There’s something really lovely about returning to care for the same pets. The first visit is about getting acquainted, learning their routines and figuring out all those little personality quirks. By the second time, things already feel familiar. Norm and Vera are a perfect example.
I’ve now had the pleasure of caring for these two twice through Willow Home Pet Care, and they could not have more wonderfully different personalities.
🌸 Vera: The Sweetheart
Vera was a little more reserved with me at first, which is completely normal for cats when somebody new suddenly appears in their home. One of my favorite parts of in-home cat sitting is being able to give cats the time and space to decide for themselves when they’re comfortable.
And Vera did exactly that.
Before long, she was warming up to me, coming around more and showing me what an absolute sweetheart she is. 💕
That little moment when a cautious cat decides, “Okay… I think you’re alright,” is honestly one of the best parts of this job. Trust with cats isn’t something you can rush… you earn it.
🐾 Norm: Professional Trip Hazard
And then there’s Norm.
Norm apparently skipped the cautious phase entirely and moved directly into his chosen occupation: trying to walk between my legs at every available opportunity. 😂
Walking across the room with Norm nearby requires considerably more coordination than you might expect from ordinary cat sitting. He is affectionate, hilarious, extremely involved in whatever is happening and seemingly convinced that the safest place for a cat is directly underneath the human who is currently attempting to walk.
Fortunately, Norm and I have negotiated this arrangement successfully so far. Neither cat sitter nor cat has been injured in the making of this friendship. 😝
🏡 Why Familiar Care Matters
Getting to know Norm and Vera over multiple visits is also a lovely example of why I enjoy providing in-home pet care.
Cats are creatures of routine. Instead of being transported somewhere unfamiliar while their people are away, they get to remain surrounded by their own beds, smells, hiding places, windows, feeding routines, and, apparently in Norm’s case, preferred human walking routes.
And when the same sitter returns, I’m no longer completely unfamiliar either.
I remember where everything is. I know a little more about what each pet likes. They recognize my voice, smell and routine. And each visit gives us an opportunity to build on the trust established during the last one.
For a shy or anxious cat especially, that consistency can make a huge difference.
💗 Until Next Time, Norm & Vera
It’s been such a pleasure getting to know these two characters, and I’m very happy that I’ve already been invited back for round two.
Vera has gone from cautiously figuring me out to showing me her wonderfully sweet side, while Norm continues his important research into whether a human can successfully walk while there is a cat between her ankles.
So far, Norm, I’m still standing. 😉
Willow Home Pet Care provides personalized in-home cat sitting and pet care in Sequim, Port Angeles and surrounding communities on the Olympic Peninsula. My goal is simple: while you’re away, your pets get to stay somewhere they already feel safe. At home. 🌸
