The best thing about this job second to seeing your pets happy and in their natural behaviours, is receiving the amazing feedback from all the parents & carers of the pets I have the opportunity to meet and care for - it’s truly rewarding! The older cats & dogs which have an extra spring in their step, the dogs who eat when you find a way which works for them because you’ve realised their needs and made them comfortable, the pets who play & express themselves because they know you’re there for them 1 to 1. Cats, dogs, birds - and all animals to be honest - make me genuinely happy and present in the moment. I’ve loved animals and wildlife since forever. Volunteering in a pet shop at 10 years old, I cleaned the rabbit and hamster enclosures and fed the small animals. Since 17 I have taken care of my own 11 cats of all ages in several homes in the UK and China (including a 1-week old kitten who I had to bottle feed blind) and have completed multiple dog sits and walks. I now currently reside with my two boys, Tyson & Rossi, and since Halloween a lady cat who was hanging around the garden now named Lucky. Lucky was wandering for 12 weeks after her owner passed on and now she is part of our family. We have also been fostering a British long haired cat named Professor Pawsley for a month since a friend and previous client in New Mill passed away. Sadly three of the kitties from over the years have passed on; the others are with family and friends and I receive regular updates). The 1-week old when living in China for 3 years was just days old, his name is Ginge and he now lives happily with his three sibling kitties taken care of in Shenzhen by a good friend. I took care of him as a kitten, feeding him bottled formula, keeping him warm and training him to use a litter tray. I took in two 6 month old cats just before that and worked two jobs while looking after the three of them, with the help of my good friend Echo. Rossi who is now 1 year old, came to us last year in our Stockport home as an 8-week old kitten from a rescue centre and we already had Tyson at the time who was 2, we took him in from a friend’s friend who decided to go traveling. Introducing the boys I used scenting and separation to allow for less anxiety, before they finally met and now they love each other despite sometimes boisterously play fighting! Some of my experiences with pet sitting: I took care of two Jack Russell’s in 2015 for two weeks, walking them, feeding them and playing with them. The pups made house sitting much more fun and walking them at the reservoir daily was good exercise. About 8 months later I looked after my friends two cats for a week and a half while they were away. The year after I was baby sitting and dog sitting two dogs for a friends’ parent, just for one night but that was also a very smooth experience. Looking after my friends British Shorthair for a week in south of China (2018) was enjoyable, as I was living in a studio at the time on my own so I truly enjoyed the company. In 2020 post-pandemic I took care of my brother and his partners’ Yorkshire Terrier for three months while they were working long hours, walking him twice a day, playing with him and spending time bonding. It was in 2023 when I took care of my partners’ boss’ family German Shepherd and two domestic short-haired cats. Administering daily medication as the German shepherd was older, feeding, walking with careful consideration and playing were the tasks involved and they even slept with us while we stayed there for 10 days. I even spent some time with the sheep at the back of the garden! What was truly special was how Marcus explained his German shepherd was in such a good way when he got home he was so pleased to see him with good energy and ready for his morning walks.