Are you passionate about cats?
If we could all perform work that 100% aligns with our passions and interests, as the old adage goes, you’d feel as if you never worked a day. Numerous cat sitters I know shared this exact sentiment about their line of work with me. As it turns out, both part-time and full-time cat sitting positions can help individuals pay off debt, ease anxiety and stress and empower these feline lovers to feel a new sense of fulfillment in their lives.
Did you know cats are actually the #1 pet in the country? Yet the pet industry often overlooks their needs and focus more on dogs. Our canine friends get the limelight while out on walks, playing in doggy parks, and even accompanying people on airplanes! I hear often from cat sitters that while they love all animals and have nothing against dogs, they feel much more connected to kitties. In addition, cat lovers like that they’re lower maintenance, a big perk if you’re looking to become a pet sitter, but worried about the physical tasks involve such as walking a dog mid-winter.
Health benefits of cats
Research shows that time spent with cats can reduce the risk of stroke and other cardiovascular diseases. Also, the adorable purring sound cats make can provide therapeutic benefits on our bodies and even help us sleep better. So if you’re looking for a job that makes your body feel like a million bucks, provides flexible scheduling, and aligns with your passion for animals, look no further than cat sitting!
Finding purpose with cats
Holly
I recently spoke to a 58-year-old cat sitter, Holly, in San Francisco. Holly first realized opportunities existed to turn her love of cats into a paid position after walking by a local storefront with a “Now Hiring: Cat Sitters” sign in the window. She started casually sitting for her friend’s cat, then decided doing it professionally would be a good fit. She loves the bonds she develops with cats, and finds those relationships very rewarding.
That’s how Holly started a business at age 50plus this past year. Covid greatly impacted her primary occupation as a singer and dancer, putting her out of work for several months. She now has a small but growing company she loves that provides extra income and a flexible schedule. Her business blossomed as a result of her focus on customer service, personal attention, and going the extra mile both for the kitties and her clients. Holly’s success is largely due to her ability to respect each cat’s space, needs, and temperament. Experienced sitters like her know you must earn a cat’s trust before forcing an interaction upon them. One of Holly’s highlights as a sitter has been her client with two very large (15+ lbs), beautiful cats who needed care for a week. Both cats greeted her at the door each day and loved to get pets and grooming. But it was on the final visit when both of the cats laid down in front of the door and wouldn’t let her leave without trying to tag along that melted her heart. Who wouldn’t love that kind of affection?
Lisa
Lisa, a cat sitter in the greater Seattle area, began thinking about cat sitting at age 23, but pursued a career in aerospace that lasted many years. Now 60, Lisa is finally a professional sitter! She opted to not return to her full-time position at this point in her life, and instead applied online for a part-time sitter gig to kick-off her entrepreneurial cat sitting journey. Her business keeps her happy and feeling loved, which is always a good thing. Her business experiences consistent growth due to excellent feedback from clients, and she stays consistently booked by both her regulars and new cat owners. The secret to Lisa’s cat sitting success? Understanding the importance of winning over each cat’s trust. She also shares photos and video clips with the owners to help put them at ease while away from their beloved fur babies.
The bottom line
I know dozens of cat sitters in the 50Plus age group. These individuals come from a wide range of backgrounds, but all do it out of their sincere love for cats. One sitter is a retired ER nurse who doesn’t cat sit for the money, but more as an excuse to get out of the house and receive the soothing benefits a cat’s love provides. Others used to be professors, doctors, or lawyers who began to cat sit to avoid the boredom and isolation of retirement, especially during the pandemic. And of course, many of these cat sitters decide to pursue cat sitting if they can’t have cats in their home for various reasons, but still have a deep desire to be around these amazing felines. So if you’re looking to align your passion for cats with a wonderful opportunity to get out of the house, set your own hours, earn extra income and serve your community, cat sitting may be just the answer for you.
About the author
Sonya Petcavich is the founder & CEO of Meowtel, the #1 cat sitting app in the US. She is based in San Francisco, CA and is a cat mom of 3. If you are looking for a cat sitting gig (or a local person to take care of your favorite feline) find out more at Meowtel.com or say meowllo to us: bellhop@meowtel.com.
