By Nena Jaic
Ever since Jill Johnson was a wee girl, when she snuck a stray kitten past her father and into their home, she has always held an incredible soft spot for cats, and they have been a part of her home throughout her life.
In the fall of 2012, Jill and her wife Brianne decided to adopt their first rescue cats, Trouble and Squash, from Ladybird Animal Sanctuary. These two senior cats were having difficulty finding their forever home, not only due to their age, but also due to the fact that Trouble weighed in at a whopping 30 lbs, and had very little mobility.
Over the next while, with the help of a well maintained diet, and the encouragement of exercise, Trouble managed to lose an incredible 5 lbs. Despite their efforts, Trouble ended up with diabetic neuropathy, which required Jill & Brianne learning how to administer daily insulin injections.
This is where the idea for Little Paws Cat Sitting came about. Anytime they wanted to get away for a vacation, they found it difficult to find a friend or family member that was willing to, or had any knowledge of, administering insulin injections, so they would find themselves having to medically board Trouble. This proved to be heartbreaking for the girls, as Trouble would be terribly upset being moved out of the comfort of his own home, having to be transported and kept in a confined space. It was an incredibly upsetting experience for everyone.
Jill and Squash!
It was through this experience that Jill and Brianne decided that they wanted to be able to provide a service that would help people in a similar situation. In the fall of 2014, Little Paws Cat Sitting was born.
“We couldn’t be happier with the immediate, positive and supportive response we have received since starting to provide this service for people and pets in need. Pets always feel safest in the comfort of their own home and own environment,” Jill explains. “Boarding can be extremely stressful for cats, not to mention costly, especially if you have multiple cats. They will also not have to experience the trauma of travel, the restrictions of cages and the possible exposure to illness, parasites or transferable diseases that they may be exposed to with boarding.
Little Paws Cat Sitting is dedicated to ensuring that you enjoy your vacation worry free, knowing that your furry family members are getting the attention, affection, and care that they need while you are away. We provide one on one, in home quality care, including kitties with medical needs that require special attention. Little Paws Cat Sitting, has even gone above and beyond and are now certified in Pet First Aid through St. John Ambulance,” says Jill proudly.
Jill adds, “There are many other benefits to having Little Paws Cat Sitting that boarding doesn’t offer, such as watering your indoor plants and outdoor gardens, keeping an eye on your pool/spa chemicals, collecting your mail, putting the garbage to the curb, and it can also help alleviate any guilty feelings of inconveniencing your friends, family or neighbours you may have experienced in the past. Little Paws Cat Sitting also extends their other free service of sending email and photo updates to help alleviate any worry and give you peace of mind.”
Little Paws Cat Sitting, has been proudly nominated as Best New Business and Best Overall Customer Service in The Hamilton Spectator 2015 Readers Choice Awards.
You can find them on the web at www.littlepawscatsitting.com or follow them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/littlepawscatsitting
When I went away last May, I left my cats at a cat hotel for the week. While it was close to my home, they didn’t eat, they were stressed out and really didn’t fare well at all. I had no idea how my cats were doing until I got home and then, I realized just how distressed they were.
When I became aware of Little Paws cat sitting, my heart soared! Little Paws Cat Sitters have looked after my cats a few times over the summer. I had NO idea how stressed out I WAS about leaving my cats – until Little Paws came over! As part of their “intake”, they asked so many questions about my cats – things I wouldn’t have thought of – that ensured they had a solid understanding of my cats and their needs. I received pictures of my cats – who looked so relaxed. They even watered my plants! Every time I’ve come home – I’ve come home to happy, contented cats who have been so well cared for. They even get new toys that they LOVE! Love your cat? Want to have a stress free time away from home, assured that your cats are CARED FOR? Use Little Paws Cat Sitters. It’s the best cat decision you’ll make.