The COVID Cat Lady  

I actually didn’t discover my love of cats until 2020 during the height of COVID. When I was young, we only had fish and hamsters as pets, so I did not get the opportunity to grow up with cats or dogs. In 2020 I moved in with my roommate and their 14 year old cat. Being the first time I had lived with a cat, I wasn’t sure how to interact with her at first. She was quite shy and very bonded with my roommate, so for a while we just coexisted and I gave her space and time to acclimate to me. Over time I got to see her purrsonality more and more and found her so fascinating. Eventually she started warming up to me. She would even sit in my lap and allow me to give her pets. It was love from then on! Ever since that first experience, I have been cat sitting regularly. I love spending time bonding with cats and updating their purrents with lots of cute photos. Their kitties are just so adorable and sweet! 

I take an attentive and patient approach to kitty sitting. Some cats are more comfortable and enjoy interacting, so I make sure to give those kitties lots of affection and/or playtime depending on their individual preferences. Other cats take more time to become comfortable, so I make sure not to crowd them and give them the time they need to adjust to me on their own terms. When I cat sit, I also pay close attention to signs of wellness, making sure the kitties in my care are eating, drinking, and using the litter box as expected. If anything seems out of the ordinary, I make sure to address it with the owner right away. 

Experienced with:

✔️ oral medication administration - pills

✔️ oral medication - liquids

✔️ eye medication

✔️ ear medication

✔️ transdermal medications

✔️ topical medication

✔️ inhaler administration

Patience, Adaptation and Attention to Wellness Cues

I once cat-sat for a pair of kitties for a longer, 3-week reservation. One of the cats was extremely scared and the other was very food-aggressive. It was a struggle trying to leave the food out for the scared one, without having the other one snatch up all the food, so I had to adjust to the circumstances. I was very patient in separating the two, while making sure both of them got space in the house, rotating the separation. I also kept the owner constantly updated with what we were trying and how it was going. I noticed the nervous kitty wasn’t eating as well as she usually does, so after discussing that with the owner, we decided for me to take her to the vet. They gave her an appetite stimulant that I was able to administer to her at home, quickly getting her back to her regular eating routine. After about a week and a half, she was fairly comfortable with me and began roaming the house confidently in my presence. This pet sit just stands out to me because it was a very rewarding experience and really solidified my love for cats. I can say with certainty that I am definitely a cat lady!

I am currently pursuing my Master’s degree in Software Engineering. It is an online program, so I have the flexibility to spend time with more kitty friends and am looking forward to doing more cat-sitting. It is something I have really enjoyed over the past few years and am excited to make more kitty friends. I can’t wait to meet you and your purrbabies!

- Terri