Cats Like to Stay, Even When You're Away

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in pet care but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Jessica Bartlett, owner of Whiskers At Home LLC., located in Bothell, WA, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

Whiskers At Home LLC is a Professional In-home Cat Sitting company. We provide exceptional care to cats while their parents are away. We focus on quality time with the cats and detailed communication with our cat parents while they are away. Our clients think of their cats as their babies. Our clients typically leave detailed pages of notes on their cat's needs and want. They can talk about their cats for hours, and their phone is filled with pictures of cats. We believe that cat parents want a company that caters to their cat's every need, a company whose staff knows how to read cat body language, behavior, and health signs to watch for, and a company that understands unique and odd requests. A company that also understands a cat's parents need to have their sitter pay attention to every detail and one who also provides thorough communication to them in return about their cats. That's us!

Tell us about yourself

Since college, I have worked for Marriott International and expected to work for them for another 15 years. Due to the recession, that didn't happen. I saw the writing on the wall and wanted to start my own business. I had dreamed of caring for cats for a few years. Due to my layoff, the time was right. It's now going on 13 years later, and I couldn't be happier that I invested in myself to make that dream come true. I'm motivated by relationships.

My team motivates me daily. Their love and commitment to the care they provide the cats in our care has no boundaries. Each of them goes the extra mile daily, providing exceptional care to the precious cats in our care.

The cats themselves motivate me. There is nothing more rewarding than earning the trust of a timid cat. They once hid and now think you are best friends. The outgoing cats are the ones that run to the door to greet you and follow you to the door as you leave. Everything in between is the magic of pets, purrs, and play.

The partnership you build with the cat's parents transcends what I thought was possible. You build a lifelong bond over the love of their cats and cats in general. Most of the time, this bond is strengthened through the experience of the loss of their cat and the welcoming of a new cat family member.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Relationships. To put a finer point on it, my current team of employees. Their trust in my leadership their willingness to provide feedback and suggestions to ensure we continue to deliver exceptional service. Also, to give feedback and suggestions to ensure we all work in an environment they feel safe, proud, confident, and heard. I am also excited to be able to provide them with training opportunities.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

Time management, work-life balance, and the compassionate fatigue you can experience with the loss of cats, your team having a challenging day, or the overall weight of just wanting to do right by all cats, team, cat parents, your family, the list goes on. But, the relationship makes it worth all of it in the end.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

Set boundaries for your health and the health of your business. Clients and employees want and need to know what to expect for you, and they want to know what you expect from them.
Communication – It's essential to be transparent, honest, timely, and straightforward with your clients and employees.
Use technology to help build standards, systems, and processes. Start early, adjust and reelevate as you grow and learn.

Whiskers At Home is expanding to add Feline Behavioral Consulting via Cat Lovers' Academy. I have been building my education through many classes. I'm excited to offer my services and build more relationships with cat parents. More information can be found on www.catloversacademy.com.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.whiskersathome.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whiskerathome
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whiskersathome/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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