Thea S.
Thea S.
Highlights
Pet care experience
Cat Boarding | Dog Walks | Drop-ins
Hello! My name is Thea and I am 30 years old. I grew up in the Berkshire countryside with a menagerie of animals and moved to South London 6 years ago. I now live with my partner and our two indoor cats, Tusk and Aurora, who are gracious enough to let us think we’re in charge. - I have always loved animals. I grew up in a family of five with a large extended animal family, including Patch the horse, Ghillie, Lana and Peggy the black labradors, Alice and Hugo the cats, an African Grey parrot called Puzi, many guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils, rabbits and chickens (whose eggs I used to sell to neighbours as an entrepreneurial 8-year-old), Great African Land Snails (yes, really), professional escape artist stick insects (...don’t ask), and a tortoise called Joey who is estimated to be 80+ years old! - Dogs: I particularly love dogs and would describe myself as a dog person first. I have raised three Black Labrador puppies, including Lana, a now happily retired working gun dog, who I trained from a puppy, competed with and worked myself. I am experienced with all aspects of day-to-day dog care, reinforcing training and good habits, and making sure they get plenty of attention, exercise and fun! I am confident with dogs of all ages, breeds and temperaments, and particularly enjoy working with puppies, using patience, consistency and clear boundaries to keep them calm and relaxed. I am also experienced with elderly and post-operative care, including following medication routines, monitoring wounds and attending vet appointments. - Cats: I grew up with two cats, a tortoiseshell called Alice and a ginger tom called Hugo. Alice is very much part of the family and, at nearly 20 years old, is still happily pootling around at home - in fact, we all swear she’s getting younger! I’ve had plenty of hands-on experience caring for my own indoor cats Tusk and Aurora from kittenhood onwards. They came to me at just 14 weeks old, so I’m very familiar with the day-to-day needs of young cats, as well as the changes that come with age. I am comfortable with all aspects of day-to-day cat care, including feeding, automatic feeders, litter trays, grooming and medication - alongside all the other tasks they seem to believe are part of my job as their live-in maid! - Other animals: Growing up, I regularly helped care for all of the animals at home. I am an experienced horse rider and spent a lot of time at the yard with our horse Patch, and hacking out with others in the Berkshire countryside before moving to London. I previously worked as a stable manager for a small children’s riding school in Henley-on-Thames, where my responsibilities included liaising with clients, running the yard, managing feed and medication, grooming and exercising, and providing individual care. I also led summer schools, taught private riding lessons, led hacks and ran pony parties for young children. - I am based in a secure flat with access to a large dog-friendly park and wider green spaces. I am an experienced house sitter, driver and volunteer with Croydon Animal Samaritans as an animal taxi. I am also a professional musician and qualified secondary school music teacher. Please do get in touch with me about your pet, as I would love to hear from you!
Cat care experience
Thea also cares for cats. Learn about their cat-specific care experience.
Qualifications
Ratings and reviews
We originally started using Thea for drop-ins, so when we needed someone to look after our cat Shadow for three days, we already knew he was comfortable and happy with her. It was lovely knowing he’d have company and the option to hang out with Tusk and Aurora, or have his own space if he preferred. Thea kept us updated with pictures throughout his stay, which was really reassuring. We came home to a happy, settled cat and would definitely recommend Thea!
Thea is such a natural with dogs. Coco is always so excited to go out for her park and field walks when Thea comes to pick her up, and I feel completely at ease knowing she’s in such safe and caring hands. Coco always comes home happy, relaxed and wonderfully tired after her walks, and it’s clear she has a fantastic time running around and exploring the countryside! I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Thea to anyone looking for someone trustworthy, reliable and genuinely great with dogs.
Thea has been around all kinds of animals for most of her life. From dogs, cats and horses to guinea pigs and chickens. Thea has a great rapport with all kinds of dogs, and has been been involved with dog training from puppy upwards, including training dogs to successfully compete in field tests and flyball. She also has experience of caring for elderly dogs. Thea is a responsible, fun person to be around. I highly recommend her.
Calendar and availability
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Schedule
I am based at home, have a flexible schedule and am available during the week for indoor cat boarding, morning dog walks (the earlier the better, especially in the summer!)/late afternoon dog walks, and pet drop-ins during the day. I will aim to work with your pet's usual schedule wherever possible. Please get in touch about weekend availability.
Where your pet will stay
Home characteristics
Safety, trust & environment
Indoor cat boarding: I offer boarding for indoor cats in a secure flat without garden access, with two humans and two resident indoor cats. During their stay, visiting cats can have access to the whole flat, or their own space away from my cats. Whatever they choose, they will be kept company by and have access to at least one human, including overnight. ** PLEASE NOTE: Your cat must be FIV/FeLV negative, indoor only, comfortable around other cats, litter-trained, spayed/neutered and up to date with vaccinations, flea and worm treatments. Vaccinations must include protection against feline panleukopenia/infectious enteritis and feline respiratory viruses (cat flu, including herpesvirus and calicivirus). Owners must provide proof of vaccination and recent flea and worm treatment. Cats must not have been recently exposed to or be showing signs of an infectious illness, including sneezing, coughing, diarrhoea, vomiting, eye or nose discharge, unexplained lethargy or skin problems. Aggression will not be tolerated. Unfortunately, I cannot accommodate cats that do not meet these requirements or put my cats at risk in any way. Owners must provide a crate, blanket/towel that smells of you, food and treats, medication and toileting setup** - Dog walks: Your dog will be collected by car and walked in a large dog-friendly park and surrounding countryside. **PLEASE NOTE: Owners must provide their own treats. All dogs without reliable recall will be kept on a long lead. Aggression will not be tolerated** - Pet drop-ins: I am happy to follow whatever routine is best for your pet wherever possible. Medication must be prescribed and accompanied by clear instructions from your vet. **PLEASE NOTE: Owners must provide their own food and treats. All instructions for feeding/medication must be clear and received in advance. Please be honest about your situation and ensure that your space is secure, safe and tidy before drop-ins** - Photos can be taken on request.
Pets
A typical day
Kitties that come to stay can expect a relaxed stay in a secure flat with two humans and two resident indoor cats. Depending on your cat's preferences, they can have access to their own space without my cats, or get stuck in with Tusk and Aurora. Whatever they choose, they will be kept company by - and have access to - at least one human, including overnight. **PLEASE NOTE: Your cat must be FIV/FeLV negative, indoor only, comfortable around other cats, litter-trained, spayed/neutered and up to date with vaccinations, flea and worm treatments. Vaccinations must include protection against feline panleukopenia/infectious enteritis and feline respiratory viruses (cat flu, including herpesvirus and calicivirus). Owners must provide proof of vaccination and recent flea and worm treatment. Cats must not have been recently exposed to or be showing signs of an infectious illness, including sneezing, coughing, diarrhoea, vomiting, eye or nose discharge, unexplained lethargy or skin problems. Aggression will not be tolerated. Unfortunately, I cannot accommodate cats that do not meet these requirements or put my cats at risk in any way. Owners must provide a crate, blanket/towel that smells of you, food and treats, medication and toileting setup** - Dogs can expect a short car ride, followed by beautiful morning or afternoon walks, with access to a large dog-friendly park and countryside. There's lots of space to explore, spots to sniff and benches to sit and chill out on in the fresh air. Your dog will lead the way and dictate the pace of their walk. For those in the mood for some serious exercise, a brisker, longer walk can be arranged, up to 5km (approx. 1 hour moderate pace). For those that prefer to chill, we can go for a gentle stroll from bench to bench. Toys and treats are encouraged! **PLEASE NOTE: Owners must provide their own treats. All dogs without reliable recall will be kept on a long lead. Aggression will not be tolerated** - Pet drop-ins can expect a friendly face, a good chat, some light play and plenty of tickles. **PLEASE NOTE: Owners must provide their own food and treats. All instructions for feeding/medication must be clear and received in advance. Please be honest about your situation and ensure that your space is secure, safe and tidy before drop-ins** - Photos can be taken on request.