Cat Sitting by Susan LLC, 117 Rowell Court, Falls Church, VA 22046
(703) 867-7140 | A woman-owned business!
We want to take care of your kitty!
Over 1,900 cats cared for!
See reviews below, or pics above from our happy customers!
Cat Sitting by Susan Team Leaders
Susan!
Susan Tate is the owner and CCW (Chief Cat Whisperer)! She loves cats and has had many in her 60+ years! Cat Sitting by Susan will take great care of your cat and is even able to provide insulin shots or other medication, if necessary. You will receive photos, videos, and texts while you’re away so that you can rest easy knowing your furry family member is happy and being well taken care of. Susan is married to her husband Gregg, and live in Falls Church, VA. They have 3 daughters, two granddaughters, and one grandson. They had a big, happy cat named Patrick (photo below) until recently when he passed away after a bout with cancer. They adopted Snickers (see below) who's their newest love, and recently added a new kitty, Fred, to the family! You can rest assured that we will love and treat your furry family member as one of our own!
Lourdes!
Lourdes has joined the Cat Sitting by Susan team not only as a sitter, but as our new Director, helping Susan to run and grow this vibrant, exciting business! She was born and raised in Washington, DC and had rabbits and dogs growing up. She currently has no kitties, but is looking forward to the future! In her spare time, she loves photographing nature, hiking and exploring new trails, and dining out, especially venturing to a new restaurant with friends. Lourdes loves cats because, "they are not only beautiful creatures, they are intriguing, and challenge you to get to know them for the individual being that they are." She has just changed career paths and has joined our growing team. As to why she joined Cat Sitting by Susan, Lourdes' answer is, "Susan! To start, I love that Cat Sitting by Susan is a small, local, woman-owned business, operated by people who genuinely love cats and enjoy caring for them. Changed careers to follow my passion for animals and helping people, so this allows the best of both worlds!"
Cat Sitting by Susan Sitter team
Paws down, the best cat sitting team in Northern VA (just read our reviews!), including our veteran sitter, Erin!
Erin was born in Virginia and grew up in Springfield. She has mostly had cats growing up, including two tortoiseshell kitty sisters. She still has one, who is now 14 years old and still going strong. She loves reading and learning. Erin says, "I love cats because although they seem mysterious and distant at first, once they familiarize themselves with you, they can be so loving and sweet." She is currently going to school at NOVA Community College, soon to be working on a degree in Accounting. She saw the job listed, and knew that as the cat lady in her family, the job seemed perfect as well as getting to spend time doing something she loves.
Ashley!
Ashley was born and raised in Arlington, VA. Growing up, she had a menagerie - 5 cats, two dogs, and 4 hamsters over the years! Currently, she has 3 kitties, Precious, Suki, and Sterling. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, trying new foods, and hanging out with her friends and her sweet kitties. She says she loves cats, "because they don't just love immediately and/or unconditionally; it might take time for a cat to warm up to you, but as soon as they do, they're yours forever. I think that more often than not, the cat chooses the human and not vice versa. Cats also have so many different personalities that go unappreciated when compared with dogs." She is currently working as an Instructional Assistant for elementary students with autism, but decided to join the Cat Sitting by Susan team. "I have always had a passion for cats, and I want to spend all my free time with kitties!"
Kela!
Kela was born in Columbia, South Carolina and was raised in Maryland. Growing up, she had dogs, turtles, a hamster, a bunny, and a kitty! She now has a 3-year old domestic shorthair named Xavier. She enjoys playtime with her pets, brain teasers, spending time with friends, knitting and crocheting, and exploring new places. Kela says, "I’ve always wanted to be able to care for cats when I was younger but since my parents were allergic, I never got the chance. I love being able to give back to the kitties!" She is currently in college pursuing a degree in criminology, but decided to also join the Cat Sitting by Susan team because, as she puts it, "I love getting the opportunity to spend time with cats and ensure that they are happy and healthy."
Monica!
Monica grew up in a military family and was born in Panama, but grew up in Alexandria, Virginia. She has always had pets ever since she was a child, and currently has multiple cats! She enjoys singing, going on nature walks, gardening, learning new things, and hanging out with her kitties! She says, "I love how each cat has their own unique personality. I always find cats fun and interesting to get to know." She works for Fairfax County Public Schools, but wanted a "part-time job that I would enjoy and be able to help others, including cats."
Tiffany!
Tiffany was born and raised in California. Growing up, she had dogs and cats, and she currently has two cats, Bramble and Sandpaw, the names, as she puts it, "that you get when you let the kids name the pets." In her spare time, she loves to see movies, visit art museums, and spend time with her now adult kids! Tiffany says "I have always loved cats since I can remember. I appreciate their individuality and demeanor! Playful and regal at the same time." She is a new empty nester waiting for grandkids, but decided to join the Cat Sitting by Susan team because, as she said, "I thought what a perfect job, I can help take care of other peoples' cats and give them piece of mind while they are away!"
Cadia!
Cadia was born in Guatemala and grew up in Arlington, VA. She had three cats and a dog growing up and now has three kitties, Luna, Gordo, and Taquita. In her spare time, some of her favorite things are taking nice long walks, being outside, and hanging out with friends. Cadia says, "I have always had 3 cats in my life. They are just so gentle and caring and I love them so much for just being them!" She graduated high school this year, and is taking a gap year. She decided to join the Cat Sitting by Susan team because, as she puts it "I honestly love working with cats since I have always been around them, and when I saw that this job was open, I was so excited."
Tom!
Tom was born and raised in Falls Church, VA. He says that he had pretty much every pet you can think of growing up, and bred parakeets and transparent fish. Literally transparent except for their eyes and heart! Tom says, "I'm a bit of nerd and enjoy computer games if I'm not busy with my wife and kids. I love cats because they all have different personalities and you have to win them over!" His photo is with one of his kitties, Sissy! He is planning on going back to school to finish up his computer science degree if he can find the time. Tom says, "I chose to work for Cat Sitting by Susan because they are the most respected and cat centric pet sitting company there is in NoVA!"
Miracle!
Miracle was born in Fairfax, VA and grew up in Vienna, VA. She had three cats growing up, and currently has two kitties, JuJu and Millie. In her spare time, she loves reading, working out at the gym, and hanging out with her friends. She says, "I love cats because they're very unique. I love how energy-based they are and that they take their time to get used to a new place or person. I love their independence as well as their curiosity for life, that I can relate to." She is currently working on earning an esthetician license and is taking online courses for stocks/ cryptocurrency. Miracle decided to join the Cat Sitting by Susan team because, as she said, "I've wanted to work with cats for some time. So, at this point in life, looking for a job and then finding one working with cats was great news for me!"
Dan!
Dan was born in Crystal Lake, Illinois and moved to Arlington, Virginia when he was 14. Growing up, he had dogs, an iguana, and a cat name Pandora. He recently moved to Falls Church after living in Chicago for the last 5 years. He particularly loves playing with, and caring for, his two daughters, Harper and Sparrow. He also enjoys cooking and is a huge Chicage sports teams fan. He has worked as an animal care specialist and an adoption counselor at the Anti-Cruelty Society in Chicago. He has joined the Cat Sitting by Susan team because, as he says, "While working at the shelter, I really fell in love with cats, and I love being around them and taking care of them."
Holly!
Holly was born and raised in rural Minnesota. Growing up, she had several dogs and a great many cats, mostly the descendants of a dignified calico named Momma Kitty! Her current kitty is Josie, who joined her family in 2019. Some favorite pastimes include gardening, writing fiction, reading, traveling, and observing Josie as she eyes birds from the window. Holly says she loves kitties because of their "cattitudes," cozy purrs, and how they prowl around like mini mountain lions! She retired from the Air Force in 2018 and recently moved to Virginia with her spouse, who is still active duty, and their daughters. She is a registered yoga teacher and is working on a novel, along with other smaller writing projects. Holly says she decided to join the Cat Sitting by Susan team because "I want to reduce the distress of kitties and their families during times of separation. I know first-hand that it’s no fun to worry or to be the cause of a cat’s distress."
Beatrice!
Beatrice was born and raised in Las Vegas. She had four cats growing up, and has four cats now! In her spare time, she likes to crochet while watching TV, and playing music on her guitar or trumpet. She says she loves kitties because they're incredibly smart, fun to play with, and loving. She is currently a student at NOVA studying Music Education. Beatrice decided to join the Cat Sitting by Susan team because she really loves being around cats, and this is the perfect place to help care for cats.
Marielle!
Marielle was born in the Philippines and grew up in Hyattsville, MD. As a kid, she mostly had dogs as pets, but she now has a sweet orange tabby named Killua (Kiwi for short). In her spare time, Marielle enjoys cooking, watching movies, and visiting cat cafés and shelters. She says she has a profound love for cats because hers saved her life in so many ways. "They are so intelligent, full of life and they are also loyal companions," she adds. She is currently a stay at home mom, fully loving on her two kids and her super hunter kitty! Marielle explains, "I actually never thought that cat sitting for work existed! I was so surprised to find the ad online and with no second thoughts, I applied right away. This truly feels like a dream job. Caring for other kitties as I do with my own is the best way I could make a difference for other cat parents. I truly believe that as a cat sitter, I can provide assurance that the cats will be loved and cared for immensely."
Sydney!
Sydney was born in Washington, DC but grew up in Falls Church, VA. She had four cats growing up, and currently has two, Smokey and Dusty. She enjoys hiking, thrifting, sewing, and volunteering with cats at Petsmart. She loves cats because they act reserved and aloof, but quickly open up and love unconditionally once they get to know you. Sydney joined us last spring and worked through summer, but is attending college at the University of Georgia and is studying natural resource conservation. She is now back with us caring for kitties for the summer and we're very pleased! She said, "I realized that I could combine my love for cats with a real job, while also giving people the security of knowing that their cat is in good hands."
Brooke!
Brooke was born in Fredericksburg, VA but grew up in Herndon. She had fish growing up, but often took care of the neighborhood stray cats. She currently has two kitties, Gully and Dolly. She enjoys thrifting, volunteering with cats at PetSmart, and crochet. She loves cats because "they are calming animals that each have their own personality." She is attending the University of Miami studying Marine Biology, and is home again for the summer, so is back with our team, and we are so pleased! Brooke says, "I decided to work for Cat Sitting by Susan because I truly love cats and wanted to turn this passion into a job!"
Leah!
Leah was born and raised in Los Angeles, CA. Growing up, she had an orange and white kitty named Chibbie, and she now has a male tabby named Bruce! In her spare time, Leah enjoys reading non-fiction, taking long walks, traveling, baking, and watching professional tennis. She has decided to make a career change to become a cat sitter for Cat Sitting by Susan, and we are so pleased! She explains that, "The company truly understands the immense love people have for their cats and how important it is to know cats are receiving exceptional care and attention when they are out of town. I also love that this is a business dedicated to cats! Cat Sitting by Susan has taken care of my cat and the sitters are exceptional!" Leah says that she loves kitties because of the endless sweetness and cuteness they add to a home, their independence, how wise they are, and their great capacity to love!
Patrick!
Patrick was born in Washington, DC and grew up in Falls Church, VA where he lives with his wife. Growing up, he had a cat named Smoky and a German Shepard named Rex. Since then, he's had five other cats. He loves being around both cats and dogs, but has a particular fondness for cats because of their unique personalities. He currently has an old kitty, Chester. He enjoys camping, hiking, and being outdoors in nature. He is passionate about soccer, and even played professional indoor for two seasons with the Washington Warthogs. Patrick says, "my first contact with Susan was when we met the first time they watched Chester for us while we went out of town. My first thought was how compassionate they were of cats, and how they took such good care of him that I knew I wanted to work for Cat Sitting by Susan!"
Micaela!
Micaela was born in Lansing, MI and grew up in Leslie, MI. She had a black lab, anywhere from 4-9 cats at a time, horses, cows, and chickens, but she says the cats were her favorites! She currently has one sweet boy, Doc. In her spare time, she loves reading (fiction, historical fiction, and of course the books she needs for her Phd). She says, "I'm a big history nerd so I love going to museums. I also love to travel and watch/root for the Michigan State Spartans." Micaela loves kitties because they are so complex and full of personality and once they trust you, they will be your friend for life. She explains, "My first two cats, Springy & Midnight, were with me from second grade, all the way through college and even once I moved to DC. But as soon as I got home, they treated me like I had never left and knew I'd be back." She is currently a second year PhD student. Micaela says she joined Cat Sitting by Susan because "I loved that when I needed someone to care for my buddy, Doc, they were willing and loving and they took such good care of him, I never had to worry. I wanted to give the same love and care they gave to me to others, so that kitty parents don't have to worry about their fur babies while gone."
And of course, our official mascot/spokeskitty, Snickers!
We adopted Snickers from the Animal Welfare League of Arlington, VA, and immediately fell in love with him! He is a 14-year old diabetic kitty, and what a cutie he is! Very affectionate, and he has quickly become a part of our family! We documented Snickers' journey to us on the Cat Talk! blog. BTW, he's the face in the Cat Sitting by Susan logo!
We'll Take Great Care of Your Fur Babies!
We know that your babies need attention and playtime, not just feeding. Petting, cuddling, and talking to your furry friend are just as important as food and water! We'll take the best care of your furry little ones at a very reasonable price including feeding, litter box cleaning, and the loving and cuddling your fur baby needs! Please see additions/surcharges below. We accept cash, check, PayPal, Venmo, and all major credit cards (using the Payment dropdown menu below). Overnight visits are available starting at $75. Minimum per visit rate - $26. Please note - we do not board kitties.
- Base rate (one or two cats, per visit) - $20.00
- Additional kitties (per cat, per visit) - +$5.00
- Have 5 or more kitties? - only +$4.50 per cat, per visit
- Administer medication (per medication, per cat, per visit) - +$5.00
- Distance surcharge (over 5 miles from our location, each 5 miles) - +$5.00
- Congested area surcharge (see below) - +$5.00
- Paid street parking, if necesssary (see below) - +$1.50
- Gas surcharge (see below) - +$1.00 per visit
- As of June 1, 2022, minimum per visit rate is $26
There is a $5.00 per visit surcharge for families in high-rise apartment/condo buildings in congested, non-parking friendly areas of Arlington, including Ballston, Rosslyn, Crystal City, and Pentagon City. As well, if the only parking available is paid or metered street parking, there is a $1.50 charge per visit, except Sundays and holidays.
Due to sharply rising gas prices, we are adding a gas surcharge of $1 per visit to help our sitters defray transportation costs. 100% of this will go to the sitters.
Due to the high demand for cat sitting services around holidays and during school breaks, visits on any of the following dates in 2022 will have a holiday surcharge added ($5.00/visit), so will have a base rate of $25 per visit: May 27-30 (Memorial Day), June 17-19 (Father’s Day), July 2-5 (Independence Day), September 2-5 (Labor Day), October 7-10 (Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples' Day), November 11-13 (Veteran's Day), November 19-27 (Thanksgiving), December 16-January 2, 2023 (Christmas, Hannukah, Kwanzaa, New Year's Day)
If cancelling with less than 72 hours notice, there will be a cancellation charge equal to the greater of 25% of the total booking amount or the cost of one visit.
*Effectively immediately, our minimum visit frequency is once a day visits, i.e., we will no longer accommodate every other day requests.
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