Cat Sitting in Starkey

About: I specialize in caring for small/medium breed dogs in a peaceful, country home just five minutes outside of Ithaca. With experience ranging from young dogs to seniors, I provide a calm, structured environment where your pet can feel safe and at ease. What sets me apart is my exclusive focus on smaller breeds. As the owner of two small dogs myself (a Chihuahua-Terrier mix and a Pomeranian), I understand their specific needs and personalities. Because I do not take larger dogs, you can rest assured that your small pup will be in a setting designed just for them—without the stress of being around bigger pets. My home is ideal for dogs who do well in a quieter setting and enjoy consistent, attentive care. Whether your dog is older and needs a gentler pace, or simply enjoys a low-key environment, I’m here to provide a safe and loving stay. I work full-time as a remote software engineer, which means I’m home throughout the day and able to provide consistent supervision and companionship. My flexible schedule allows me to take regular breaks for walks, playtime, and one-on-one attention—ensuring your small dog is never left alone for long stretches and always feels cared for. Because I’m home-based and live in a quiet, country setting just outside of Ithaca, I can maintain a calm, structured environment that’s perfect for small breeds who thrive with routine and a peaceful atmosphere. I offer exclusive pet sitting services at my home, ensuring a safe and loving environment for your pet. With a large yard and the companionship of my own two playful dogs—a Chihuahua mix and a Pomeranian —your pet will enjoy playtime, walks, and personalized care. I prioritize their comfort, security, and individual needs, providing a home-away-from-home experience.

“Clara was great! We hadn’t used this app before and she met with us in person before our trip to help us get comfortable with the process. Took excellent care of our cats and provided pictures for every visit. If you’re on the fence about finding someone I would definitely vouch for Clara. Very happy with the care she provided.”

Trystan W.

“Luca was very professional. He took excellent care of our fussy kitty while we were away. He provided photos and updates daily. We are so happy to have a reliable person to cat-sit. I 100% recommend Luca.”

Sarah D.

“Bill and Emma we're great! They're very patient and caring, and made sure our dog was well looked after. They clearly love animals, and we're very happy to recommend them!”

Kathleen L.

About: I started petsitting as a college student in DC in 2010, until I left in 2013. I took a short break, but began petsitting again in Ithaca NY in 2014, running my own business, and stayed very busy until 2020 when covid hit. Since then, I have kept my clients to a select few, very local clients. I have experience with all kinds of animals, but I have finally admitted I'm a crazy dog lady :) I currently work full time but am a homebody outside of work, and animals are my stress relief...so I love being able to spend time with all kinds of animals! When caring for pets in client's homes, I always ensure that they are safe. If there is a fenced in area, I ensure that all gates are secure before letting pets out. If there is no fenced in area, I always ensure that I walk dogs in a safe location and avoid contact with other dogs.

“Literally best sitter I have ever had! I reached out last minute to see if she could watch my two cats while I go away, she was quick to respond and to meet up. My cats were well loved and cared for and she is very personable. I am extremely happy with the care I received for my fur children and can’t wait to use her services the next time I go away.”

Casey S.

“Leah was fantastic, so detail-oriented and communicative—reading the summaries she wrote after each visit to Ivy (and seeing all the pictures!) made me so happy. And based on what I saw in the summaries, Ivy really enjoyed spending time with her. It made our first trip away from Ivy much less stressful to know that she was so well cared for.”

Katerina T.

“While I'm traveling, I've had Teri do daily visits to check-in on my cat. I've hired her for multiple trips over the course of two years. She has always done a great job and been excellent to work with!!”

Brennan A.

About: I have had pets my whole life. I have had many dogs and some cats as well. I can train puppies, have lots of patience with them, and can love on them all day long. I have 2 dogs. Someone is always home, so pups are never unattended. We have a 11 year old daughter as well who loves animals and loves to help care for them. We have 3 acres of land, and a log home. We have a cable to hook up dogs who like to wander, but can allow dogs to run loose if they are well trained.

About: I have taken care of dogs of all different breeds and sizes since I was young. Neighbors, family and friends have relied on me to let their furry friends out for potty breaks, walk them, feed them, and even stay with them in their homes while they are away. I am currently working full time at a dairy farm/farm store until I head back to college this fall. I can be with them before and after work. My hours differ day to day but we can make it work! I can care for your animals in whatever way you need. If they are not able to free roam in your yard, I am willing to leash walk them. I will play with them for as long as they want and I will make sure they are fed on whatever schedule you currently have set for them.

About: I'm the kind of person that would have a hundred dogs to take care of if I could! All of them would be rescues. I would love to help you take care of your animals while you're at work or away. I am a Hands-On, play with the dogs , make sure they get love and affection , walks and proper care. It would be a pure pleasure to be able to help you be confident that your animal is taken care of while you're away at work. I must admit I suffer from a little bit of empty nest syndrome as my youngest child graduated and went off and is now doing her own thing, it makes me purely happy to scratch a dog behind their ears and have them be just delighted.

About: My remote work makes it possible to spend my days with my dog Winnie, who I adopted from the wonderful Schuyler County Humane Society last year, and still be able to walk or visit other dogs or cats for anyone who is not able to work from home or has plans out of town and can’t bring their furry friend. My schedule is pretty adjustable so let me know when you need someone and I can likely help out. I work remotely and am able to more or less make my own schedule so I can walk dogs during 9-5 hours too. Sometimes there is a gap between projects and I have even more availability. At this time I would not be caring for pets in my home but would possibly be available to watch a pet at a client’s home.

“Randi is trustworthy and great with our pets. We have really valued the care she has shown to our cats while we are away.”

Jim D.

“Your pets will be in excellent hands with Roxanne as their caregiver. She took the task of managing two cats in her home, one having diabetes and requiring more than usual attention to details. She managed insulin injections, blood monitoring and proper adjustments that comes along with diabetic care. It's not an easy task, I know. She was consistent with communication including photos and observations keeping me reassured over all long 8 days. She even visited twice to meet and greet beforehand, giving more assurance that she truly cared to know every detail possible. I cannot recommend Roxanne enough.”

Heather R.

“Completely amazing. Great pet sitter and a kind soul.”

Jason D.

“Genel cared for our difficult border collie over a long weekend. She communicated with us frequently and kept a good schedule. We felt very confident and comfortable with his care. Thanks Genel!”

Mike O.

“Great sitter! Took care of my guys really well, went above and beyond. Even my skittish guy came out for him.”

Julie H.

About: I’ve owned pets ever since I was little. Family and friends have always had me watch their pets! I am very detail oriented and good at following instructions! I have lots of free time since I am in the job search right now! My availability is wide open for me to take care of your loved one! Very trustworthy, as a young professional dog watcher and cat watcher I will make sure your loved one is taken care in the best way! If you need plants watered too, I would be more than happy too!

About: I’ve had dogs and cats my entire life, from big to small. Friends and family have frequently called on me to watch and love their pets while they are out of town- and I don’t know who enjoys it more- the fur folks or me! I also volunteer with a farm animal sanctuary and have a lot of farming experience with a larger diversity of animals. I do work full time, but I have fairly flexible hours and work remotely at times. My primary times of availability would be in the mornings before 10 am and after 5pm until bedtime. I will assess the pet’s or pets’ needs and figure out a schedule that will work best for them to ensure seem-less care and stress reduction while their owners are away. I give love very freely and love a good snuggle! I want to make your fur kids feel as happy as possible while you’re away.

About: I have had pets all my life starting at a young age. I have always taken pride in the ability to take care of and enjoy the time learning and playing with them. They are just as much part of the family as anyone else in the house. We currently have 3 dogs; an American Bully and 2 Pitties that have become a huge part of our family. I work full time, however, have a couple hours each evening throughout the week and also have availability on most weekends after 9am as first thing in the morning is time for our dogs to go out and play. We have 3 acres for our dogs to roam on electric collars. They respect the collars enough we are able to let them roam free off leash all the time.