DO YOU OFFER OVERNIGHT CAT SITTING?
DO YOU OFFER BOARDING SERVICES?
DO I NEED TO GIVE YOU MY DOOR KEYS?
DO YOU ADMINISTER MEDICATION?
WHAT FORMS OF PAYMENT DO YOU TAKE?
WHAT ARE YOUR CAT SITTING HOURS?
Our typical sitting hours are from 8 am to 7 pm Monday through Friday, and from 10 am to 6 pm on weekends. Exceptions are handled on a case-by-case basis. Cat visits typically aren't scheduled for a specific time of day within these time blocks unless, for example, your pet is on medication and requires a medication dose at a specific time of day.
SOMETIMES MY CAT THROWS UP. WILL YOU CLEAN IT UP?
If it's in a visible location and common area that we would normally go into, such as your living room or kitchen, and we see it, we'll use tap water and a paper towel. We do not treat carpets, furniture, fabrics, or any other household surfaces for any kind of pet stains.
WILL YOU BRUSH MY CAT?
If you have a pet brush you use regularly on your cat and want us to maintain this while you're away, we're happy to oblige as long as your kitty will allow us to brush him or her. This service can be provided with a 30-minute Happy Kitty visit or a 60-minute Cats Meow visit. The 15-minute Kitty Express visit usually doesn't provide enough time.
I HAVE A SHY KITTY. HOW DO YOU HANDLE SHY CATS?
We have experience with shy cats and always use patience, compassion and a soothing, soft voice. If permitted, we might try encouraging him or her to make our acquaintance by offering a treat if you keep cat treats around, or by trying to gently entice your cat with a favorite cat toy. We never grab a cat or force him or her from a hiding spot using aggressive tactics, loud noises, etc.
WHAT IF MY CATS RUN OUT OF FOOD WHILE I'M AWAY?
It is the pet owner's responsibility to have adequate cat food and litter on hand. If food unexpectedly runs out (maybe your trip gets extended, for example), we will shop for and pick up, if available, your cat's brand of food or cat litter. We charge a $35 fee plus the cost of the cat food and/or litter.
DO YOU REQUIRE A MINIMUM NUMBER OF VISITS?
DO YOU CHARGE FOR A "MEET AND GREET" CONSULT?
DO YOU SIT INDOOR/OUTDOOR CATS?
Yes, but indoor/outdoor cat(s) must remain indoors while we're sitting them. If you have outdoor only cats they can remain outdoors. A client with outdoor only cats, or a client who insists his/her cat must go outdoors versus staying indoors, must release us from liability and sign a waiver.
DO YOU ONLY SIT CATS?
WILL YOU SHARE CAT SITTING JOBS WITH MY FRIENDS, NEIGHBORS, RELATIVES?
Sorry, but we do not job share except on a rare case-by-case basis at our sole discretion. In the event we agree to this, special procedures, documents and waivers, and up-front schedules will apply.
WHAT ARE YOUR HOLIDAY/PEAK SEASON CANCELLATION GUIDELINES?
For individual holidays and holiday periods - our peak periods/weeks - there is a 50 percent cancellation fee policy if the visit is cancelled anytime from 10 two 2 calendar days or less before the scheduled date. All cancellations with 48 hours notice or less are subject to full service charge.
IS CAT SITTING A PART-TIME HOBBY, GIG, OR SIDE HUSTLE FOR YOU?
Not at all! I'm a full-time professional cat sitter and proud local small business owner, not a hobbyist or a gig worker. With so many people getting into pet sitting to make extra cash on the side, it's not uncommon to find a sitter with little experience or training, who isn't bonded and insured, and more. My passion and focus is caring for cats and helping their owners enjoy peace of mind while they're away, knowing their kitties are safe, loved, and being well-cared for.
WHAT IS THE ANXIOUS KITTY CALMING AUDITORY ENRICHMENT SERVICE?
Some cats get anxious when their beloved humans aren't around while other kitties are just fine. If your cat tends to become anxious, you can opt for this service. We'll temporarily place a compact, portable audio player in your home at our first cat sitting visit to provide feline sound therapy using bioacoustically-designed "Through a Cat's Ear" music. The player will be removed from your home at the last cat sitting visit. Anxious Kitty is available as an optional free add-on if you choose daily Happy Kitty or The Cat's Meow cat sitting services. Anxious Kitty is not available if you are skipping days between visits or are only scheduling 15-minutes Kitty Express visits.
DO YOU OFFER DROP-IN PLANT, GARDEN, AND HOME CARE IF I DON'T HAVE A PET?
Yes! We offer basic home security checks*, mail pickup from your mail box, and bring small parcels inside that have been delivered to your home. If you receive a boxed meal kit with contents that require refridgeration, we'll place the contents in your refridgerator with your permission. We also water indoor plants as well as potted plants on a deck or balcony, and plant watering options for plants that are planted in the ground.
DO YOU GUARANTEE AVAILABILITY?
We are a small, locally owned business that offers personalized, boutique-quality cat sitting services. We do not use side hustle/gig workers to pet sit. Like most businesses, we have busy peaks in business. These periods include during the summer months, the November - mid-January holiday season, all holidays in general, and other periods throughout the year when people are taking vacations/traveling. We strive to provide our clients and their pets with superior care and do not embrace the practice of overbooking appointments for this reason. We also strive to leave availability in our schedule for our existing clients during peak periods. We cannot guarantee availability, and are happy to generally refer clients whom we cannot serve for whatever reason, to a local pet sitting organization with many members who service the Austin area. We do not refer to specific/individual pet sitters.