Paw Pals Pet Sitting

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Top 8 Questions To Ask Your Cat Sitter

March 21, 2022 by Mary Telesz

cat sitter playing with catFor many, the thought of leaving their furry companion in the hands of a stranger can be unsettling. Even trusting a family member to care for your cat can leave you less than confident; no one knows your animals better than you, right? The good news is that if you take the time to carefully research a reputable cat sitter, your beloved cat will be able to enjoy your time away from home in the presence of an experienced and friendly visitor. To make sure that you are entrusting your cat to a trustworthy and skilled sitter, be sure to ask lots of questions. If you need some inspiration for what to ask, consider the following alongside any other questions that are important to you.

Do You Have Your Own Cats?

There is a reason behind why most people who are cat sitters have chosen cats specifically. Often it is because they have their own feline friends at home. While it is not necessarily required for a sitter to own cats themselves, coming from a home that has frequently owned cats and having spent years with these animals will help to ensure that they understand how cats think and what they enjoy and dislike. This will also prepare them to think of common tasks that non-cat owners may forget about, like cleaning the litterbox while you are away.

What Do Your Services Consist Of?

Pet sitters, in general, offer a variety of services, and you should ascertain whether the individual or company you are speaking with can fulfill all of your needs. Some people will only come by once a day to check water and food, while others will stay and play, groom your cat or provide emergency care. Be sure that you understand the types of services you can expect from your cat sitter and that the two of you are on the same page about what needs to be done.

How Much Experience Do You Have?

Cat sitters need not have 20 years of experience to be excellent at their work (although that is a bonus!), but they must care for felines in the past. Most reputable sitters will be happy to walk you through how long they have been working for, the types of animals they have assisted and how.

What Rate Do You Charge?

Being on the same page about payment should be an early check box on your list. Rates can vary widely among public and private companies and individuals, so discuss this early. Some may charge per hour, others per visit and others a flat rate for your entire booking. None of these are inherently better or worse than any others.

What Is the Contact Information for Your References?

References are a critical way to check on the success of a sitter in the past. Glowing references that have been completely satisfied can help you feel secure. A cat sitter who is unwilling or hesitant to provide references may be worth looking into a little bit deeper to ensure that everything is up to snuff.

What Will You Do in an Emergency?

cat gets a drip in a veterinary clinicSome cat sitters are trained in animal CPR or have experience working with medication and other health issues. Even if your cat is healthy, choosing a sitter who can remain calm and has experience in emergencies, including a plan for what to do and where to go is vital. Iron out whether a sitter goes to a specific vet makes decisions for you and so on.

How Often Will You Update?

While you are gone, you will likely feel better if you receive frequent updates about your furry friend. A good sitter will attempt to fit updates into your ideal schedule, whether that is every few days or at the beginning and end of each visit. Work together to determine a schedule that is right for you.

How Do We Reach Each Other?

Your sitter must be able to reach out, and you both must work out the most effective means of communication, as well as backups. For example, if you do not answer your phone, what should the sitter do next? Consider situations like these as you make plans.

Trust the Experts to Treat Your Cat Like Family While You Are Away

As you consider how to approach your cat’s care while you are away from home, you can rest assured that an experienced cat sitter will do their best to keep your feline friend stimulated and out of harm’s way. The expert sitters at Paw Pals would be happy to care for your cat so that you do not have to worry. Reach out to learn more about our services or to schedule an appointment.

Filed Under: Pet Sitting

Contact Paw Pals for More Information

Paw Pals specializes in professional dog walking, dog sitting, and pet sitting services. One of our reliable, adult staff members will keep your pet safe, while providing your pet the love and care they need when you are away. Contact us to learn more!

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Office Location

Paw Pals Pet Sitting, LLC
14001-C Saint Germain Drive #213
Centreville, VA 20121
(703) 345-1695

professional dog walking software

Office Hours

Monday
9am - 5pm
Tuesday
9am - 5pm
Wednesday
9am - 5pm
Thursday
9am - 5pm
Friday
9am - 5pm
Saturday
Closed
Sunday
Closed

Areas Served

Centreville – 20120, 20121
Chantilly – 20151
Clifton – 20124
Fairfax – 22030, 22033
Fairfax Station – 22039
Manassas – 20109, 20110, 20111
Reston – 20191, 20190

Google Rating
4.9
Paw Pals Pet Sitting
Paw Pals Pet Sitting
4.9
Taylor Smith
Taylor Smith
21:22 03 Oct 21
I never worry when Mary and team take care of my dog!
Michæl Silva
Michæl Silva
21:38 01 Jul 22
Mary at Paw Pals Pet Sitting is the greatest! She has helped me train my pooch Chico how play nice with other dogs and for that I am extremely grateful! A+A+A+A+A+A
Kwi Kim
Kwi Kim
22:37 17 Jun 22
I hired Paw Pals based on my sister’s referral. Meet & greet was very thorough and detailed. I was surprised that my finicky cat came to check the sitter out. Subsequently, a sitter watched my cat over several separate visits, and it was clear through the visit reports that my cat loved the sitter. All the visits were completed having followed my directions & with professionalism.I would highly recommend Paw Pals to anyone who’s looking for a dependable, personable, & professional sitter.
Joseph Walter
Joseph Walter
19:55 13 Jun 22
Paw Pals provided a large number of photos of our pets along with a personalized message on how our pets were doing with every single visit. I would highly recommend using Paw Pals, we'll be continuing to use them whenever we go on vacation.
Ashley Manning
Ashley Manning
09:50 11 Jun 22
Highly recommend as pet sitters!Initially, a sitter from the company will visit the house to meet the pets and learn where everything is. Tatiana took careful notes and we got her some spare keys.While we are away, Paw Pals sends sitters to come and look after our boys. They feed them, scoop litter, bring in mail and packages, and they will even manage trash, recycling, blinds and lights so that everything is comfortable for our kitties. Each time they check in, we receive an email message with updates and pictures, which is so comforting when we are on the road.Also, if you don’t let Paw Pals know when you are home, they assume something has happened and will continue to care for your babies. If something were to happen, I know they would be okay.Five stars for Paw Pals!
Brian Wood
Brian Wood
04:08 22 May 22
We have used Paw Pals for a number of years now and would highly recommend to anyone looking for help with their pets. Great communication from owner Mary and flexibility to make adjustments in schedule as life changes over time. Have had a consistent set of walkers who have gotten to know our pup and the various walking routes around our neighborhood quite well.
Lesley Bush
Lesley Bush
13:58 18 Mar 22
We can't rave enough about Paw Pals. They took care of our 18 year old Cat and 20 year old Chinchilla while we were away and when our flight got cancelled, they were so accommodating and available last minute for an extra day. We worked with Jen to coordinate visits from Miko and Danny. I loved the pictures and updates on how our Lil geriatric guys were doing. Thanks a million, Paw Pals!! Our special pets were so well cared for.
Sebastian Barnes
Sebastian Barnes
01:06 17 Jan 22
I have used Paw Pals for several trips over the last few months, and they have been phenomenal every time! Mary is extremely kind and responsive, and she makes sure that my cat and dog have the care that they need every time I am out of town. All of the pet sitters that I've had have been incredibly sweet to my pets, and they treat them like their own! Will gladly continue using Paw Pals every time I need a sitter.
Julie Shildt
Julie Shildt
17:45 14 Nov 21
It has been a pleasure doing business with paw pals. We have used this company for several trips we have taken over the past 6 months. They have been wonderful caretakers for our 2 cats. Anytime there is ever a question they don't hesitate to give us a call and they leave the best notes and pictures in the emailed report of each visit. We are so glad have found such a great company.
Andrea Hall
Andrea Hall
22:45 03 Oct 20
I wasn't sure about hiring a new doggie walker service... after all they are our kiddos... my babies were in great hands and I felt relaxed having them in their care. Thank you for everything!
Katie McCune
Katie McCune
19:19 15 Jul 21
I honestly cannot recommend Mary and her whole crew enough! We started using Mary originally about 7 years ago to stop by occasionally when our Aussie Lana was younger. Over the next couple years Lana stayed with Mary and her family for a couple weekends when we went on vacation. When we moved to our new house in Manassas, Lana stayed with Sam, who lives in Manassas, overnight for moving day, and did great. Right before the pandemic, we adopted our second Aussie, Goose, and Mary recommended a fantastic trainer for him.We now have weekly walks for the dogs, and they love all of their walkers! Trevor, Paul, Hazel, Sofie, and probably a couple others have helped Goose get used to more people, and have helped my husband and me when our schedules are crazy.Paw Pals is our go-to for any help with our dogs, so I highly recommend them!
Alexandra Hill
Alexandra Hill
22:43 23 May 21
I was a nervous mommy to leave my cats with a sitter service for the first time. Paw Pals went above and beyond to care for my cats and ease a nervous mommy. I already made a reservation to use them again!
Cindy Welgoss
Cindy Welgoss
13:12 27 Nov 20
We have been using Paw Pals for several years, and through a variety of pets that we have loved. Mary and her team have always been *exceptional* in every way. They are professional, courteous, and truly love our fur family! Mary herself is an organized and stellar administrator of her pet care business, keeping detailed records of our pet’s needs, scheduled pet visits, payments, and balance due easy to keep track of as the pet owner. The pet caretaking team is reliable and trustworthy. When our dogs see any of their Paw Pal friends, they get SO excited to see them! Follow up comments are left via text to keep the pet owner informed of the visit and how the pets are faring. Paw Pals has allowed our family the peace of mind to leave our pets at home, for work, weekend getaways and longer times away when necessary, where they are the most comfortable and familiar. We are grateful to Mary and her team for giving us the ability to enjoy pet ownership without feeling tied down. The responsibility of having pets comes with the need to keep them safe and comfortable at all times, and Mary and her team affords us this when our family has to be away.
Dr Tammy Cashion
Dr Tammy Cashion
21:11 12 Mar 19
We have used Paw pals pet sitting on multiple occasions for our bunnies while we are away. Many pet sitters are not interested in small pets however; Mary and her team, are amazing and we trust her implicitly! We are very happy with the outstanding service we have received from her team including texts and photos of our pets when we are out of town. They always go the extra mile and we highly recommend them!
Kristin Conrad
Kristin Conrad
16:00 16 Nov 19
We are so grateful we found Mary and her team at Paw Pals. They are exceptionally responsive, amazingly organized and detail-oriented.We have such peace of mind when we travel knowing our home and pets are so well cared for. Paw Pals is the best pet sitting service we’ve used, and we’re so happy we found them.
Katie Russell
Katie Russell
15:01 17 May 20
Paw Pals is fantastic! I have had a great experience with Mary! Compassionate, professional, responsive, and prompt! Thank you!
Phillip Evans
Phillip Evans
14:38 11 Jul 20
When we adopted our new dog in January, Paw Pals agreed to walk her and give her some outside time so she wasn't in the crate all day. She loved her dog walker and you could see her excitement every time the walker showed up. We moved out of the area but would recommend Paw Pals to anyone needing someone to care for their pets.
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