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

I've been cat (and dog sitting) for 6 years full time. Prior to that I had my own cats for decades. When I lost my last cat to old age, I decided to cat and dog sit to get my furry friend fix without owning any more pets myself. I have had cats my whole life. I'm here on Meowtel because I'd like to focus more on cat sitting than dogsitting from now on.

What do you enjoy most about cat sitting?

I love cat sitting because I love cats. It's fulfilling because I'm good with cats and understand them well. I feel like I'm fulfilling a purpose and a service, because not everyone is a cat whisperer. I love interacting with cats and making them happy with affection, acceptance and play. Figuring them out is a favorite past time and I'm always up for the challenge of winning over a scared cat.

Can you tell us about your favorite cat sitting reservation?

My favorite cat sitting experience was when I had the best of both worlds. One cat was on my lap cuddling from the time I first walked in, and the other cat was one that I had to use my cat whisperer capabilities with, because she was extremely scared and stayed under the bed. She came out after the first day and was almost completely normal by the end of the week. It's such a sense of accomplishment winning over a scared cat and it's fulfilling to know I'm helping the cat and the cat parent with their comfort level.

Do you have kitties yourself? What are their names?

All of my kitties have passed on at this point, and all lived long and happy lives. Miss Kitty, Sophie, Smoke, Simba, Socrates, Sky and Mewsette. They were very loved and very well cared for. I'm cat sitting now, for the past 6 years, because I miss interacting and cuddling with cats, and after decades of being a cat mommy, I choose not to have pets currently so that I can easily and more readily travel.

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

Do a Meet & Greet with them and see what kind of vibe you get from them. Read their reviews. If they have none, ask for cat sitting references, or character references.

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

I do a Meet & Greet to meet the cat parents, learn about the cat and their instructions, and build as much familiarity and rapport with the cat as possible. Then a day or so prior to their travel date I come back again, so that the cat can meet me again. It helps the cat's comfort level when I arrive for the booking, if they have fresh memory of me.

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

When entering and exiting I look down at my feet so that no kitty can slip by me undetected. I'm expecting a cat to be possibly right at the door waiting and most are very sneaky and silent. It's easy for a cat to slither out, so you've really got to be watching your feet the whole time you open and close a door. Putting up barriers helps too. Every time before I'm leaving I make sure I can see the cat before I exit, and if there's more than one, I do a head count. I'm always doing headcounts throughout the day if I haven't seen the cats for a while if I'm not completely sure where they are. I do let them sleep of course, as they need to do so for their wellbeing. I make sure to look into the cat's eyes to assess their health.

Are you usually available during holidays?

Yes I am available during holidays.

What is your favorite cat toy?

I love a wand with strings or feathers hanging off so that I can drag it to get the cat to chase it. It always gets the cat playing because I'm moving it, not the cat having to move it. If there's a scared cat in the house, walking with the wand, dragging it around so the cat can see it from their hiding place will draw them out and start to establish a comfort zone outside of a hiding place.

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

I always go at the cat's pace, initiate very little and if so, from a distance. Never force anything ever, with any cat, especially a scared cat. No loud music or noises. Move slowly and sing sweet, soft cat songs so the cat can hear soothing things from a distance, including singing it's name. Basically do anything that makes the cat more comfortable. If it's hiding under a bed bring it's food to the area for example.