Leaps n' Hounds » Pet Sitting

How to Choose a Pet Sitter

Crystal — Tue, 10 May 2011 14:24:46 +0000

There are a lot of factors to consider when leaving your pets. That vacation you’ve been planning for months won’t be much fun if you’re worried about whether or not your fur babies are comfortable and happy the whole time. So you consider the options carefully and decide that, while there are many good boarding facilities out there, your pets do better when they can stay home and stick to their usual daily schedule. The quest for a good pet sitter begins and here are some things to consider along the way:

What does it take to be a good pet sitter?

Lyla would prefer we never leave town. Thankfully she loves her pet sitters

Cuddling pets and sunny dog walking for a living may sound like all fun and games, but there is definitely work and TONS of responsibility involved. When you care for people’s beloved pets, you are caring for their babies. There is no room for error, and a pet sitter must be diligent, meticulous, observant, punctual, honest, patient, accountable, and completely in love with their job. A sitter’s schedule changes from day to day, requiring them to be completely married to their calendar, an expert planner, and being prepared for the variety of jobs they may be doing that day. This job is ALL about paying attention.

Skilled Pet Sitters are big fans of preparedness. We carry first aid and pet care kits in our cars and keep them stocked with everything from leashes and water to paw protectors. Most days there is a mixture of treats and neatly folded waste bags in our pockets – just in case.

We are also big fans of policy. A good pet sitter knows their policies and follows them to protect themselves and the pets in their care from potential danger. We must be educated on how to handle strange animals approaching, what to do in case of dog fights, how to handle/prevent household emergencies like frozen pipes, and the list goes on. Factor in the detailed information that a pet sitter keeps for each of the hundreds of clients they meet in a year, protecting that information, and phew! We need to go cuddle a puppy just thinking about all of it!

With that in mind, we give you a list of things to look for in a good pet sitter.

Professionalism. Pet sitting is a business and anyone who does it well will treat it as such. A good pet sitter has a legitimate company name and identity with a website and main business phone. They carry insurance, are members of the pet sitting community through organizations like Pet Sit USA, and have First Aid, CPR, and possibly other animal care certifications. They arrive on time and appear clean and professional (maybe slightly hairy and a little drooled on, but hey we’re only human). Their effort and investment in their business should be noticeable from the very beginning.

Animal Sense. Pets are sensitive, and some really don’t appreciate a strangers hand in their face or loud, high pitch voices. Your pet sitter should not make any assumptions about your pet’s personality before they get to know them. Shy cats and dogs need space to decide if you are a friend or foe, and the super playful and outgoing love attention. Either way, we proceed with caution to get to know the animal first. Only then can we adjust to be who they need us to be while their family is away. Be wary of any pet sitter who speaks loudly and hugs all over your pets in the first view minutes they are there. If they are more concerned with snuggling than they are the details in properly caring for your animals, that is a recipe for disaster. A good pet sitter will meet, touch, evaluate, and show caution toward your pet before they ever hug all over them. They will ask you about moles, bumps, sensitivities or any other noticeable skin, fur, eye, nose, ear, and hind abnormalities. It doesn’t mean they won’t be romping in the back yard before long – It’s just a matter of finding out what is good for the animal first.

Details, details! All good pet sitters conduct a Meet & Greet before taking a new client – for our safety and yours. This is our chance to go through all of the details, ask all of the questions, and most importantly: meet your pets! You should feel like the sitter has done this before. There is a process to learning about you, your pets, and your home. The paperwork should be fairly detailed, and you should feel confident when your pet sitter leaves. Your pet sitter may even ask about things you didn’t even think of. That’s a good sign!

Communication. Most pet sitting companies try to keep set business hours for taking reservations, as pet care can be a 24/7 job that burns a lot of pet sitters out if they aren’t careful. For general calls during business hours, 24 hours is the standard response time for most professionals, so allow a pet sitter time to respond. Emails and texts get lost and calls fail, so we recommend trying twice before you give up. But if your calls or emails are repeatedly ignored or delayed, be cautious. Also, does the pet sitter have a standard form of telling you when they arrive, what happens while they are there, and how to contact them in case you want to check on your babies? What about in case you need to contact them after hours? Our pet sitters keep a journal for all of our clients and often send emails, texts, and photos to our clients letting them know that their fur kids are happy and well.

Emergency Protocol. What if ___? Can your pet sitter get your pet to the vet if needed? Can they cover the costs until you return? What if the sitter is sick and can’t make it to the visit? What if you need to contact your pet sitter after hours in an emergency? Professional Pet Sitters have very clear emergency protocol for often unavoidable emergencies and can explain those to you in detail. For example, our team at Leaps N’ Hounds works as a team. We cover for each other in emergencies, cross train on more complicated pet care routines, and have after hours emergency call protocol so our clients can reach us in case of emergency.

Observant with a Tough Stomach. Vomit, feces, drool, hair – It’s all in a day’s work! Good sanitation is important and the distinct smell of cat urine should never be ignored. Sanitation also involves knowing the best ways to get a stain out of the carpet or realizing a dog stepped in poo before they enter the house. Whether it’s an overzealous cat kicking the litter from the box, or just making sure the garbage is out so it doesn’t stink up the house; a good pet sitter takes care of things best to their ability so you don’t have to come home to a stinky mess. This is not a job for the delicate and sensitive. If your potential pet sitter seems gun shy about picking up poop or vomit, be afraid. Be very afraid.

Availability. Good pet sitters get busy fast, so booking them in advance is a smart move. A busy pet sitter may be juggling anywhere from 6 to 16 clients in a day during busy seasons. The number varies based on the size of the territory your sitter covers, the length of their visits, and the time of year. Most pet sitters resolve to working very long days around the major holidays, but on a regular basis managing 4-10 clients a day is considered steady. It is dangerous to overbook, and juggling too many clients in a day may require that some visits get cut short. If your pet sitter is booked, they should tell you. And if you still decide to hire them, know that your pet’s visits may be brief. If you choose to book a pet sitter last minute, it is good to have already been a client, as existing clients often get first priority.

Versatility. Lawns need watering, trash must go out to the curb, dogs get stinky, and pets need exercise. None of these things change when you leave town. A good pet sitter can help and most will water plants, rotate lights, walk the dog, and take trash as part of their standard visit. If you ever need more, it is nice to have the option. An extra $5-$10 to set out the sprinklers or run the dog tired sure is nice! Some pet sitters, like us, can even give the dog a bath before you get home, throw them a birthday party, and even help train them.

Experience. Handling animals confidently is a skill that comes with time, patience and lots of practice. Many good pet sitters worked (or still work) in other areas of pet care like Vet Tech, Groomer, or Trainer where they have honed this skill. Since schedules are flexible, we often volunteer with rescues and shelters to give back while gaining more experience. There is no perfect resume for a pet sitter since it is a job based on passion and dedication, but experience goes a long way and should be considered heavily when hiring.

Ethics & Honesty. A good pet sitter will be honest about the minimum amount of time they need to spend with a pet or pets in order to take proper care of them. It’s not about the money, it’s about what your pets need. If you want more time, they will happily oblige in most cases as long as availability permits. But asking a pet sitter to come less than recommended may conflict with their ethical standards of proper animal care and cause them to decline service. To quote a very wise and successful pet sitter, “We are in the business of animal CARE, not neglect.”

Dollars & Sense. In-home pet care is intended to be specialized and provide the best possible care for your animals. But if you have 2 or more pets, it can also be a fairly budget friendly service compared to boarding. Factor in the effort and expense in taking multiple pets to and from the boarding facility, and pet sitting wins almost every time. For cats it seems like a no-brainer. Most cats hate to be boarded and require fewer visits for in-home care making it affordable while keeping kitty in a happy place. But it seems that every pet care company charges differently, so do the math and read their pricing information carefully before weighing your options. Some pet sitters have a regular visit charge plus an extra $2-$4 per animal, while others (like us) are strictly time and service based. Naturally, time is money and an overnight visit or other specialty visit may cost more. However, paying a pet sitter to come 3 to 4 times a day may not be too far from just paying them to do an overnight with a mid-day visit. Play with the service list a little to figure out what is best for your pets both in time and money. Other items that may cost more are: travel fees, cage cleanings, back yard poop scooping, baths, doggy field trips, and other specialty services if offered. All of these can be agreed on in advance so there are no surprises.

For questions or to schedule a Meet & Greet with an experienced and professional Pet Sitter from Leaps N’ Hounds, call Crystal Dunn directly at: 512-814-7297

OR submit a Service Request and one of us will follow up with you!

Get the Wet Nose News!

Crystal — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 20:04:40 +0000

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Sincerely,

Crystal Dunn, Founder & Trainer

Dog Training Tip: Curbing the Counter Surfer

Crystal — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 22:29:14 +0000

Brought to you by Jack (AKA: The Mountain Goat)

Baby Jack at 6 months old looking for goodies on the counter.

No curious puppy can withstand the temptation of a lovely loaf of bread on the counter; especially when that puppy is big enough to reach it. Yet lack of height hasn’t stopped many tenacious little dogs from aiming high too. Once they realize the goodies are on the counter, your average dog may turn into a genius athlete capable of climbing cabinets, leaping incredible distances, and even pushing furniture closer to the counter. Suddenly it’s all but turned into a black ops mission – all in the name of getting an ample piece of that forbidden chocolate cake.

How do we end this bad and dangerous habit?

Avoid it all together. Leaving food out on the counter only sets your dog up to fail, which is a grade A no-no in dog training. It’s dangerous and simply taunts the keen nose of a dog. Put the bread, butter, oils, and other foods away so your dog isn’t rewarded for their counter curiosity.
Teach your dog the “Leave it” cue. Every puppy should understand the concept of: that’s not for you. “Leave it” has a very positive effect on a dog’s respect-o-meter, and a million different uses. We venture to say it may be one of the most useful obedience commands ever.
Teach the “Off” cue. “Down” means lay down, “Off” means: keep your four on the floor, puppy face!
Teach basic obedience. When put to practical use, obedience translates to communication, respect, happy bonds and healthy boundaries.
Catch them in the act. Correction is effective only when you catch your dog before they have eaten the whole stick of butter. Correct them verbally and sternly when you catch your dog counter surfing, but do not yell or run after your dog. Dog’s like games and nothing says fun like a good romp around the kitchen island while you chase excitedly behind.
Redirect. If your dog shouldn’t be surfing the counters, what should they be doing? So if you don’t want them surfing the counters, make sure you show them what you DO want them to do. How about a fun, interactive toy or chew? If following a stern correction with a redirection, be sure to offer the redirect in a gentle, positive and friendly tone, as if to say: I was unhappy with your counter surfing, but you playing with this toy will make me happy.
Feed from the dog bowl, not the counter. We fully support adding dog-healthy veggies and other foods to your dog’s diet, but feeding from the counter only says to a dog: “Hey! Lookie where the food comes from!” Put nutritious foods in their bowl to avoid creating a beggar and counter surfer.
Supervise & be patient. Young dogs are scavengers by nature and our human rules make no sense to them. Keep a close eye on your young dog at all times and spend the energy to be consistent about redirecting them when they are headed for trouble. They’ll thank you for it later by giving you many wonderful years of good behavior.

There are other techniques, such as booby trapping, that are commonly used to deter even the worst counter surfers from scavenging food prep areas. Some of these techniques work for some dogs, but they may also have unwanted side effects like irrational fears. We highly recommend contacting a professional Dog Trainer to assess your dog’s temperament and habits before trying these techniques. Plus, chances are good that if a dog is counter surfing, there are other manners they could work on too. You may be pleasantly surprised at how much better life with your dog is with a professional’s guidance.

Home Prepared or Kibble? Finding a Happy Medium When Feeding Your Dog

Crystal — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 13:24:58 +0000

It’s true: when done right, home prepared diets are healthiest for dogs. A distant second is premium grade kibble. This is where most people who care about their dog’s health end up, and why not? Home prepared diets require a bit of research and preparation. Kibble is easy to feed, fairly affordable, readily available, and healthy – it even says so right on the bag! But common sense tells us that something may be wrong with this scenario. Eating the same thing every day, no matter how vitamin enriched it is, can’t be totally healthy. There is something to be said for fresh food and variety. We need it, our dogs need it, and it doesn’t come from a paper or foil bag.

Still, feeding home prepared diet can be costly and require more time than many are willing to give, so it is often dismissed as silly or impossible. Add in all of the myths about feeding a dog “people food,” and a lot of people start to feel good about not venturing outside of the bag. But these are myths, fueled by misunderstandings and a dog food industry that would love to have every dog in the world directly hooked to their specially formulated feed bag.

I’m not saying that all dog food is bad, or that all dog food makers are bad – some even endorse or make foods equivalent to what you could make in your kitchen. But who says you have to pick one or the other? Couldn’t you feed a mixture of home prepared AND kibble-based diet and get benefits from both? Sure you can!

The great thing about feeding whole foods is that, unlike changing from one brand of kibble to another, most dogs can transition instantly to home prepared diet without any stomach upset. This also means whole foods can be added to their kibble or replace a meal entirely without any issues. So if you want to feed your dog a healthier diet with more whole foods, or just make something special for them on occasion, don’t let kibble stop you.

We created this concoction for our dogs last night in just five minutes:

Sweet potato (1 can unsweetened – SP’s are great for regulating blood sugar)

Sweet Potato Goulash - Yum!
Frozen blueberries (1 cup of antioxidants!)
Carrots (just a few chopped up)
Frozen Green Beans (1 cup)
Frozen Broccoli (2 cups)
Yeast Flakes (a handful to help defend against bugs naturally)
Water (1 cup to make it more gravy-ish)
1 Brownish Banana (Soft, sweet, and full of potassium)

I heated this mixture very briefly, just enough to soften the broccoli and carrots so they were easier to digest. This wasn’t a whole meal’s worth of food for five dogs, so I cut the kibble amount back to about 1/4 of what I usually feed, then added a healthy helping of the mixture over the top. I checked the temperature to make sure it was cooled enough, and then it was chow time!

Now I may be humanizing a bit here, but on his way out back for a post-dinner break, Jack made sure to stop and give me a quick wag, an adoring look, and a happy lick of the chops before carrying on with his routine. I’d say that qualifies as a happy dog “thank you.” Ten minutes later all five dogs were blissfully passed out in the living room with full bellies and content snores.

The whole foods that we add to our dogs’ diets don’t have to complicated. You can add simple ingredients like green beans or pumpkin to add variety. When chopping tomatoes or carrots, set some aside for treats. You can even set part of your plain oatmeal aside in the morning or some cooked lentils or beans so you can add them in with the dog’s food later. It is not a perfect science, but there is no definitive answer to nutrition for dogs. All we know is that some variety is better than no variety so long as it healthy food – No junk food and no human foods that may be toxic to dogs. Stick mostly to dog healthy fruits and veggies, and they will be well. Just ask Jack.

Anti-Bullying Assembly Success!

Crystal — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 17:31:22 +0000

6 am came very early Thursday, but we had a great time introducing these special dogs from The Healing Species Texas to the kids at Palm Elementary. What a delightful school full of wonderful children and caring staff. The impact these talks have on the children, with the dogs there to help them visualize how you can overcome issues like bullying, is so wonderful. It’s just another great way dog makes us better people.

To request more information or to have Healing Species visit your local school, please visit www.HealingSpeciesTexas.org

Students Learn Lessons from Dogs: MyFoxAUSTIN.com

Pet Sitters Love Christmas

Crystal — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 18:22:00 +0000

Unlike most professions, this is the time of year when pet sitters work their hardest. We pride ourselves on our ability to let others vacation and visit their families with peace of mind while we celebrate with their pets. And boy do some pets love to celebrate!

We love seeing how much our clients dote upon their dogs and cats this time of year. Their homes are full of paw-shaped Christmas stockings, new toys, and treats. But my personal favorite item this time of year? Definitely the festive pet photos.

Our friends Brinks and Nuni make our number one spot for best holiday photo this year. Gratuitous? Maybe. Hilarious? Definitely. Now let’s take a moment to mourn the coffee that came squirting from my nose when I first saw this . . .

Ahh…and now that we’ve paid our respects, on to our more G-rated crew:

We decided to go easy on ourselves this year and do portraits instead of attempting the group photo that would involve coordinating five dogs and three cats. We made it through three dogs before taking a seriously needed cookie break.

Santa Mo will only bring you gifts if you are well behaved. He will only let you take pictures of him if you give him cookies.

Snuggy Usagi does this every morning on the couch.

Lyla will wear anything on her head and pose for photos – no treat required, but appreciated.

A Chihuahua in a Christmas gift box? Really? Usagi would have never agreed to this nonsense if she wasn’t such a chicken hawk. We love her inquisitive expressions.

Free Spay/Neuter & Shots for Select Austin Zip Codes

Crystal — Sat, 04 Dec 2010 21:42:53 +0000

Taken directly from the Austin City Council Pet Center website: http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/health/pets/spay_street.htm

The City of Austin in partnership with Emancipet will provide a free rabies shot, collar and tag, microchip and spay/neuter for dogs/cats in these zip codes:

78701
78702
78721
78723
78724
78741
78744
78745
78753
78758

These free animal services have a value of more than $150. (at least!)

The Spay Street Program will help the City address the issue of the homeless pet population in the community thus reducing the risk of animals being euthanized.

Instructions for Spay Street Program free services:

No appointment needed, simply take your animals to Emancipet:

7201 Levander Loop, Austin 78702 Monday- Saturday, except second Wednesday of every month. Please bring proof of residency (ie: drivers license w/current address or a bill or official piece of mail with your name and address on it).

Call (512) 587-7729 for additional information.

Drop off is between 8 and 9 a.m.
Pick up is between 4 and 5p.m.
All dogs are to be leashed and all cats must be in carriers
Kittens & Puppies must be 8 weeks of age or older

Benefits of spaying/ neutering your pet:

SAVES YOU MONEY! Financially caring for 1 pet vs. all of their offspring. (not to mention reduced risk of ovarian and testicular cancer in dogs and cats!)
No more stray males hanging around your property to breed with your female.
Siblings won’t breed with each other and/ or their parents.
No need to find homes for unwanted litters.
Reduces aggression in male dogs and reduces tendency to roam.
Microchip cuts down on theft of dogs and helps with recovering lost animals.
Males are less likely to mark and/ or spray inside your home.
No more mess to clean from females in heat.
Females will not try to escape to go breed outside your home or property.

For more information or if you live outside of the qualifying zip codes and need assistance, please call the Spay Street Public Health Educator: 512-972-5832 or visit www.EMANCIPET.org for specials like this one:

If you are considering breeding your dog, please visit here first: http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/pet_overpopulation/

Please spay/neuter your pets!

Sincerely,

Your Pet Sitters and Dog Trainers at Leaps N’ Hounds

Dog Apps for Your Phone

Crystal — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 20:33:12 +0000

I’ll preface this post by saying I am a dedicated Android user. Slightly Google-dependent, all of us here at Leaps N’ Hounds depend on these phones to keep us organized and in touch. However, a friend and dedicated iPhone user sent me this iPhone dog apps list, and instantly I realized I was missing something very important from my phone: dog apps!

Instantly I rushed to the Android Apps site to find all the cool pet apps that they offer, fully expecting them to rival iPhone’s excellent selection, yet only to find out that Android has totally missed the boat on this one. In fact, there isn’t even a “Pet” category – Just a stinkin’ “Lifestyle” category that contains one virtually useless dog whistle app.

Usagi says: "Get with the program, Android!"

C’mon Droid developers! Don’t you have pets?

Just because I bought the practical app phone that will still function even after being dropped on the concrete a million times, in a cup of tea, and once in directly into a pile of dog poo; that doesn’t mean I don’t deserve the cool app that tells me when my dog’s shots are due, where the nearest dog park is, and how to find the closest vet.

Then there’s DogiDuty: A pet sitting app that sends reports directly to the client after each visit. How cool is that? We keep an active journal for all of our clients and send email updates regularly, but this is just awesome!

So I’m not ditching my trusty (and tough) Android phone just yet. But I was thinking… maybe I need that iPad after all.

P.S. I disinfected my phone after the poo incident very thoroughly- in case you were worried.

And if I am missing a cool android dog app, please feel free to share.

~Crystal

Why is My Cat Peeing Everywhere?

Crystal — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 18:42:35 +0000

We’ve been getting this question a lot lately, so we thought we’d share some tips.

If your cat is (or was) potty trained to go in a box or outside, but has recently begun urinating or defecating elsewhere, you can bet there’s more reason to it than simply forgetting how to use the box.

Our cat, Titus, gets moody and destructive if he doesn't get his daily nap in the sunlight.

Unlike the dog who may eat the couch, cats are subtle creatures when they are unhappy. The signs they give to show it often go undetected for long periods. They may shed more, gain weight, lose weight, stop playing, become destructive, over-groom and produce more hairballs, or under-groom and let their fur become matted, dull and dirty feeling. These signs are often missed all together or dismissed as aging. Meanwhile the cat falls deeper and deeper into depression and searches for new ways to show it.

Then there’s the breaking point for both cats and humans, which is usually when the random urinating and defecating begins. First, trust that your cat prefers the box to the floor on any day – it is more natural to them. So if your cat starts urinating or spraying on the walls, something is not only very wrong, but it is likely that your kitty is pulling out all the stops to tell you. This is a cat’s ultimate cry for help, and they’ll find whatever corner, closet, or pillow they can to waive their stinky yellow flag of surrender.

Why do they do it?

What else could they do? They can’t talk otherwise they’d tell you things aren’t right. So naturally, they use the only tools they have: their waste.

Your cat’s problem could be medical, behavioral, or both. While we recommend always checking with your vet to eliminate any medical issues with your pet first, never underestimate the power stress has on an animal’s health. Stress and medical issues often go hand in hand, so consider your pet’s mental well being too and avoid repeat trips to the vet to treat the same stress produced problems.

Lots of things can cause depression, stress, or general unhappiness in cats, but it usually boils down to one culprit: Change.

Most cats become very comfortable in their daily routines, especially when they are solely indoor pets. Their world is a small one and therefore very easily disrupted. Move a piece of furniture, remodel a room, move the cat box, adopt a new pet, or have guests come stay for a weekend; and you might get a stinky surprise out of your previously potty trained friend.

Finding the cause of the the problem can often be a difficult question to answer since cats are known and loved for their mysterious nature. The good news is resolving a problem with a cat is usually more about accommodating them. For example: You can’t help it when you have visitors that smell funny to your cat, but you can make sure your cat has a safe zone when they feel imposed upon.

Regardless of the mysterious (or not so mysterious) changes that may have sent your cat down the path of ammonia-scented destruction, focus on the good news: Happiness will prevail and your cat can learn to cope.

What makes a cat happy anyway?

Aside from constant worship? Lots of things!

1.) Healthy Diet and Clean Water

-Good food makes happy, healthy pets. It is THE MOST IMPORTANT thing you can do for your animal. Chemicals effect behavior and health, so if you are buying cheap grocery brand food for your cat, spend a little more to change to a premium food and save yourself some money on vet bills in the long run. You’ll also spare your cat a painful and early death in the process. Introduce the new food slowly, mixing it in with the old over the course of a few weeks until the bad stuff is phased out. Also, clean their dishes daily, especially the water dish. Cats need fresh clean water and will shun a dirty dish no matter how new the water is.

2.) A Sanitary Low-Dust Cat Box

-If you had to wade through sewage every time you went to the bathroom, you’d pee in the corner too. Scoop the box, use a good litter that doesn’t produce a lot of urinary tract-upsetting dust, and provide more than one cat box (especially if you have more than one cat or a large home). Change out the litter entirely once a week. We don’t care what those litter makers say: nothing stays fresh for a month after being peed on every day, not even the super expensive stuff.

3.) Exercise and Mental Stimulation

-Cats are gifted and natural hunters. If your cat stays inside all day, life can lose purpose pretty fast. Set time aside every morning and evening to play a little. Get out the string, the mousie, or the little milk carton tab that they love to bat around and get them running. There are also some great games and challenges you can give your cat to awaken the tiger within. Check out books like 50 Games to Play with Your Cat. From food games to teaching them tricks, your cat may be more gifted than you think.

4.) The Safety Zone

Photo credit: Can Has Cheezburger

-If you have multiple pets or lots of family like we do, you may find the need to give your cat their own space. They need a spot to feel safe and sleep during the day, especially if your home is prone to hectic activity and lots of visitors. This spot is safe from everyone: kids, dogs, noise, etc. It should be dark so they can sleep and covered to give a sense of security. Cats are famously simple creatures who often prefer cardboard boxes and paper bags to fancy store-bought beds. Experiment a little and see what they like. We covered a cardboard box in cute material once for one of our cats who would sleep in nothing else.

5.) The Importance of Tanning

-Sunlight is a natural anti-depressant, and something our cats need despite their nocturnal nature. Therefore every cat needs a peaceful spot in the sun where they can nap and work on that summer tan. Many kitties will bath in the sun for hours, allowing their fur to heat to almost untouchable temperatures. Seems crazy to us, but then again they probably think the same of us every time we dip ourselves into that giant tub of water.

6.) The Power of Cardboard and Catnip

-We’ve known a lot of cats, and almost none of them could resist this silly thing. Admittedly it is ugly, so if you don’t want it hanging around your cat’s living space, try other scratching options instead. Just know that even declawed cats need something to stretch their paws on and spread their scent.

The only thing that makes the Cardboard Cat Scratcher more attractive to a cat is cat nip. While we like giving our cats the fresh and dried stuff, we found the spray a while back and use it all the time to attract our cats to certain areas. Wherever we spray it, that is where they want to lay and roll about until they eventually pass out from cat nip bliss. Meanwhile they are not laying all over our burgundy couches because those no longer smell nearly as appealing as that cat bed covered in nip.

7.) Training

-We don’t mean teaching them to sit and roll over (although that is possible), but more importantly: how to coexist with us as a happy cat. The most important tool for training a cat is redirection. Scratch here not on my couch, potty here not in my plant, and repeat. Focus less on stopping a behavior and more on redirecting it so your cat knows where to do the things that come naturally to them.

8.) Socialization

-If your cat spends their entire life inside with the same people, animals, and things, it is safe to bet that they will be very sensitive to anything new. Expose them to new people, other nice cats and nice dogs, and desensitize them to change while they are young. It seems so simple, but it will impact your cat’s personality more than any other thing you do for them.

While no pet comes with an emotionally sound guarantee, doing these things for your cat will help you raise a confident and happy family member that can adapt to change gracefully – avoiding those smelly kitty blues all together!

Updated Service area

Crystal — Sun, 23 May 2010 14:55:44 +0000

Just a quick update on our Pet Care service area. There are three of us pet hugging, dog jogging, fur taxi-ing ladies servicing Austin now, which gives us the freedom to service almost all of the city and surrounding areas! If you haven’t checked out our service map, please do. Or you can look in this handy set of zip codes to see if we pet sit/dog walk/cat cuddle (or whatever you want to call it) in your area:

78756
78752
78751
78746
78731
78724
78723
78722
78721
78705
78704
78703
78702
78701

Don’t see your zip code here? Feel free to contact us anyway. Availability permitting, we may be able to provide service outside of our standard area.

An now for someone cute: