I'm Debbie | Cat Sitting in Quincy, MA

Hi my name is Debbie, I'm in my 40s, and have been married for 24 years. We have a five-year-old cat named Noodles and a four-year-old dog named Ferdinand, and they are our babies!   I have had five amazing cats in my life, but I also have a lot of experience cat sitting for friends and family through the years.  Additionally, I am a long-term volunteer (Kitten Adoption Coordinator - almost 10 years) at a local animal shelter and have done cat care, TNR, foster team work, fundraising, and over 1200 adoptions there, so I have worked a lot with both cats and people.  I am passionate about all animals, especially cats. I am detail-oriented, reliable, organized, conscientious, and very aware of the importance of following directions when it comes to cat sitting. I want what is best for the cat(s) and their people.  I feel that feeding cats and cleaning their litter box(es) is just as important as playing with them - unless they don't want to play, of course!  Sometimes just spending time near a cat is exactly what they crave for their own comfort and security. Over the years, I have learned a lot about reading cat body language and understand that every cat is different and has different needs, likes, desires, quirks, and dislikes. But this is what we all love about cats: their idiosyncrasies! My five cats were all very different from each other, which I was fascinated by. I love getting to know cats and learning about their individual preferences. Of course, nothing feels better than that moment when they trust you and show affection. It's magical. I had a semi-feral cat that took seven months to win over, but it was SO worth it!  But I also know that it doesn't necessarily happen with all cats, and that is absolutely fine. It's important that the cat is comfortable in their home, not that I feel loved! For example, if a cat is showing signs of needing alone time, I quietly sit in the room with them so they know I'm there if they change their mind, but I don't force myself on them. If they hide; I let them hide, as they are saying very clearly that they don't trust me yet. But if they come out to say hello, I take it slowly and follow their lead.  All of this, of course, depends on the cat parent's instructions. If I am told that a specific cat hides, but likes to be played with under the dresser, for example, I have no problem getting on my hands and knees and playing on the floor.   When it comes to meeting new cats, it depends on the parent's instructions and advice, but generally speaking (at the shelter, for example), I watch their body language (especially their tails) carefully for communication, and give one finger for them to smell at their own pace.  (For cats, this replicates how they meet other cats, which is nose-to-nose, so it often puts them at ease.) I do have medication experience both with my own cats, cat sitting, and at the shelter.  Specifically ocular, oral, and ear meds. When it comes to medication, I understand the importance of timing (if it needs to be given at a specific time) as well as correct dosage.  This is crucial and I take it very seriously! When I have someone look after my pets, I hope that they will follow the instructions and advice that I provide.  I am even stricter as a cat sitter.  It is very important to me to follow the advice of the people who know the animals best, and that's their parents. I live in Quincy Center and service all of Quincy and would be open to Weymouth and Braintree as well, depending on distance. I wear a mask in all stores and other peoples' homes and am happy to follow any other sanitary and cleanliness requests made. I am up-to-date on all vaccinations. I appreciate that these are scary times and I'm here to make your life easier, not add to any potential stress.  As for me, my life is really all about animals, family, and friends. I am incredibly loyal and I feel that these are the three most important things in life, for me. I am so fortunate to be able to volunteer full-time (but a lot of it is remote, so I have great flexibility) and I do not take that for granted.  I want to be able to help other pet parents to make their lives easier and their cats' lives even better (if that's possible!)  I am relatively flexible, but many Wednesdays are challenging, but there are exceptions, so it's worth asking!

Hi my name is Debbie, I'm in my 40s, and have been married for 24 years. We have a five-year-old cat named Noodles and a four-year-old dog named Ferdinand, and they are our babies!   I have had five amazing cats in my life, but I also have a lot of experience cat sitting for friends and family through the years.  Additionally, I am a long-term volunteer (Kitten Adoption Coordinator - almost 10 years) at a local animal shelter and have done cat care, TNR, foster team work, fundraising, and over 1200 adoptions there, so I have worked a lot with both cats and people.  I am passionate about all animals, especially cats. I am detail-oriented, reliable, organized, conscientious, and very aware of the importance of following directions when it comes to cat sitting. I want what is best for the cat(s) and their people.  I feel that feeding cats and cleaning their litter box(es) is just as important as playing with them - unless they don't want to play, of course!  Sometimes just spending time near a cat is exactly what they crave for their own comfort and security. Over the years, I have learned a lot about reading cat body language and understand that every cat is different and has different needs, likes, desires, quirks, and dislikes. But this is what we all love about cats: their idiosyncrasies! My five cats were all very different from each other, which I was fascinated by. I love getting to know cats and learning about their individual preferences. Of course, nothing feels better than that moment when they trust you and show affection. It's magical. I had a semi-feral cat that took seven months to win over, but it was SO worth it!  But I also know that it doesn't necessarily happen with all cats, and that is absolutely fine. It's important that the cat is comfortable in their home, not that I feel loved! For example, if a cat is showing signs of needing alone time, I quietly sit in the room with them so they know I'm there if they change their mind, but I don't force myself on them. If they hide; I let them hide, as they are saying very clearly that they don't trust me yet. But if they come out to say hello, I take it slowly and follow their...