I’m able to quickly handle the basics of feeding, freshening water and the litter box, but caring for your pets includes so much more.  Cats enjoy playing with favorite toys, getting a nice brushing or chin-scratching, or curling up for some lap cuddles during my visits, and cats who are shy need a slow approach.  All this requires time for a quality visit to make your cat feel secure, so I do not offer half visits for a reduced price.

During Purry Creatures cat care, I'll communicate with you daily.  Cleaning up kitty messes is part of my care, and hopefully you will return home with no trace of any naughty behavior.   I make adjustments to your home climate to ensure the comfort of your pets.   Requests such as bringing in mail and watering indoor plants can be arranged as long as they do not detract too much from the cats’ visit.

Bringing large bins in and out on pick-up days, garden chores, heavy package handling, and items unrelated to your cat's needs reduce the time I spend on cat care, and I ask that you please make other arrangements for these kinds of tasks.

Cats with medical needs and specific requirements on a set schedule are given priority for visit timing, which we can confirm together to provide the best care for your pet.  Visits with no medical needs are usually made during "business hours" (9am to 5pm, 7 days a week), and I'll do my best to provide for any requests for a certain time of day.   For example, visits requested for AM (before noon) or PM (after noon) are usually easily accommodated, and I'll let you know if there are any conflicts at the time of your request.

Aside from any specific requests, I try to visit cats at a similar time of day so a pattern is established in order to give them comfort.  Cats like reliability, so seeing me around the same time each day can help with their confidence.

Please do advise me if you have any preferences.  And it is especially helpful to know if you have a visit scheduled for the same day you depart or return home so that I can allow for that timing to coordinate my visits.

Due to safety concerns, it is not possible for me to visit while there are other people in your home.  This includes friends, family, roommates, guests, and other service providers.  I am not able to provide cat care services if there will be anyone else in your home, either briefly or as a live-in arrangement, due to the added risks that my insurance does not cover. 

I will be happy to discuss options based on your specific situation, but I ask that you communicate well in advance so that we can review my policy and how it pertains to my ability to provide you with cat care.  If I arrive at your home and find other visitors, I will leave immediately and the visit will be considered complete. Any items of care that are missed will need to be completed by your visitors.

Some cats are drawn to the outdoors, but regardless of their preference, I do not allow outdoor access during my care. Cats will behave differently with a stranger (me) than they do with their pet parents.  Cats who may come running home at your call will ignore me, regardless of the number of treat bags I shake.  I call this the “Not my mommy” attitude, and I don’t take it personally, but your pets’ safety is my first priority.

I do hold a San Francisco business license as well as full insurance coverage for pet sitting services.  Bonding covers businesses with employees, so this does not apply as I am a sole proprietor and handle all visits personally.

Many clients like to check my availability before making reservations, and I'm happy to put a tentative hold on care dates for pending travel plans.  Tentative holds are good for two days , and then I will need to hear back from you to reserve cat care with a confirmed booking.  After two days, I will release the tentative hold and make my care services available on a first-come-first-served basis again.

All care bookings are confirmed on a first-come-first-served basis.  While there is no set date for closing the books on adding new reservations, I recommend requesting your dates at least two months in advance, especially for major holidays which are prone to filling up earlier.

For any sudden illness or injury I observe in your pet while you are away, I will reach out to you as quickly as possible, while keeping the cat's well-being as my first priority.  Having your preferred veterinarian information on file is always best, so that I can act immediately without waiting for a reply if I am unable to reach you in a dire situation.  I'll be happy to review my policies with you individually during the time you are booking my services.

In case of a natural disaster (earthquake or similar), I will be checking in on all cats currently in my care as quickly as possible, including reaching out to your local emergency contact and coming by for an in-person visit when needed.   Knowing where your carriers are kept is always helpful, and I will evacuate your cats to a safe location if needed.