About City Cats

 Hello! I’m Laura. I’ve been caring for cats in New York City since I was 6 years old and chose my first kitten, a tuxedo named Nosy. Whiskers joined the family a few years later.

Before Nosy, my very first pet was a parakeet named Tweetie, followed by a white mouse named Jim and a gerbil named Evie. I began working as a pet sitter in Battery Park City and Tribeca when I was 9 years old. If you scroll down, you can see my very first ad. 

I have cared for many cats, birds, rodents, reptiles, and amphibians in the 25 years since then.  Dogs, too!  When I’m not caring for my own or other people’s pets, I can be found at Yankee Stadium, or cheering on the New York Liberty, or at the theater, or cooking, boxing, reading, canvassing, or watching movies.

• I care for pets in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx 7 days a week. In addition to feeding, watering, & box scooping, I offer (as applicable): 
• Overnight visits
• Pill administration
• Grooming, including brushing
• Playing and cuddling
• Daily photos to keep you up-to-date 
• End-of-life companion care for the whole family 

We’ll make an appointment to meet and discuss your pet-care needs. After we reach an agreement, I’ll give you a simple contract, you’ll give me the keys (or tell me where to find them each time I visit), and we’ll be off.

Prices: $30 for a 30-minute visit, $125 for an overnight stay (9PM-7AM).

Other options are available: I will tailor my visits to your needs. 

Special-needs pets: $90 for twice-daily visits with medications.

 I’ve been a pet sitter for more than 25 years, starting my own business when I was a child and continuing now both freelance and as an employee of a pet care company. Doula care interests me because I’ve had both positive and supportive experiences with vets around the passing of a beloved cat -- and, unfortunately, one that wasn’t as good. As an animal lover and caregiver, I wouldn’t want anyone to have a bad experience in terms of support. Losing a pet is tough enough.

I’ve had many pets over the years, including cats, parakeets, and mice, but my most special pet relationship was with Mitty (short for Mittens, I think; she had white “mittens”). She came to me as a 10-year-old (so we were told) and I was told she might take some time to adjust. But when we met, we were a perfect match. She was a loving, trusting, loyal companion to me for the next 8 years or so and I’d like to think she felt as at home with me as I did with her. At home and at work, I’ve been lucky enough to know and love so many animals. The gift of a pet relationship is such a good and important one and neither human nor animal should suffer when the time comes for the latter to leave this life.

• To assist with creating a plan of comfort and ease for you and your pet.
• To provide a safe space to have kind and compassionate conversations about your pet, their life and current needs. 
• To offer both emotional support and practical insight into the dying process and to demystify euthanasia.
• To help facilitate a more peaceful experience for all involved.

· 1 hour listening and conversation sessions: $60

· Presence at euthanasia: $200

· Post-passage support and celebration-of-life planning: $120