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

I have been cat sitting for friends and family for years, including friends-of-friends, friends of family, that sort of thing! I have a lot of personal experience with medications and very nervous cats.

What do you enjoy most about cat sitting?

The cats, of course!! I've loved cats since I could talk. Meeting a new cat is always something of a fun challenge as you have to learn their personality and mannerisms, how they communicate with people. I'm also a bit of a genetics nerd with cats so I love seeing interesting coat colors and patterns.

Can you tell us about your favorite cat sitting reservation?

I've cat sit this absolutely gorgeous, black, one-eyed cat. He is so sweet but also very anxious. Once we got to know each-other he would approach me, but he would trot up excitedly while also hissing at me! He's a character and always has to have a big sniff before he really believes I'm really me. I learned later that this is a behavior he picked up only towards me. When he meets other people he doesn't hiss, but any time he comes to greet me he will hiss while running right at me.

Do you have kitties yourself? What are their names?

5 kitties for me, Goblin, Kohi, Otter, Persephone, and Bansidhe! Persephone is my darling sphynx (private rehome, sorry! I do not have any sphynx breeder connections!) Goblin is my one-eyed wonder, Bansidhe is deaf, and Kohi is toothless and on daily meds for stomatitis.

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

Chat first about expectations, then if everything works out from there a quick meeting and visit to get acquainted with the home and the cat.

Are you usually available during holidays?

Generally I am very available during holidays! My family live in town so I don't go anywhere for holidays that would prevent me from doing visits.

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

The first step is always checking in with an owner's reccomendation. They know their cats best, after all. My typical method is always to go slow. You never want to chase down a timid cat or make them feel like you're a threat. It's all about taking it slow and letting them come to you as much as possible. I tend to try speaking 'cat' with them, giving relaxed body language, slow blinks when im looking at them, not staring, using a low, calm voice. That sort of thing.