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There’s great truth to the statement, “There’s strength in numbers.” Pet sitting can be lonely. And whether you are just starting your pet-sitting business or are a pet-care veteran, you have questions—and there’s no one better to help answer your questions and share in your daily challenges and joys than a fellow pet sitter. 

PSI members have a network of nearly 7,000 fellow PSI members and pet-sitting business owners, and PSI is always looking for ways to help our members connect with one another. From PSI’s annual conference to the private Facebook chat group, PSI is always seeking out new avenues to allow our members to find support, advice and new ideas from fellow pet sitters. 

PSI’s Pet Sitter Spotlight series has that same goal. Each month, we’ll feature a different PSI member and share his or her answers to our pet-sitting survey. The responses will help you get to “know” this pet sitter and provide you with some tips and advice for your own pet-sitting business. You can view past Pet Sitter Spotlights here.

PSI members, if you are interested in being considered for a PSI Pet Sitter Spotlight, complete this questionnaire.

Meet Cathleen Mikosz, owner of Cathleen’s Critter Care Inc., in Barrington, Illinois

Your Name: Cathleen Mikosz

Business Name: Cathleen’s Critter Care Inc.

Location: Barrington, Illinois

Year you started your pet-sitting business: 2009

What was your previous job/profession? student and veterinary assistant

What is your current business structure? (sole proprietor, LLC, etc.) S Corporation

Number of current clients: 85

How many visits do you typically do per day? 6

Is your service area urban, suburban or rural?  Suburban

Is your pet-sitting business insured? Yes

Is your pet-sitting business bonded? Yes

Do you provide proof of your clear criminal history to clients (background check)? Yes

How long did it take you to build up your clientele? Around 1-2 years

What types of educational opportunities have you taken advantage of since becoming a pet sitter? I worked in a veterinarian’s office for the first couple of years of being in business, which was a great asset to learning what is “normal” vs. what needs to be seen by a veterinarian. Also, I went to school for business management, so that helped me as I started my business.

Do you use staff sitters? Yes, ICs

Do you offer any services besides basic in the client's home pet sitting and dog walking? (pet taxi, etc.) Overnight visits

Which advertising methods worked best when you were a new business? Referrals and word of mouth were the biggest help, especially when the veterinarian I worked for would give my name out. I did not pay for advertising.

Do you still use the same advertising methods? Referrals are still important, but now I also have a website and Facebook page for my pet-sitting business. I’m also beginning to expand my marketing efforts by sponsoring events, etc.

What's one mistake you've made as a professional pet sitter (when you were just starting out or at any time during your career)? What did you learn/what do you do differently now?

I was headed toward burnout after the first couple of years because I did all of the visits myself—so it really was a 24/7 job! So, I would say the mistake was not setting boundaries…you should pick a day off and stick to it. Also, I probably should have hired staff earlier.

What advice would you give to new pet sitters? At the beginning when you are super busy doing all of the visits, still make time for family and friends—some of your clients won’t be there five years from now, but your friends and family will be! Another random piece of advice I often share is that while we are constantly monitoring the animals in our care, I’ve learned that more often something goes wrong with the house—for example, a chimney falling down. There are some things we just can’t prepare for!

Are there any must-have business tools your business could not do without? QuickBooks and PSI!

Do you schedule vacation time and/or days off? If so, how often? I’m getting better about this now—maybe one vacation per year now. I also schedule at least one day (or a full weekend, if I’m lucky) off per month.

Are there any tips you would share for establishing a healthy work/life balance? If you are offering overnights, be aware that it can cause burnout faster. If staying at houses, make sure you go home for dinner or make time to see people during the day.

Is there any other information about your business and/or what has helped you create a successful pet-sitting business that you'd like to share? I started my business when I was very young (I was 20 years old and still in college). I earned a degree in business, and along with my passion for animals, potential clients were able to see that I’m professional and dedicated. Some things you simply learn as you go along, and you are continuously growing and improving.