Hi! I’m Joana, and I work as mechanical engineer living in Eindhoven. While my professional background is in engineering, animals have always been my true passion. Since childhood I always loved animals, and grew up with both dogs and cats. However, my first pet was a free-roaming rabbit named Maria who slept in my room and acted more like a dog than a bunny. I grew up in Portugal, where I became deeply involved in animal rescue in my hometown, where unfortunately there are a lot of stray animals. I fostered my first cat at 15 (it took a lot of convincing my parents!), and since then, I’ve cared for over 30 foster cats, many of them neonates or sick rescues, including pregnant cats that I've assisted during birth. Because of all of this, I am well versed in dealing with most cat illnesses, and I have a special needs cat myself :) I also worked closely with the local shelter in Portugal, supporting TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) programs, walking shelter dogs, and socializing shy or traumatized animals. Unfortnately, after moving to the Netherlands, I couldn't foster anymore, since I live in an apartment that doesn't allow that, but I do have 3 furr babies that I love more than words can express. However, I still volunteer at the shelter (ROZE) every Sunday where I clean the cat spaces, check health, and help socialize “spicy” cats and kittens. I know from experience how hard it can be to leave your pet at home while you're on holidays and how difficult it can be to find a trustworthy sitter for your pet. I truly think of pets as family members and treat them as such, so you can expect a lot of dedication from my side, and the comfort of knowing that your pet is in safe hands. I provide home visits, dog walks, and overnight stays depending on your needs. I'm especially comfortable with shy, senior, or special-needs animals, and I always treat pets with love, patience, and respect. I speak fluent English and Portuguese, so you can expect as many updates as you want while you are away. Let me know how I can help care for your furry family member!