I'm Vanessa
Cat Foster Mom Since 2013
Book With Confidence
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:
Vanessa is experienced with 5 types of medications
Check if Vanessa services your area
Unfortunately, Vanessa does not cover your area right meow.
I'm Vanessa
Cat Sitting in Gaithersburg, MD
I’ve fostered cats and kittens since 2013 and have volunteered with two cat rescues and a large animal shelter. I have cared for hundreds of cats and kittens whether they were fosters, through cat-sitting, at the shelter, or vet clinic. I’m skilled at tending to cats of different ages and temperaments and administering meds, injections, and Sub-Q fluid... I know it isn’t easy to be away from your kitty. I’m here to offer reassurance and attentive care so you can relax knowing they’re in good hands.
I’ve fostered cats and kittens since 2013 and have volunteered with two cat rescues and a large animal shelter. I have cared for hundreds of cats and kittens whether they were fosters, through cat-sitting, at the shelter, or vet clinic. I’m skilled at tending to cats of different ages and temperaments and administering meds, injections, and Sub-Q fluid. I genuinely love all cats and have no expectation that they love me back.
I have one resident cat, a 2 year old tuxie named Frank. I fostered Frank for over a year before adopting him. He and I have been through a lot together, as he had medical issues when he was rescued at two months old. Before Frank, I shared my life with my soulcat, Mango. He was my (reluctant) partner in fostering his entire life. He passed away in January 2025. They are the two cats in my photos.
I’m available for drop-in and overnight vists near Gaithersburg. Please message me to discuss overnight requests. Thanks!
Learn More About Vanessa
What is your experience with cat sitting, and how long have you been doing it?
I’ve done drop-in sitting for cats of friends and colleagues sporadically for the last 20 years. I’ve fostered cats regularly since 2013, anywhere from days to over a year. I’ve probably had close to 100 fosters in my home over the years.
What do you enjoy most about cat sitting?
I just love cats. My family adopted a cat when I was 12 and he came with me when I moved out in my early 20s. After he passed away, I started volunteering with a cat rescue as a way to be around cats and honor his life. After that, I grew to love and respect all cats. Street cats, feral cats, cats I’ve never met IRL-I adore them all, even if they don’t adore me in return. They have such different personalities and I enjoy getting to know them.
How do you handle cats that are particularly timid or anxious?
I meet them where they’re at. I don’t force any interaction. If they are willing to sniff me, I gently offer a finger and speak softly to them. If they want to hide, I don’t bother them. If they don’t appear too stressed I will simply sit in the room they’re in and talk to them quietly. I think it’s most important to make them feel safe.
Medication Experience:
Skills:
In-home cat sitting visits typically include:
Vanessa is experienced with 5 types of medications
Check if Vanessa services your area
Unfortunately, Vanessa does not cover your area right meow.
Mark
January 23, 2026
our Tabby will be 18 in March. She takes varioys meds in her food, and she is a little senile. We needed Vanessa for 5 days and 4 overnights. Simply put Vanessa was phenomenal. She tended to Josie the same way an owner would treat and care for her own pet. When we arrived last night, we found Josie had eaten and was sleeping away on her favorite couch. when I woke her up, she gave me a look as if to ask where was that nice lady. Vanessa hit it out of the park.
Read more
Megan
January 9, 2026
Vanessa was a fantastic sitter! She is very personable and kind, and took great care of our kitties while we were away. She kept us updated with texts and videos and even brought over toys to play with them. One of our cats gets anxious when we’re away, and she handled everything very well. We will definitely be using her again!
Read more
Emily
December 1, 2025
Vanessa was incredible! She was attentive to the recent neediness of my little guy while I was away for the holiday. She followed all the instructions for medication I provided ahead of time and made an effort to actively play with my cat to reduce his stress. I would certainly book Vanessa again!
Read more
Megan
December 28, 2025
Vanessa was very professional and communicative. She sent us daily updates that included pictures and videos of our cat. She even found him a new toy! Would recommend!
Read more
Marian
January 4, 2026
Vanessa was great. She played with Luna and made her feel great while we were gone for vacation. She updated us regularly with pictures and videos!
Read more
Renee
December 27, 2025
I'm a cat sitter myself and I will definitely book Vanessa again. She's clearly a cat lover, she's very reliable, and took great care of my boys while I was away for a couple days.
Read moreService Area & Availability
Drop in visits rates
Overnight stay rate
Vanessa'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
Vanessa's holiday surcharge is 10%.
Drop in visits rates
Overnight stay rate
Vanessa'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
Vanessa'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.
Gaithersburg cat sitting rates will vary based on the sitter's experience and services, but the average price is $24.00. 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
Mark
January 23, 2026
our Tabby will be 18 in March. She takes varioys meds in her food, and she is a little senile. We needed Vanessa for 5 days and 4 overnights. Simply put Vanessa was phenomenal. She tended to Josie the same way an owner would treat and care for her own pet. When we arrived last night, we found Josie had eaten and was sleeping away on her favorite couch. when I woke her up, she gave me a look as if to ask where was that nice lady. Vanessa hit it out of the park.
Megan
January 9, 2026
Vanessa was a fantastic sitter! She is very personable and kind, and took great care of our kitties while we were away. She kept us updated with texts and videos and even brought over toys to play with them. One of our cats gets anxious when we’re away, and she handled everything very well. We will definitely be using her again!
Emily
December 1, 2025
Vanessa was incredible! She was attentive to the recent neediness of my little guy while I was away for the holiday. She followed all the instructions for medication I provided ahead of time and made an effort to actively play with my cat to reduce his stress. I would certainly book Vanessa again!
Megan
December 28, 2025
Vanessa was very professional and communicative. She sent us daily updates that included pictures and videos of our cat. She even found him a new toy! Would recommend!
Marian
January 4, 2026
Vanessa was great. She played with Luna and made her feel great while we were gone for vacation. She updated us regularly with pictures and videos!
Renee
December 27, 2025
I'm a cat sitter myself and I will definitely book Vanessa again. She's clearly a cat lover, she's very reliable, and took great care of my boys while I was away for a couple days.
Emily
January 7, 2026
This is the second time Vanessa has watched my cat, and she’s been phenomenal. She’s super communicative and reliable. Highly recommend!
Emily
This week
Elizabeth
December 6, 2025
Christopher
November 24, 2025
Kim
November 5, 2025
Independent, trustworthy, absolutely loves all cats and all pets. She has many years of experience in fostering and volunteering with cats. She is an ideal cat sitter and caretaker!
Tim
November 5, 2025
Vanessa is a deeply compassionate and experienced cat caregiver whose love for animals shows in everything she does. She has fostered countless cats over the years, providing safe, nurturing environments that help even the shyest rescues blossom. Two of my own cats came from her care — and I can say firsthand that they are calm, healthy, and wonderfully social thanks to her gentle touch and attention. Vanessa understands feline behavior on a truly intuitive level — from reading subtle cues to creating a stress-free space for every cat she watches. Whether tending to daily needs, managing special diets, or simply offering affection and companionship, she treats every cat as if it were her own. Any pet owner can rest easy knowing their cats are in Vanessa’s capable and caring hands.
Meowtel
November 5, 2025
Vanessa is a background-checked cat sitter in the Gaithersburg area. Their profile has been verified and their references have been checked by Meowtel.
Free Cancellation (48+ hrs)