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Ellen, The Cat Lady

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United States
Saint Augustine, FL
Ellen, The Cat Lady

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Trusted, reliable cat sitter with 35+ years of experience. CPR & Animal Reiki certified.

Caring for your cats your way - with all my heart and experience 🐈🐈‍⬛️💕

11/01/2026

🐈‍⬛ Your phone changed the time automatically. Did your cat's feeder?

Daylight Saving Time ended this morning, and while most of our phones adjusted on their own, some of the devices we rely on for our cats didn't.

That could mean breakfast arriving an hour later than expected, a missed medication reminder, or an unexpected change in a familiar routine.

Take a few minutes today to check:

🐾 🐾 Automatic feeders: If your feeder uses scheduled meal times, check its clock and settings after the time change. Feeders operating on fixed intervals may not need adjustment.

🐾 Medication schedules: Review your reminders and dosing times. If your cat takes time-sensitive medication, consult your veterinarian before changing the schedule.

🐾 Automatic litter boxes and other timed equipment: Check programmed cleaning cycles, sleep modes, and any devices operating on a timer.

🐾 Daily routines: Some cats are sensitive to even small changes. If yours is, gradually adjust feeding, playtime, and other familiar activities.

A predictable routine helps many cats feel comfortable and secure. When their day unfolds as expected, there's one less thing for them to worry about.

A five-minute check today can prevent an unnecessary disruption to your cat's day.

10/29/2026

🐈‍⬛ It's Halloween night. The doorbell rings. But where is your cat? 🐈

Halloween brings unusual activity, unfamiliar voices, and plenty of commotion around the front door.

Here are three Halloween safety tips for indoor cats:

🎃 1. Give your cats a quiet room.

Whether you're staying home to hand out candy or heading out for the evening, settle your cats in a room toward the back of the house, away from the front-door activity. Make sure they have fresh water, a litter box, comfortable bedding, and a familiar hiding place.

🎃 2. Put a sign on the door.

“CATS INSIDE — PLEASE DO NOT OPEN!”

Make sure everyone in the household knows the cats are in that room and the door needs to stay closed.

🎃 3. Take the trick-or-treating fun outside!

Set up a little candy station in your driveway or join a neighbor. This way, you can enjoy Halloween without repeatedly opening your front door or having the doorbell ring all evening.

🧡 Here's what I do!

Every Halloween, my neighbor and I set up a candy station in her driveway. I bring a little table, a bowl of candy, and dress up as a cat! 🐱

My porch light stays off, the kids come straight to us, and my cats stay safely inside.

A little preparation makes Halloween more enjoyable for everyone, including our cats!

🐈‍⬛️ Has your cat ever escaped on Halloween? 🎃

10/26/2026

🐈‍⬛ “You may not see my cat during the whole visit series—even if I’m away for a week.”

Cat parents of shy cats often tell me this during a New Client Visit.

Their cat hides from everyone. They do not expect the cat to come out for me, and that is okay. I never walk into the home expecting a shy cat to perform, socialize, or trust me before they are ready.

Instead, I give the cat space and follow the same familiar routine during every visit.

The cat hears the door open and the lock close. Then come my footsteps toward the kitchen.

They hear me pick up the bowls, refresh the water, open the can of food, chop the food in the bowl, and place breakfast in the usual spot.

The entire time, I talk calmly:

“Hi, Lucy. How are you today? It’s gloomy outside, and it has been raining. I’m going to make your breakfast now. We’re having chicken pâté today. Come down when you’re ready.”

Then I check the litter box and settle somewhere near the kitchen or living room where I can see the feeding station without hovering over it.

Sometimes I continue talking. Sometimes I read a book aloud from my phone so the cat can hear my calm voice without feeling watched.

I follow that same pattern each time I enter the home.

For a shy cat, those repeated sounds and actions begin to mean something:

The door opened, but nothing frightening happened.

The bowls moved, and breakfast appeared.

A person spoke, but did not chase me or reach into my hiding place.

Everything stayed calm.

Many shy cats begin peeking out and watching me. Often, by about the third day, they decide to come closer on their own.

I never force that moment. The cat gets to make the first move when they feel safe enough to do it.

A familiar routine helps a shy cat understand what will happen next. That predictability can make your home feel safe even while you are away—and gives your cat the time and space to trust me in their own way. ❤️

10/23/2026

🐈‍⬛ Let's have stress-free holidays! 🎄

To secure your holiday cat visits, DM me with your:
🐾 Neighborhood
🐾 Number of cats
🐾 Cat care dates

Book early—holiday availability is limited!

10/22/2026

Your cat hides whenever someone visits. So what happens when you go away?

Some cats greet me at the door. Others prefer to watch from a safe hiding place. And that's perfectly fine with me.

Understanding feline behavior is an important part of providing in-home care for shy cats. For these cats, consistency is everything.

When I arrive, I greet them and talk to them, whether I can see them or not.

I follow the same routine each visit: clean the litter box, prepare their food, and refresh their water.

Then I settle into a chair or on the couch, somewhere I can quietly watch the feeding area.

I talk to them. I invite them to come eat. Sometimes I'll even read aloud from a book on my phone.

If they're hiding under the bed or inside the couch, I don't pull them out or force them to interact.

I give them time, a familiar voice, and the comfort of knowing what to expect.

Even when a cat stays hidden, I document what I can observe. The photos I send to their family show evidence of litter box use, food consumption, and how much food has been eaten when that can be determined.

And here's the wonderful part: this approach has worked remarkably well!

So far, every shy kitty whose family told me, "You probably won't see my cat," has eventually come out to greet me. It usually takes two or three days of consistent visits, but watching that trust develop is incredibly rewarding.

And the families? They're delighted when they receive photos of their once-invisible kitty making an appearance!

My goal isn't to make a shy cat come to me. It's to help that cat feel safe enough to make that choice.

As a professional cat sitter in St. Johns, FL, I know that your shy cat doesn't need to become my best friend. They need to feel safe, cared for, and comfortable in their own home. ❤️

📸 Meet Kittiyyama, one of my kitty clients from Beachwalk! His mom thought he would never come out of hiding.
But here he is on the second floor, not only supervising my work but also posing for a picture! This was day three of my visits.
From that point on, Kittiyyama continued making appearances and even ventured downstairs!

10/20/2026

🎃🐈‍⬛ Halloween plans? Your kitty can have a little company, too!

I have just TWO more spots open for Halloween night! 🧙‍♀️

Heading to a Halloween party or spending the evening out? I'll stop by to check on your kitty, refresh food and water, scoop the litter box, and give them some attention while you're away.

🐾 DM me with:

- Your neighborhood
- How many cats you have
- What time you'd like me to stop by

Only two spots available! 🎃🎃

10/19/2026

What do people misunderstand about my professional cat sitting service?

When you're away from home, you want more than someone checking on your cats. You want to know they're comfortable, their routines are respected, and even subtle changes in their well-being won't go unnoticed.

That's where my 35 years of experience in the pet care industry make a difference.

Feeding your cats, refreshing their water, and cleaning their litter boxes are essential parts of every visit. But my care goes much further.

I bring trained observation skills, extensive experience, and the professional judgment to recognize when something isn't right.

If your normally affectionate cat suddenly hides, I notice. If your enthusiastic eater barely touches breakfast, I notice. If something changes in your cat's behavior or routine, I draw on my experience to evaluate what I'm seeing and communicate any concerns to you.

I also understand that every cat has unique emotional needs. Some welcome affection and playtime. Others prefer quiet companionship, patience, and space. I adapt my approach to each cat rather than expecting every cat to respond the same way.

My service isn't simply about completing a checklist. It's about recognizing the little things that can make a big difference in your cat's well-being.

When you're away, you deserve the reassurance that your cats are receiving attentive, individualized care from someone who knows what to look for.

That's the experience, attention, and professional judgment I bring to every visit at Ellen, The Cat Lady. 🐱

10/17/2026

Maybe you've seen me on Facebook, met me at a networking event, or heard about me from a friend or neighbor.

If you've been thinking about hiring a professional cat sitter, today is a great opportunity to meet me in person! 🐱

I'll be at the Beachwalk Farmers Market today from 10 AM to 2 PM.

Stop by my booth, say hello, and ask me any questions you have about in-home cat sitting.

Let's talk cats! See you there! 🐱

10/16/2026

“Peace of mind” is not just a nice phrase. It means knowing your cat’s care instructions will be followed exactly. 🐱❤️

None of the details are too strange or excessive to me. They are part of caring for your cats your way.

I’m a cat mom myself. In fact, Ellen, The Cat Lady began because my husband wondered whether Pooh Bear’s very specific feeding routine was too unusual to give to a cat sitter.

I thought, “Why? I would do it.”

So please tell me the little habits, preferences, and instructions that matter in your home. None of them are too weird for me.

That is what I mean when I say I care for your cats your way—with all my heart and experience. ❤️

Address

Saint Augustine, FL
32095

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 6pm
Tuesday	8am - 6pm
Wednesday	8am - 6pm
Thursday	8am - 6pm
Friday	9am - 6pm
Saturday	10am - 2pm
Sunday	10am - 2pm

Website

http://www.ellenthecatlady.com/

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