(English will follow )

De plus, comme il s’agit maintenant d’un billet de blog au lieu d’un billet Instagram, j’ajouterai que je viens tout juste de me remettre d’avoir mangé du covid pour la Saint-Valentin, et que je suis encore un peu lent à répondre aux messages. Je m’excuse pour les inconvénients. Je reprends des forces et je me remets sur les rails. Pour les clients potentiels, le courriel (ou le formulaire de contact sur ce site web) reste le meilleur moyen de me contacter.

 

C’est la semaine annuelle des gardiens d’animaux à domicile professionnels PSI (Association internationale des gardiens d’animaux à domicile).

 

Le gardiennage professionnel d’animaux à domicile est souvent mal compris par le grand public, et il n’est peut-être pas évident de comprendre pourquoi il peut y avoir tant de différences de prix et de politiques entre un gardien d’animaux professionnel et quelqu’un qui pourrait faire du gardiennage de façon plus occasionnelle.

 

Il y a une grande variété d’options de garde d’animaux disponibles pour les propriétaires d’animaux à Montréal, et j’ai apprécié d’être une gardienne d’animaux professionnelle ici, principalement en visitant des chats à domicile et d’autres petits animaux à fourrure dans leurs propres maisons. J’hésite à dire que je ne m’occupe que de chats, car je vois aussi un certain nombre de cochons d’Inde, de lapins, de hamsters, de souris, de hérissons, de chinchillas et, à l’occasion, des poissons, mais je vois surtout des chats. J’ai également des clients qui n’ont pas d’animaux et qui souhaitent simplement arroser leurs plantes ou effectuer des contrôles rapides de la maison pour apporter le courrier.

 

Je suis fière d’être m il embre de Pet Sitters International depuis que je suis devenue une professionnelle des animaux de compagnie il y a près de huit ans. Je possède un certain nombre de qualifications professionnelles, dont celle de Gardienne d’animaux de compagnie professionnelle certifiée auprès de PSI et de NAPPS, l’Association nationale des gardiens d’animaux professionnels (à NE PAS confondre avec l’Association nationale des huissiers de justice professionnels, qui est la première mention de NAPPS sur Google). J’ai été nommée l’une des cinq finalistes pour le titre de Prix du gardien d’animaux de compagnie de l’année 2021 de PSI, la plus haute distinction de l’industrie internationale de la garde d’animaux de compagnie. Je suis également un professionneàle certifiée de 《Fear Free》 et formé aux premiers secours et à la réanimation cardio-pulmonaire pour animaux de compagnie. Je dois suivre des unités de formation continue afin de conserver mes titres de compétence (ce qui signifie des lectures continues, des webinaires, des conférences éducatives), et j’espère vraiment, vraiment, VRAIMENT me rendre à la conférence éducative annuelle en personne du PSI à l’automne, qui se trouve cette année à Niagara Falls, dans les États Unis, à une courte distance en voiture. J’aimerais rencontrer beaucoup d’autres gardiennes d’animaux canadiennes, puisque c’est si près de la frontière et qu’il est difficile pour les gardiennes d’animaux d’assister à des conférences pour de nombreuses raisons, mais particulièrement pour les canadiennes, car la plupart des conférences liées à la garde d’animaux se tiennent aux États-Unis.

 

En parlant des cochons d’Inde, il semble que je sois dans une période de sécheresse pour les cochons d’Inde en ce moment… alors faites-les venir ! Après les chats, mes clients les plus fréquents sont les cochons d’Inde, et j’aime tellement ces dramatiques mignonnes à fourrure ! Je peux leur rendre visite à domicile, ou il y a aussi une option de pension tout compris pour eux qui comprend l’habitat pour cochons d’Inde MidWest, une litière en polaire, des légumes frais deux fois par jour, du foin Timothy à volonté, des granulés, de la vitamine C, des rapports quotidiens avec des photos, et beaucoup d’attention dans un environnement familial. Les disponibilités en pension sont très limitées afin d’assurer un service de haute qualité, il faut donc réserver longtemps à l’avance. Je propose également des services mobiles de coupe d’ongles et de bain pour les cochons d’Inde dans ma zone de service.

 

Merci donc à Montréal d’être une ville idéale pour devenir gardienne professionnelle d’animaux de compagnie, merci à mes merveilleux clients, et je me réjouis à l’avance d’une autre année formidable. En espérant qu’elle déborde de cochons d’Inde enjoués.

 

……………

 

Also, since this is now a blog post instead of an Instagram post, I’ll add that I’ve just gotten over having had covid for Valentine’s Day, and am still on the slow side of responding to messages. I apologize for the inconvenience. I am getting stronger, and am getting back on track. For potential clients, email (or the contact form on this website) is still the best way to reach me.

 

It’s PSI’s annual #professionalpetsittersweek !

 

Professional pet sitting is often misunderstood by the general public, and it might not be clear why there can be so many differences in pricing and policies between a professional pet sitter, and someone who might pet sit more casually.

 

There is a huge range of pet care options available to pet owners in #Montreal, and I have enjoyed being a professional pet sitter here, primarily visiting cats and other small furry pets in their own homes. I hesitate to say that I am a cats-only sitter, as I do also see a number of Guinea pigs, rabbits, hamsters, mice, hedgehogs, chinchillas, and the occasional fish, but I primarily see cats. I also have clients without pets who simply want plant watering or quick house checks to bring in the mail.

 

I have been a proud member of Pet Sitters International since becoming a #professionalpetsitter nearly eight years ago. I have multiple credentials, including being a #certifiedprofessionalpetsitter through both PSI and NAPPS, the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters (NOT to be confused with the National Association of Professional Process Servers, which is the first Google hit for NAPPS). I was named a Top 5 Finalist for PSI’s 2021 Pet Sitter of the Year, the international pet sitting industry’s highest honour. I am also a #fearfreecertifiedprofessional and trained in pet first aid and CPR. I must complete continuing education units in order to maintain my CPPS credentials (which means continuous reading, webinars, educational conferences), and I am really, really, REALLY hoping to make it to the annual PSI educational in-person conference in the fall, which is just within driving distance this year in Niagara Falls, New York. Interested in connecting with lots of other Canadian pet sitters, since it’s so close to the border and attending conferences is difficult for pet sitters for many reasons, but particularly Canadian pet sitters, as most pet sitter-related conferences are held in the US.

 

Speaking of #guineapigs , I seem to be in a Guinea pig drought right now, so bring them on! Next to #cats , my next most frequent clients are Guinea pigs, and I love the dramatic furry piggies so much! I can either provide in-home pet visits for them, or there is also a popular all-inclusive boarding option for them that includes MidWest Guinea Pig Habitat, fleece bedding, twice daily fresh vegetables, unlimited Timothy hay, pellets, vitamin C, daily reports with pictures, and lots of snuggles and attention in a family environment. Very limited availability for boarding to ensure a high quality of service, so book well in advance. I also provide mobile nail trimming and bathing for Guinea pigs within my service area.

 

So, thank you for being a great city to be a professional pet sitter, Montreal, thank you to my wonderful clients, and looking forward to another great year. Hopefully overflowing with wheeking Guinea pigs

Saw this reposted article today:

https://www.companionanimalpsychology.com/2022/01/scientists-surprised-to-learn-that-cats.html?fbclid=IwAR3x5WuNL_pZg21Cc7n0ysxVrImI9VktzEx1WcEKURor_lg4asO_T05qpik&m=1

I love Dr. Mikel Delgado, self-proclaimed cat geek. I was fortunate enough to have attendinded a talk she did about shelter cays at the 2019 Cat Camp NYC, as well as some of the webinars she’s presented.

In my work as a cat sitter, I frequently suggest to clients to add food puzzles, slow feeders, and other forms of food-related enrichment. I think they help to decrease boredom and stress when their people are away, and they can help slow down cats that eat too quickly and then regurgitate food immediately after – or even in the middle of – eating. This study doesn’t contradict that.

I like these tools, but they’re also not appropriate for all cats, like cats that aren’t food-motivated, that don’t have much appetite, and if the puzzles are too hard for them. Cats each have their own talents and skill levels and set-ups that work best for them.

I was humbled this summer when I put out what I consider to be a relatively easy food puzzle for my own cat, Olaf, (this one, which can work well for most cats, rabbits, and Guinea pigs, too). It has big pieces, and you just have to lift them up to get to the food. You could tip it over or knock it around to dislodge the pieces, too. No manipulating things, not much thinking needed to get to the food, easy to cclean. I’d never had a per have a problem with it… until I gave it to Olaf. I was mortified to come home after a long work day to a hungry cat and a full, untouched food puzzle. Ahhhhhhhh. At least he’s pretty and fluffy. My poor magnificent beast did not have the brain cell that day. Ok, he’s not orange, but he still needs a turn with it sometimes! In my defense, ten years ago, a young Olaf would have gotten into it and inhaled the food within seconds. But Olaf is now about 16, a super senior, and he doesn’t have that young cat’s drive and urgency for food.

Before immediately spending money on a new food puzzle or slow feeder, I often suggest trying inexpensive diy options first to test out the waters. A muffin tin, either upside-down or right side up, can work well as a slow feeder. Some people put a golf ball in their cat’s dry food dish to slow them down. Instead of one food dish, there could be a few smaller portions of food put in different areas, so the cat has to walk from one dish to the next, to encourage eating slower and to get them moving.

There’s also lick mats, and I like them a lot for most cats. Licking is therapeutic for cats, so licking their wet food or wet treats off of a lick mat can be calming rather than frustrating, and reduce stress from being at home alone.

These are NOT affiliate links. I tried that… and no one clicked on any of my links so they dropped my affiliate account. It’s ok.

These are ideas only, of items I think my clients will find helpful, things I’d be happy to see in client homes. They might not work for everyone, they’re just ideas.

https://linktr.ee/catsandhamsters

This idea list covers all the species of pets I care for, in no particular order, which currently includes:

• Cats
• Hamsters
• Guinea pigs
• Rabbits
• Chinchillas
• Mice
• Hedgehogs
• Ferrets

Some items may not be self-explanatory.  For example, 12″ wheels typically marketed for chinchillas are actually the perfect size for Syrian hamsters, so that they can comfortably run with a straight back. Basically, no wheel is too big for a hamster as long as they can move it, meaning the tiniest dwarf hamster can absolutely have a 12″ wheel. And my picks for the quietest, best-quality hamster wheels are the  Nightangel wheel and Prevue Quiet wheel (only goes up to 11″, I think. 12″ would be more ideal for an adult Syrian hamster). Yes, they’re pricey, but a good quality, safe, quiet hamster wheel is a priceless investment and they’re at the top of the market.

Many dog slow feeders and dog food puzzles work very well for cats, rabbits, and the motivated Guinea pig. Tall exercise pens typically marketed towards dogs work great as rabbit and Guinea pig enclosures. Wide casserole dishes make great, heavy, dishwasher-safe pet water bowls.

I do want to add that it’s important to be realistic and practical about your budget, lifestyle, your pet’s needs, and what you’re willing to do. If you know you will hate disassembling and cleaning a pet water fountain every other day, just stick with a stack of dishwasher-safe water bowls. If you will have trouble staying on top of mountains of Guinea pig laundry, don’t use fleece liners, just stick with scoopable bedding. Don’t stretch yourself financially to try to use “the top” cat litter system or pet foods if you will be constantly stressing about use, waste, and how to stretch out supplies as far as it will go. It’s not worth it, and will just take up your valuable time and energy and funds trying to make it work when it really isn’t working. You’re doing great as long as you and your pets are safe, healthy, happy, and clean.

Happy Prime Day!

As many of us have discovered, today was day of Cat World Domination.

How might we peacefully co-exist with our cat overlords?

1. Reward good behaviour. Positively reinforce desired behaviors with praise, treats, and cuddles. Build their trust.
2. Play and enrichment. Tire them out with wand toys so they won’thave the energy to plot further takeovers. Do not use hands or fingers as toys.
3. Deweaponize. Trim those claws every 2-3 weeks. Short nails are much less effective in human-cat battles than long, sharp claws.
4. Pet your cat. Some cat overlords prefer only hands-off interactions with their people, and that is ok.
5. Comb regularly. Combing loose fur off of your cat overlord will decrease their ability to form projectile vomit. Combing can also remove small mats before they combine into big mats. Matted fur is painful, and you do not want an unhappy cat overlord.

Interested in more Cat World Domination survival tips, from someone with experience on the front lines, who has rubbed elbows with many cats and who  knows how cats think and can anticipate many of their common maneuvers?

Code name: “Certified Professional Pet Sitter”

Specialties: cat care, with special interest in other small furry “pets” like Guinea pigs, hamsters, and rabbits.

How to activate: fill out the contact form on the Contact page. Our operative, “the Pet Sitter,” will be in contact with you to discuss how they can help. Unfortunately, “the Pet Sitter” is only able to travel within the current “Service Area. Usually,  this happens when the cat overlord grants their people permission to travel away from headquarters, and they are in need of temporary stand-ins to continue menial tasks like food service, water supply maintenance, and personal sanitation services. The exact details vary per mission, but “the Pet Sitter” is an experienced, trained operative who gets the job done. “The Pet Sitter” is only able to travel within the current “Service Area.”

Follow “the Pet Sitter’s” social media to stay informed of what’s happening behind the lines:

https://www.facebook.com/catsandhamsters/

https://www.instagram.com/catsandhamstersmontreal/

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMLga8TWy/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCL7sPFgPCXLLAEgyTu0VPpA/featured

For Happy Cat Month, here are some simple tips to keeping your cat happy, from your neighbourhood cat sitter. In no particular order:

1. Access to clean, fresh water at all times.

Some cats like drinking directly out of the faucet, but they should still have another source of water in case the water stops.

Likewise, if you use a pet water fountain that has zero access to water if the power goes out, then an additional bowl of water is needed.

2. Keep pet water fountains clean. If you have a water fountain, be prepared to completely disassemble it almost daily, including the motor. Replace the filter when it gets discolored or slimey.

3. Comb your cat as-needed. Some cats are mostly self-sufficient when it comes to maintaining their coats and don’tneed much help. Some need daily combing to manage matting and shedding. Some only need a weekly comb. Each cat is different. Combing out small mats is doable, but if you let the mats grow too big, it will take more time and effort to work out, until they have to be shaved off by a groomer. Don’t let it get that bad. Mats are painful to cats.

4. Trim your cat’s claws. It’s just like using a nail clipper, except you use a small pet nail trimmer and you only remove a tiny bit off the tip, about half a grain of rice. It is more comfortable for the cat, as their claws won’t snag on fabric, furniture, or carpet. Not all cats are able to sharpen their claws on scratching posts or outside. Keep an eye on them so that they don’t become overgrown.

5. Enrichment Enrichment Enrichment. Play with your cat. Get them a cat tree, some toys. And use the toys! Lick mats and food puzzles can make a big difference for certain cats. Some like music or certain tv shows. A lot of indoor cats enjoy smelling the outdoors. And there’s the universal favourite, the cardboard box.

6. Please, don’t antagonize your cat for social media.

I had a delightful interview on Thursday with CBC Montreal’s Valeria Cori-Manocchio, about being a Top Five Finalistfor 2021 Pet Sitter of the Year.

The story can be found here:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/montrealer-nominated-pet-sitter-of-the-year-1.5755771