonderful! I got updates by the minute on my spoiled man, Beau, for every visit. I will definitely be coming to Barbara again should I need someone to look after him, and with more advance warning next time!
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Carol
December 15, 2024
Barbara took such excellent care of my fur babies, again. I actually planned my vacation schedule to her availability, because I know the excellent care she gives my cats. Noah requires oral medicine 2x per day, and she administered it better than I do! I am very grateful there is someone who loves my kitties like their own to look after them.
Read more
Jason
September 14, 2025
excellent as always. Barbara gives plenty of updates and pictures (which we love) and got even our shy boy to warm up to her
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Jessica
December 19, 2024
Barb was a wonderful caretaker for our 2 kitties while we were out of the country for 2 weeks! She provided detailed updates for every visit, pictures, took in mail & packages, watered plants, and cleaned up messes made by the cats. Above and beyond, highly recommend!!
Read more
Jason
May 20, 2025
Barbara is fantastic - we loved receiving our daily updates and the fact that our shy kitty warmed to her quickly made us feel feel so so comfortable with her as a go to sitter for future trips!
Read moreService Area & Availability
Drop in visits rates
Barbara'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
Barbara'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.
Arlington Heights cat sitting rates will vary based on the sitter's experience and services, but the average price is $29.00. 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
Sydney
August 25, 2025
We booked Barb for a ten day vacation and she did a great job caring for our two cats! She was accommodating with our schedule for the home visit prior to our trip. She kept all three of our litter boxes clean, cleaned up some surprise cat vomit, filled their water, and fed them wet food as directed. She sent daily updates (with photos) and also brought in our mail. She even got our shy girl to play! Her communication was 10/10. We will definitely be booking with Barb again!
Josephine
August 18, 2025
Barbara really came through for an emergency booking, and was wonderful! I got updates by the minute on my spoiled man, Beau, for every visit. I will definitely be coming to Barbara again should I need someone to look after him, and with more advance warning next time!
Carol
December 15, 2024
Barbara took such excellent care of my fur babies, again. I actually planned my vacation schedule to her availability, because I know the excellent care she gives my cats. Noah requires oral medicine 2x per day, and she administered it better than I do! I am very grateful there is someone who loves my kitties like their own to look after them.
Jason
September 14, 2025
excellent as always. Barbara gives plenty of updates and pictures (which we love) and got even our shy boy to warm up to her
Jessica
December 19, 2024
Barb was a wonderful caretaker for our 2 kitties while we were out of the country for 2 weeks! She provided detailed updates for every visit, pictures, took in mail & packages, watered plants, and cleaned up messes made by the cats. Above and beyond, highly recommend!!
Jason
May 20, 2025
Barbara is fantastic - we loved receiving our daily updates and the fact that our shy kitty warmed to her quickly made us feel feel so so comfortable with her as a go to sitter for future trips!
Ryan
July 21, 2025
Barbara was great with our pets while watching them for a week. She was super communicative and made sure to spend time with the cats to ensure they were doing well. We would definitely contact her again for future pet sitting!
Carol
December 6, 2023
Barb is amazing! it's stressful leaving your fur babies. More so when one of them is sick and requires medicine. Barb provided the detailed information I requested, sent pictures and videos, and treated my 2 cats like they were her own. Barb took such great care of my cats, I was able to relax and enjoy my vacation. I can't recommend her enough, and would definitely use her again!
Nancy
This week
We highly recommend Barbara! She came twice a day and did everything we asked. We even got daily pictures! She totally spoiled Kai while we were on vacation. Kai also wanted to say Meow Meow Meow! 😻 😻😻
Nadine
December 13, 2022
Barbra was extremely professional and very experienced with cats! She went above and beyond to make sure my kitties were well taken care of which gave me a lot of peace of mind!!
Laura
August 18, 2024
Barbara was beloved of my little Abigail. Very attentive and definitely took good care of her. She took extra care with updates, pictures, watered my plants and obviously did some amazing clean up.
Laura
November 24, 2024
Barbara is attentive to my little one and sends off great pics. I know my cat is well taken care of and enjoys her time with Barbara.
Jason
November 24, 2025
Laura
October 5, 2025
Fabulous as always! Pays excellent attention to my little one and keeps all neat and tidy. Thank you so much!
Pamela
April 27, 2025
Meowtel
March 8, 2022
Barbara is a cat sitter in the Arlington Heights area. Her profile has been verified and her references have been checked by Meowtel.
Free Cancellation (48+ hrs)