Leah C.
Northwest Ithaca, NY
PhD Student, Loves Cats, Has a Car
Pet care experience
Hello! Thanks for visiting my profile. I am a PhD student and conservation biologist. Since graduating undergrad, I’ve bounced around a bit working in hospitals and zoos and getting my M.S. in Biology before moving here. I’ve had cats and dogs my whole life, and have been taking care of the pets in my family as well as pet sitting for friends and family since I was 11. This includes all of the normal aspects of care like preparing food, maintaining clean feeding/watering spaces, keeping litter boxes clean, and learning to match the energy of a variety of pet personalities. I have experience administering oral/topical medication, working with pets with special health needs, and responding to veterinary emergencies. I also have some experience caring for reptiles (bearded dragons and ball pythons) and quite a lot of experience working with wild birds. With detailed instructions, I’d also be happy to care for reptiles or birds. For any pet, I think the most important thing to a happy pet is to maintain the daily routine and match the pet’s desired level of interaction and activity. For some pets, this has meant lots of playing and pets, and for others chilling in the same room from 4 feet apart.
Reviews
Leah was wonderful when she watched our dear kitty. Our cat had special needs, and Leah attended to her perfectly. Not only did Leah show incredible care for our sweet cat, but she went above and beyond by giving her extra love, cuddles, and pets. She also kept us in the loop, sending pictures and updates (which were much needed for my anxious cat mama heart). Your fur baby will be in excellent hands with Leah!
Leah watched our pets on multiple occasions for extended periods of time and I never once had any doubt in the quality of care and attention they received. We have dogs (including one reactive one), cats, and reptiles and she handled them all with grace. One of our cats does need daily medications and she was able to administer them without issue. She would always send us frequent updates and pictures while we were away, which is always a sigh of relief when you are away- it ensured us that she was treating the group as her own! Leah was always responsible and compassionate, which is all you can really hope for while watching your pets. I could go on and on and I really have nothing but great things to say about her. She is highly highly recommended! Do yourself a favor and allow your critters the PLEASURE of hanging out with her while you are away :)
About Leah C.
Skills
Safety, trust & environment
My goal for working in a client’s home is to make sure that the pets feel minimal disruption to their daily routine, that the pets feel pampered to their degree of interest, and that the home is cleaner at the end of the visit than when I arrived. Given my zoo background, the animal’s safety is always at the forefront of my mind with any pets, and I take the risk of pet escapes or injury very seriously. For all pets, the most important thing for me is to make sure I’m caring for them in a way that matches the individual pet and family.
Information Leah C. would like to know about your pet
I would love to know more about the personality of your pet, particularly what kind of activities they like to do with you and with guests. Information like their favorite toy, no go zones for petting, and where they like to sit with you is helpful so that we can jump right into being friends! Also, if you have multiple pets, information on the dynamic between them is super helpful!
A typical day
A typical day of pet sitting would involve me arriving, preparing food and water with fresh bowls, checking that the cat litter box is clean, and then spending the rest of the visit engaging in the pet’s preferred type of hanging out. This could be walking, playing with toys, brushing out fur, lying together on the couch, or maybe even sitting across the room from one another! Whatever the pets do normally works for me!
Services
Leah can watch in your home
Availability
I am a full-time PhD student working on data analysis for my dissertation. This means that, while I work a lot, I set my own hours and can work from anywhere I have my laptop and wifi. In addition to provided dedicated time playing with pets, I can also spend a lot of time hanging out with the pet(s) while working (something I find cats really like). I usually get up around 7:00, work 9:00-5:00, then am back home by 7:00. I also can leave school between class or meetings to easily accommodate midday visits.
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About Leah C.
Skills
Safety, trust & environment
My goal for working in a client’s home is to make sure that the pets feel minimal disruption to their daily routine, that the pets feel pampered to their degree of interest, and that the home is cleaner at the end of the visit than when I arrived. Given my zoo background, the animal’s safety is always at the forefront of my mind with any pets, and I take the risk of pet escapes or injury very seriously. For all pets, the most important thing for me is to make sure I’m caring for them in a way that matches the individual pet and family.
Information Leah C. would like to know about your pet
I would love to know more about the personality of your pet, particularly what kind of activities they like to do with you and with guests. Information like their favorite toy, no go zones for petting, and where they like to sit with you is helpful so that we can jump right into being friends! Also, if you have multiple pets, information on the dynamic between them is super helpful!
A typical day
A typical day of pet sitting would involve me arriving, preparing food and water with fresh bowls, checking that the cat litter box is clean, and then spending the rest of the visit engaging in the pet’s preferred type of hanging out. This could be walking, playing with toys, brushing out fur, lying together on the couch, or maybe even sitting across the room from one another! Whatever the pets do normally works for me!
Location
Northwest Ithaca, NY
Leah C.
Northwest Ithaca, NY