Cat Sitting in Roanoke VA
Aloof. Independent. Mean! All words I've heard clients use to describe their cat. Some people are almost embarrassed to call us for cat sitting. In a quiet voice they ask “I know he’s just a cat but can you come visit him?” And we say of course! We understand that cats need love just as much as dogs. Just because Fluffy does not run to the door to greet you like a dog doesn’t mean he doesn’t love you. Cats are social creatures that need attention and companionship to be their happiest selves.
Now remember that time you went out of town. Maybe you went to a wedding, maybe a work trip. Either way you came home, tired from a long day of traveling, to find your cat had destroyed your home! You see pillows shredded and tossed around the house, inappropriate urination, vomit all over the floors … did Fluffy have a raging party? No, just the opposite. Fluffy was lonely. And that is where we, your friendly cat sitter come in handy.
First let’s clear up some common misconceptions about cats:
Cats are solitary creatures. The idea that cats are solitary creatures is a common one: some friends are shocked to learn clients hire us to spend the day with their cats. But in the wild cats live in colonies and oftentimes seek each other out for companionship. Cats will share hunted prey, groom each other and keep each other warm during inclement weather. With humans, cats express their emotions in a range of gestures from being plastered to your lap every time you sit down, to just being in the same room with you. You shouldn't fall into the trap of thinking a cat should express its love like a dog; that devalues what your cat is trying to tell you. Cats have their own body and love language to share. Their cues can be subtler but have no less weight than a dogs’ wagging tail.
Bad behavior means kitty is punishing you When a cat expresses their emotions in a way we don’t like: destruction, sickness, territory marking we tend to think they are resentful or trying to punish us. But in reality Fluffy thought you were never coming home! His reaction is to stress rather than to anger. Cats have no concept of vacations or travel, so when you leave the house for all they know that’s the last time they’ll see you. But why doesn’t Fluffy tear up the house when you go to work? One word: routine. Fluffy can’t read a clock but his internal time sense lets him know when you’ll be returning from work and that routine brings him comfort. Cats are creatures of habit and deviation from that habit causes stress and anxiety. And they may express that stress and anxiety through the destruction of your home.