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Mary L.

Castro Valley, CA

5.0 out of 5 stars
45 reviews
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Services

These prices are for 1 dog.

Prices include all fees.

Mary can host

Cats
Spayed and neutered dogs only
No females in heat
Crate-trained dogs only
Takes only 1 client at a time

Availability

I go into the office on Mondays and work from home the rest of the week. 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.

Available
Not available
SMTWTFS
Boarding Cancellation Policy:

About Mary L.

Communication

14 repeat pet parents
100% response rate
Usually responds in under half an hour
100% bookings with photo updates

Skills

36 years of experience
Oral medication administration
Senior dog experience
Special needs dog experience
Can provide daily exercise

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, cat wall shelves/bridge/bubble, 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

Lives in a house
Has a fenced yard
Non-smoking household
Has 2 cats
Children 0-5 years old
Dogs allowed on bed
Dogs allowed on furniture
Potty breaks every 2-4 hours

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 at least 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

Mary L.'s Neighborhood

Pets

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

Cassie P.
Boarding • Jul 31, 2026
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I highly recommend Mary! She’s watched Milo several times now and does such a fantastic job. My little guy is so well taken care of and I’m pretty sure never wants to leave! :)

Hong T.
Boarding • Jul 23, 2026
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This was our second time booking with Mary, and it was another wonderful experience! Our cat was noticeably more comfortable this time around—he even finally figured out how to use the cat tree, which he’s always ignored before! It was so sweet seeing him explore more and feel at home. He also had a great time playing with Mary's son. We love having a safe, welcoming place for him to stay when we're away. Highly recommend!

David K.
Boarding • Jun 16, 2026
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Our 4 kitten have stayed at Mary’s place a few times, as usual she pay lots of care to them, not only feeding but also spent good amount of time with them. From the daily photos and videos we can see they basically treated it as home 🤣 Having Mary taking care of our cats was the only way we could enjoy our trips.

Cassie P.
Boarding • Apr 04, 2026
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Milo stayed with Mary again and he had such a great time! I felt completely at ease throughout my whole trip thanks to the regular updates and photos. I truly can’t recommend Mary enough!

About Mary L.

Communication

14 repeat pet parents
100% response rate
Usually responds in under half an hour
100% bookings with photo updates

Skills

36 years of experience
Oral medication administration
Senior dog experience
Special needs dog experience
Can provide daily exercise

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, cat wall shelves/bridge/bubble, 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

Lives in a house
Has a fenced yard
Non-smoking household
Has 2 cats
Children 0-5 years old
Dogs allowed on bed
Dogs allowed on furniture
Potty breaks every 2-4 hours

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 at least 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.

Each sitter joining Rover needs to pass a background check. And by booking on Rover, you can get photo & message updates, 24/7 support, and reimbursement for eligible vet care.
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Mary L.

Castro Valley, CA

5.0 out of 5 stars
45 reviews