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

I have cat sat on and off for the last 25 or 30 years. My neighbors typically know that I have cats and so I fall into it quite naturally. I would like to do this more often now. The more information that I can find out about your cat, the better sitter I become. No information is too much information I have found!

What do you enjoy most about cat sitting?

I think I learned something new about cats every single time I babysit someone new. I truly believe that when God makes a cat he breaks the mold! I really love that and it’s always a new adventure and it keeps me on my toes, making connections with all different personalities.

Can you tell us about your favorite cat sitting reservation?

OK, so I had this one Cat that it took a while to get her to warm up to me. Her parents told me that she had a favorite blanket. I laid down on the couch and covered myself with the blanket and nodded off for a bit. I woke up with the cat, not only laying on my chest, but her arms were around my neck and she was staring at me. I think she finally felt comfortable. We’ve been buddies ever since. When I come into her house now she must know my smell or my sound because she trots toward the door. That makes me so happy because sometimes it’s hard to win smart animals over.

Do you have kitties yourself? What are their names?

I have three cats myself. My oldest is Minnie Who is 7 1/2. She was my first cat that I got From the rescue I foster for. She’s a tuxie And we call her Maxi because she’s definitely not mini! It’s really kind of funny that she’s my scaredy-cat because she’s bigger than everybody else and could sit on them! Next, is Polly and she’s five. My rescue boss told me to go pick up these two kittens in an emergency situation and when I got there, I rescued Polly and her sister Pippa. Polly is a polydactyl. She’s super beautiful and has absolutely no personal space with me or with anyone else! She’s my welcoming committee and is just waiting for you to sit down so she can hold your face. My third girl is Frankie. She’s super outgoing and very nurturing! All very different.

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

I would want to know that someone is reliable and patient. I would want to be able to know information about them from someone else. I’d wanna know how many years they’ve been around cats and how much information do they have. How much do cats love them? How much time would you spend with my cat and how often would you go? I think you have to go on a gut feeling. If you’re a cat owner, you kind of understand this mentality. I would definitely not hire someone site unseen, and without speaking to them on the phone first. I would want to know how they were with my cat and how receptive they are to what my cat likes.

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

In my past experience, I would like to see the environment that your cat lives in. Of course I wanna meet your cat or cats!! I definitely don’t expect them to come running toward me. And if they’re scared, that’s all right with me. I’m very patient. I know that when I’m sitting with a particularly timid cat, it’s all about treats and toys and time period maybe I would just take some computer work or some hand sewing and sit there and have treats next to me so that they would start learning my smell and getting comfortable with me being inside their space. This is typically my protocol at least one time a day. At least one visit has to be an hour or more. I think it’s important to build trust and I know that that doesn’t come over one kitty sitting time.

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

Well, since I have a runner of a kitten,(she was an outdoor cat and had had two litters of kittens before coming into the rescue) I have to really watch when I open my front door. I even have put a “Frankie fence quote around my little gated entry so that she can’t get through the fence anymore. When I come in, I’ve learned to put my tote bag in front of my feet so that I enter with a blockade. I exit the same way from the house. Once I’m inside the house, I don’t go in and out because that’s just one more time a cat could escape.

Are you usually available during holidays?

It’s sporadic if I’m available for holidays. I do have a family and my sister and her family live out of town. They just moved so we’re trying to figure out what holidays look like but I’m fairly flexible.

What is your favorite cat toy?

Well, my belief is that you play with toys and you pet with hands so my favorite toy is a wand with a very long fleece tail! I usually carry one with me and spray it with enzyme when I put it back in my bag. They are such sensitive sniffers! Really it’s not what my favorite cat toy is, it’s really what is your cat’s favorite cat toy?

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

Well, this is definitely my favorite. I think you just have to give them time. Like I said, I believe in treats and toys and I would want to know what their favorites are. But a lot of times these kitties take a little extra time and I have to get to know your smell and that you’re invading their space. I have done sitting jobs where I’ve never seen the cat and it sort of freaks me out! Even their owners say that you may not see them. So of course I’m going under every bed and inside the closet to make sure I don’t find them. Of course they’re usually under the bed. That’s when the wand comes out! One parent tells me to get the turkey out of the refrigerator and offer that up.