Nicole H.
Nicole H.
Contact for Drop-In Visits
from $15 per visit
Highlights
Pet care experience
Friends trust me with their pet
Friends have trusted me with their pets for years — especially the anxious ones. I don’t rush introductions. I let animals set the pace, and they usually come around. I offer premium overnight and full-day house sitting for dogs and cats, including seniors, pets on medication schedules, and those who need a calm, steady presence. I love dogs and cats equally and am happy with mixed households. While I’m there, I’ll keep things tidy, collect your mail, and lock up as needed — so your home is exactly as you left it when you return. Though I work remotely, I occasionally need step out for errands and appointments, so I’m best suited for pets comfortable with some independent time. Highlights about Me (Nicole): • Anxious & shy pets welcome • Senior pet care • Medication administration • Dogs & cats • Mixed households welcome • Mail & home check included • No puppies under 1 year What’s Included • Overnight / full-day house sitting includes: • Up to 2 walks per day (up to 30 min each), or regular outdoor trips if you have a yard • Feeding up to twice daily for dogs or cats • Medication administration on your schedule • Mail collection, light tidying, and securing the home • Home left clean and orderly — just as I arrived Add-ons: • Extra walk, feeding, or drop-in: +$15 • Extended stay: Available, calculated by Rover Also available: • Standalone walks (up to 30 min) for clients who don’t need an overnight stay • Drop-ins for cats (30 or 60 minutes per visit) for feeding and play time Q&A Section Q: Why is your rate $45/day? Fair question — and I appreciate you asking rather than just scrolling past! The honest breakdown: Rover takes 20% of every booking, and as an independent contractor I also pay self-employment taxes on what’s left. By the time I’ve packed my bag, my food for the stay, and everything I need to be comfortable and work in your home for several days, the math works out to something pretty reasonable on my end. What you’re paying for is someone who shows up prepared, stays present, and treats your home and your pet with care. You won’t be asked to feed me — though if you’d like to share something, I’ll never say no. Q: How do you get to clients’ homes? I get around primarily by bus, which works well for most of Urbana-Champaign. If your home is outside regular bus routes, or if your timing requires arrival or departure when buses aren’t running, I’ll add $20-$40 to cover a Lyft. I’ll always let you know upfront whether that fee applies — no surprises at booking. Q: Do you offer walks or cat drop-ins without an overnight stay? Yes! I’m available for standalone walks — up to 30 minutes — if your dog(s) needs some midday movement while you’re at work or out for the day or if your cat(s) need feeding and playtime. Because I use the bus or walk, drop-ins need to be within 2 miles of the east side of Urbana.
Cat care experience

Nicole also cares for cats. Learn about their cat-specific care experience.
Qualifications
Safety, trust & environment
I come to you — that's the whole idea. Your pet stays in their own space, with their own smells, their own routine, and none of the stress of an unfamiliar environment. I take my cues from them, letting them set the pace and show me what they're comfortable with. I get around on the MTD bus from Urbana, which covers most of Champaign-Urbana well. If you're outside the bus service area, or need me to arrive or depart outside of normal service hours (generally 7 a.m.–7 p.m.), I'm happy to work something out — just add $35 for a Lyft and we're good.
Ratings and reviews
As always, Nicole did great with my animals. Will be using her again.


Nicole was great Did what I asked I will ask her to watch my cat again when the need arises

Nicole is fantastic! She took wonderful care of my beagle, Obie, while I was out of town for the night. He gets terrible separation anxiety and can be a bit of a handful when I'm gone, but she had him calm and relatively stress-free. She kept in touch, sent me pics for reassurance, and was exceptionally communicative throughout. I felt peace of mind knowing she was with my guy and able to walk him when needed. Highly recommend Nicole for her kindness, attention to detail, and affinity for animals. Will definitely ask her to watch him again in the future.

Nicole was very sweet with our Sadie girl. She was very communicative and let us know how Sadie was doing throughout our time gone. 100% recommend!!

Nicole was easy to work with and took great care of my baby!

Nicole is dependable, kind, and communicative! I felt very at ease leaving my 18 year old dog in her care, and I appreciated her updates and photos!


Calendar and availability
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Schedule
I work for myself, mostly from home, so my schedule is generally flexible — though I do have regular client meetings and digital appointments that can shift things around. The more advance notice you can give me, the better I can work around your needs. Mondays are my one standing in-person commitment — I'm in an office from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. — but with at least a week's notice, I can often move that to remote work and stay with your pets through the day. If you have reliable Wi-Fi, I'm happy to bring my laptop and work from your place. Like any self-employed person, I do occasionally need to step out for a meeting or errand, so I'm best suited for pets who can settle comfortably on their own for short stretches.
