Mary L.
Castro Valley, CA
Cats only :)
Pet care experience
Please note: I only board cats (sorry, no dogs). I grew up taking care of cats, volunteered as a humane educator for the Escondido Humane Society (in San Diego), and currently volunteer in Feline Companion and Enrichment at the East Bay SPCA. I have fostered kittens from 3 days old to adult cats, from those requiring medication to behavioral issues. As I have two cats of my own and know how difficult it can be to find a nice, comfortable space to leave them while I travel, I hold myself to the same high standard when providing this service to others. I will also provide daily updates (pictures and short summaries) and notify you if there is anything to be concerned of. My husband and I have two indoor cats - Watson and Dumbledore. Watson is very friendly to people and cats & kittens alike. He is gentle, loving, and calm. We also have a younger cat, Dumbledore, who is shy towards strangers, but very curious and playful once he warms up. In most cases, I would keep the cats separate for these stays with the exception of longer term stays (after some familiarity between the cats is established through the door) and if your cat(s) get along with other cats. I look forward to meeting and caring for your cat(s)! :)
Reviews
Our 2nd stay with Mary, she sends photos and updates everyday, and accommodates our special feeding needs. It seems all our 4 cats had fun time!
We were delighted to have found Mary to look after our cat Mama in her kitty room while we were on vacation for 2 weeks. She really put us at ease straight away and she clearly spent lots of time playing with, cuddling and hanging out with Mama. She sent us detailed updates every day which was super reassuring and Mama came home relaxed and content. We won't hesitate to board Mama at Mary's again and would recommend her to any cat parent.
Mary shows lots of caring, sent photos and updates frequently, the room was fantastic too. We felt very comfortable boarding our 4 cats with Mary!
I’ve never used pet boarding before, but Mary was very patient with my many questions from this anxious kitty mama. I also was able to visit the dedicated cat room, which was very nice and had everything that Mr. Knightley needed. She updated me during my trip with many photos and videos, and as I was especially concerned about how he was eating gave detailed answers on that. He seemed relaxed in the photos and videos she sent, and she was attentive about how he was doing behaviorally. I’ll be back with Mr. Knightley and my new kitten next month. Highly highly recommend Mary for cat boarding - I really trust her for providing excellent care for my cats!
About Mary L.
Communication
Skills
Safety, trust & environment
We live in a 2-story house and have a separate, spacious and bright cat room on the second floor with a cat tree, large window, couch, cat toys, hidey holes, and cat beds for your cat(s) to enjoy. Please supply the cat food and any other special items/toys that may help your cat(s) feel at home (including any special litter - otherwise we have a standard litter box and clumping clay litter that we can use).
Home
Information Mary L. would like to know about your pet
Please inform me of any special needs (medications, special dietary needs, medical issues/allergies), feeding schedule, and any behavioral considerations/concerns. I am happy to work with a range of special needs your cat may have.
A typical day
I will feed your cat(s) and administer any medications based on your instructions. Fresh water will be available at all times; and the litter is scooped/cleaned twice daily. I will also interact with your cat in whatever way he/she feels most comfortable. For shy cats, I typically sit in the room (reading) and allow them to approach me first; once they warm up, I would engage/pet/play with them. For social and energetic cats, I would play/pet/talk to them and use cat toys to stimulate and entertain them throughout the day, while also giving them time to rest and explore the cat room on their own as well.
Services
Mary can host
Availability
I work from home Tuesday-Friday and my spouse (who is also great with cats/kittens) works from home all week, so we are able to give attention to your cats throughout the day, including tending to any special needs/medication administration.
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About Mary L.
Communication
Skills
Safety, trust & environment
We live in a 2-story house and have a separate, spacious and bright cat room on the second floor with a cat tree, large window, couch, cat toys, hidey holes, and cat beds for your cat(s) to enjoy. Please supply the cat food and any other special items/toys that may help your cat(s) feel at home (including any special litter - otherwise we have a standard litter box and clumping clay litter that we can use).
Home
Information Mary L. would like to know about your pet
Please inform me of any special needs (medications, special dietary needs, medical issues/allergies), feeding schedule, and any behavioral considerations/concerns. I am happy to work with a range of special needs your cat may have.
A typical day
I will feed your cat(s) and administer any medications based on your instructions. Fresh water will be available at all times; and the litter is scooped/cleaned twice daily. I will also interact with your cat in whatever way he/she feels most comfortable. For shy cats, I typically sit in the room (reading) and allow them to approach me first; once they warm up, I would engage/pet/play with them. For social and energetic cats, I would play/pet/talk to them and use cat toys to stimulate and entertain them throughout the day, while also giving them time to rest and explore the cat room on their own as well.
Location
Castro Valley, CA
Pets
Mary L.
Castro Valley, CA