Sitter Team Pics and Bios

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 with cats and insuring that they are happy and healthy."

Olivia was born in Alexandria, VA, grew up there, and has had one cat that "has been with me my whole life (which I very much appreciate)". At the moment, she only has the one cat, but would definitely like to have more. In her spare time, she does Zumba on the weekends, and she enjoys going out to the movies, but as she explains, "like most cats, I like to stay inside and relax whenever I can." Olivia says she loves kitties because she feels that she can relate to them the most of any animal, and she feels that they are not always thought of as much as they should be. "Cats are amazing, beautiful creatures who should be appreciated." She is currently working with children as an after-school teacher, and decided to join the Cat Sitting by Susan team because "as soon as I saw the words cat sitting, I was hooked. I previously worked as a dog walker, but I didn’t feel very passionate about it. There were times that I was asked to take care of cats and that was the most fulfilling part of the day. A job where I can be around my favorite house pet, and maybe even learn more about what it means to take care of a cat; what more could I ask for?"

Allie was born in Morristown, NJ but grew up in Charlotte NC. She had cats growing up as well as 4 dogs and a pony! She currently has 2 cats now that live at her mom's house. In her spare time, she loves to spend time with her pets, as well as reading and journaling! She works as a style advisor at Saks Fifth Avenue and decided to work with the Cat Sitting by Susan team because "I have a stressful job and I find that animals have always been very therapeutic for me and being able to be around animals as a job like that is just a win-win!"

Ella was born in Reston, VA and grew up in Great Falls and McLean! She grew up with two tuxedo cats, Sadie and Splash. She now has a sweet kittie named Sadie. Some of her favorite things to do are drawing and art, enjoying the outdoors, and hanging out with friends! She loves cats "because, as independent as they are, they are still affectionate and it means so much to have a cat choose to show their love to you. I'm especially in love with how calming a cat's purr is." Currently, Ella is a nursing student at Utah Valley University! She says she decided to work for Cat Sitting by Susan because "I do genuinely love cats and spending time with them and knew that I would love working more with them! I know how important it is for people that their pets are safe, and I could never turn down the opportunity to make sure they are taken well care of."

Nicole was born in New Jersey, but grew up in New York. She went to college in Pennsylvania, and moved to the DC area when she graduated. Growing up, her first pet was a Siamese kitty named Cocoa. Since then, there have been many kitties: Pecan, Mustard, Cecelia, Sydney, and, as Nicole puts it, her soulmate kitty Simon, who lived an amazing 20 years! After Simon passed, her family welcomed two Siamese littermates, crazy “meezers” as she calls them, Max and Monty, who keep their household interesting! In her free time, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, including the "meezer" kitties. She likes to run, cycle, attempts to play tennis, and keeps up with current events. Nicole also loves international travel and exploring different cultures. Her career has been in marketing and business development and she is currently consulting for some local companies. She says she decided to join the Cat Sitting by Susan team because "their sitters have taken great care of my boys when we've been away. I want to offer the same comfort to others who are looking for the best care for their fur babies when they are out of town."

Annie was born in New York City, NY and grew up in north Arlington, VA. Growing up, she first had two cats, Cinders (all Grey as the name suggests) and Chessie, a beautiful tabby, named after the cat on the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad cars. She currently has no kitties, but she used to have three male cats, Boonie, Sammy, and Lucky Harry Houdini. They were all very affectionate and sweet. I spent so much time with one or the other on my lap and another next to me on the bed. Sometimes, all three were there at the same time! Contentment! In her spare time, Annie likes taking long walks on crisp fall days, cuddling cats, and taking care of horses. She enjoys reading mysteries and legal thrillers. She explains that she loves cats because they are independent yet loving. They decide who they like and when they want attention from, so when they do want attention, they give themselves unconditionally. Annie decided to work for Cat Sitting by Susan because she loves cats and loves taking care of them when their parents are away due to work or vacation. She says, "All one needs to do is read reviews of the services Cat Sitting by Susan provides to cat parents to understand why I chose to work with them over other cat sitters."

Haley was born and raised in Alexandria, Virginia. She currently has no cats, but loves caring for them for friends and family. Her favorite things to do are watching movies, making new recipes in the kitchen, and spending time with her boyfriend, friends, and family. Haley says she loves kitties because she enjoys getting to play with them and pet them, and especially loves when she wins their trust enough for them to be comfortable curling up on your lap for some love. She is currently working as a paralegal, and she decided to join the Cat Sitting by Susan team because "I wanted to be able to give excellent care to cats and give the cat owners peace of mind to know their babies are well cared for."

Deanna was born and raised in York County, VA but moved to Northern Virginia when she began college at GMU. She loved the area so much, she decided to stick around! Growing up, she had one beloved kitty, a grey, soft-as-a-cloud fluffball named Nepal who liked pumpkin puree and preferred playing with pipe cleaners and pencil grips than real toys. (Deanna also convinced her parents to adopt Nepal via PowerPoint presentation - transitions on every slide, of course). She is currently saving up to be able to spoil her future felines. In her free time, she loves to read, play video games, volunteer, and go to museums and aquariums/zoos. She has past experience working with cats in various animal shelters as well as a cat lounge. Deanna believes cats are “so strong, so beautiful, so clever and silly, so sweet; they’re just the best. Oh, and they don’t mind when I talk their ears off.” She loves learning how to interact with different cats and accommodate for their varied needs and finds it the most rewarding when she can make a skittish kitty feel more comfortable in their safe space. She joined Cat Sitting by Susan because she’s “always loved working with animals. This is the perfect way for me to get my kitty fix while helping the people in my community!”

Ben was born in Lansing, Michigan and raised in Bristow, VA. Growing up, he had three cats, a white Himalayan named Kobe, a Calico named CeeCee, and a Gray tabby named Blink. Blink is still around, living with his parents. Nowadays, he has a sweet and lovable tortie named Ella. In his free time, he enjoys playing video games, reading, and listening to music. Ben says he loves kitties because, "I love how independent they can be while still being affectionate and fun members of the family!" He is currently a choir section leader and cantor at a church in McLean, as well as an opera singer. He decided to join the Cat Sitting by Susan team because, as he puts it, "I love earning the trust of cats and discovering their personalities! Each cat is different, so it's always interesting to learn about them. I can tell everyone at Cat Sitting by Susan knows what they are doing and truly loves cats as well. And as someone with a varied schedule that doesn't mesh with a normal 9-5, the flexibility is a great plus."

Carolina was born in Santiago, Chile and has lived in Falls Church since 1996. She currently has two kitties, Broly and Lana, and a dog named Zeke. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family and close friends. When asked why she loves cats, she said "Who doesn’t?! They are beautiful animals. Everything about cats fascinates me like their eyes, powerful bodies, super vision, speed and of course their meows!" Carolina has been working in the dental field as a dental assistant and patient coordinator since 2012. She is also attending NOVA taking continuing education classes. She decided to join the Cat Sitting by Susan team and says, "I am excited to work for this company because of the excellent customer service and quality care that is given to each client. There is nothing like a peace of mind when it comes to caring for your pets when you are away from home."

Lana was born in the Bay Area, CA and raised outside Seattle, WA. Growing up, she had cats, dogs, and rodents (oh my!). She says that her special favorites were her corgi, Danny and an all white cat, Snowball. She currently has kitties, Stellaluna and Professor Jigglesworth! In her free time, she enjoys reading YA fiction, going to flea markets, and spending  time with her nieces. Lana works at a nonprofit working to protect democracy. She decided to join the Cat Sitting by Susan team because, as she explains it, "as a client, I saw how committed each cat sitter is to the kitties they care for, and I wanted to be part of that team. Also I want to fill my days with as much cat time as possible!"

Chris was born and raised in the Philadelphia area. Growing up, she had cats, dogs, gerbils, and fish! "Our house ALWAYS had pets," she says. She currently has two former ferals, Cheeto and Black Cat, who are inside cats since Fall 2023, and now rule her home! In her space time, she enjoys reading, working in her vegetable garden, and volunteering with and serving on the board of directors of a wildlife rescue group. Chris says "I love how cats bring comfort just by being near. Sometimes, their quiet presence or a head butt is all I need to feel a little better about whatever's going on in my life!" She is retired now and decided to join Cat Sitting by Susan. She explains that "having traveled a lot for work, I know firsthand that it can be stressful to leave your cat at home alone. I want to offer peace of mind to cat owners by providing reliable, loving care so they can focus on their trip, knowing their kitty is safe and happy!"

Claire was born and raised as one of 3 girls, (triplets, no less!) in Decatur, Georgia, right outside Atlanta. She grew up with several cats and a sweet dog, who was unfortunately outnumbered by felines! Her family had 10 cats over the course of her childhood so, as she says "a house without a cat does not feel like a home." Currently, she and her boyfriend have 3 cats: Chuck, a rescue found in a gas station parking lot, named after his rescuer, who brought him back to life with CPR; Isla, another sweet rescue missing one of her eyes; and Cricket, also a rescue missing one of her feet. In her free time, Claire loves to bake, practice yoga, go on long walks, explore new places, and, of course, hang out with her kitties. She says she loves cats because "cat personalities are as individual as human personalities. Gaining a cat's trust takes time and patience, but once you have it, you share a special emotional understanding- your cat can read you and you can read your cat." She is currently nannying part-time and preparing for Physician Assistant school, which will start next summer. In the meantime, she decided to join the Cat Sitting by Susan team as "they have brought together a great group of people who put their cat clients first, and I want to be a part of it!"

Cassy was born and raised in Grand Blanc, MI and moved to VA in 2021 for graduate school. Growing up, she had three cats, one who is still around named Tinker Bell. There were also many fish, turtles, frogs, and two guinea pigs! She has two cats now, Fox (in her pic) and Dana who is a tiny black kitty. In her free time, Cassy loves trying new restaurants, watching reality TV, and cooking. She says she loves cats because of how independent they are and how they each have their own personalities. And she adds, "there is nothing I love more than some good snuggles at the end of the day with my cats." She is currently an analyst for the CyberTipline at the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. She decided to join the Cat Sitting by Susan team because "I know that is a big headache and worry for some (including me) when trying to find good care for your cats when you are away." She says she would love to ease that worry for others by them knowing that the person who is taking care of their cats has ample experience with them."

Momo was born in Baltimore and was raised in Herndon. Growing up, she had chickens! Nowadays, she has 3 cats, Noodle, Sage, and Rikke, and 3 dogs. In her free time, she enjoys painting, reading, and traveling. She says she loves cats because "they seem serious, but they are actually silly. Having their trust and companionship is rewarding and makes me happy." Momo decided to join the Cat Sitting by Susan team because, as she says, "I really care about animal care and welfare and I love meeting new animals."

Leah was born in Texas, and grew up there until her family moved to Northern Virginia. She has two cats named Autumn and Jerry who she says are responsible for turning her into the cat lady she is today! She spends her free time reading, listening to music, and of course hanging out with cats. She says she loves cats because they are all so unique and she loves seeing how they interact with the world so differently from each other. Cats are sweet and loving, and their presence always brings so much comfort and happiness. She is currently going into her junior year at George Mason University. She says she decided to work for Cat Sitting by Susan the minute she saw the website because "it was clear that I'd be joining a team that truly loves and cares about cats the way I do."

Hi! I’m Lilia, a Psychology student at the University of Mississippi. I grew up in Northern Virginia and come home during summers and school breaks, which is when I love spending my time caring for cats. I’ve been a cat lover my whole life and have two cats of my own, Crushy and Cracker! Crackers was actually a surprise gift for my fifth birthday! Working for Cat Sitting by Susan is the perfect fit because I love being around cats and getting to know their unique personalities. When I’m not cat sitting, I’m busy with school, but I’m always happiest when I’m spending time with animals.

Kasey was born and raised in Arlington, Virginia. She had two cats named Nacho and Pickles but Pickles unfortunately passed away a couple of months ago. But, she fortunately still has her cuddly cat Nacho. She decided to join Cat Sitting by Susan because after reading about the business and seeing all the love for it and the people involved she knew it would be a perfect fit for her. She does not do any other work in the area because she attends LSU for most of the year. Kasey is very excited to take care of and get to know all your cats!