Cat Care Archives

Wellington Colorado Pet Sitters

March 3, 2023/in Cat Care, Dog Care, Local Information, Wellington/by Liana Waddy

Wellington Colorado Pet Sitters

Are you looking for a pet sitter in Wellington? With the tremendous growth that Wellington, Colorado has seen these past few years, the need for qualified and trained pet sitters in this northern Colorado town has grown tremendously.

Owning a pet is a great responsibility and part of that responsibility is choosing the right person to look after your pet when you’re away. In fact, the right pet sitter can make all the difference – not only to the happiness of your animal, but also in terms of their health and well-being. That’s why Wet Noses Pet Sitting has brought their expert pet sitting services to the Wellington Area! Now you northern Colorado pet parents can confidently hire experienced, trained, and CPR certified pet sitters! All of our Wet Noses pet sitters are bonded, insured and trained to provide you with outstanding and compassionate care for all of your pets.

Pet Sitters in Wellington

Wet Noses Pet Sitting – (970) 980-1325

Cats, Dogs, Birds (including Chickens), Pocket Pets (Hamsters, Rabbits, Guinea Pigs, etc.), and some Livestock
Bonded & Insured
CPR Certified Pet Sitters
(In Progress) Certified Fear Free Training

For certain times of the year, such as Christmas and Thanksgiving, Wet Noses Pet Sitting’s schedule fills up fast. We never want your pet to go without care while you’re away. That’s why if we are unavailable we want you to be aware of other pet sitters in Wellington such as Hustin’ Hounds and Paws At Home.

Why should I hire a professional pet sitter?

There are many reasons to consider hiring a professional pet sitter instead of having a friend or family member take care of your pets while you’re away. Here are a few:

You can be confident that your pet will be safe and in good care.
You can be sure that your pet will be getting the best possible care.
You can get advice on pet care from a professional.
If something unexpected comes up, the company has a backup plan in place.

Hiring a professional pet sitter can give you peace of mind when you’re away from home. You can be sure that your pet is being cared for by a qualified professional, and you won’t have to worry about any surprise accidents or emergencies. Plus, a professional pet sitter will come to your home every day, no matter the weather conditions. This will ensure that your pet receives the same level of care every time.

Fun Facts About Wellington, Colorado

Here is a fun fact about this growing area. A few years ago, while constructing a housing development at the north end of town, a woolly mammoth skeleton was uncovered! Even though the tusks of the mammoth did not survive the move the skull did and it is now housed at Colorado State University in Fort Collins.

The development was completed, and the developer named one of the streets Mammoth Circle to commemorate the discovery!

Wellington is a terrific small town with a wonderful, paved trail system that connects the town and the different neighborhoods on either side of it. You can even take a tunnel under I-25 to the east side where you’ll find two small ponds to relax by. Along these smooth paths are wide lush grassy places, providing miles of fun for you and your dog.

There is also a pond, that is a fenced leash free area connected to Wellington Park on the north side of town, and it provides a fun way for dogs to cool off after their walk.

Conclusion

Take a few moments to look around the Wet Noses website and discover the endless opportunities to enrich your pets lives through visits, walks and play time with an experienced caring individual. Then go ahead and schedule your next vacation knowing that your furry family members will be cared for in your home and having the time of their lives while you enjoy yours!

Wet Noses Pet Sitting is thrilled to be available in your area and look forward to enhancing your pets’ lives!

Catnip Tea Recipe (For Cats!)

March 1, 2023/in Cat Care, Fun Stuff/by Liana Waddy

Catnip Tea Recipe (For Cats!)

Many people are familiar with catnip but it’s often given to cats in a dry, spray, or fresh form. But did you know that you can also brew it into tea? Right now, catnip tea is all the rage within the cat owner community. Keep reading below for the full catnip tea recipe.

What is catnip?

Catnip is a type of herb belonging to the mint family. It attracts cats by causing them to feel pleasure and excitement. It is a plant that can be easily grown in North America, and its leaves are feather-like and green with purple flowers. Catnip is a type of plant that has been used for tea, as well as in some natural bug repellents. The flowers are also said to help with respiratory issues such as coughs.

Is catnip safe for cats?

Rephrase Cats can consume catnip, which may help to improve their digestive system.

Rephrase The plant genus Nepeta is known for its anti-diarrheal properties. This means that it’s important to keep cats away from large amounts of plants in this category, as over consumption can cause digestive problems.

Can cats overdose on catnip?

Cats may experience health problems after consuming too much catnip. These issues can include vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, or difficulty walking. Use a small amount at first and talk to your veterinarian about the right dose for your pet’s individual needs.

Catnip is more potent when fresh, so you won’t need as much of it. In addition, avoid using highly concentrated oils because they can be very powerful.

Catnip Tea Recipe (For Cats!)

Ingredients:

1 tbsp dried catnip
2 cups water

Directions:

Place dried catnip in tea steeper
Pour boiling water over catnip
Let steep for 3-5 minutes
Drain into vessel and chill or drain over ice and serve

Leftover tea can be stored for up to 5 days.

Let us know how your kitty liked this catnip tea in the comments!

How to Choose a Cat That’s Right for You

February 22, 2023/in Cat Care, Fun Stuff/by Liana Waddy

How to Choose a Cat That’s Right for You

Welcoming a new animal into your home is a big step. So how do you make sure that the cat you’re adopting is the right one for you? We’ve put together some of the most common factors in choosing a cat that’s right for you.

Size

How big or small is your space? Cats do best in pairs, do you have enough room for 2 cats? While cats don’t come in as varied of sizes as dogs, some breeds like Maine Coons (8-25lbs) are much larger than your standard house cat (8-11lbs). Do you want a large cat or a smaller cat?

Activity Level

Not all cats are lazy. Some cats really like to play – like Bengals. Are you looking for a more sedentary cat or do you want one that’s always on the go?

Physical Maintenance

Some cat breeds require more grooming than others – especially long hair cats! Are you able to keep up with a regular grooming schedule? For example, Persians need groomed one a month.

Age

Kittens require the most training and attention and can be a wild-card for personality. While an adult cat will give you a better idea of their energy level, attitude, and temperament. How about letting a senior cat spend their golden years with you?

Breed

Do you want a purebred cat? What about a domestic house cat (aka a mutt)? If you’re looking for a specific breed check with local rescues in your area that specialize in that breed or research reputable cat breeders.

Congratulations on your new friend! We hope you two have many happy years together. Despite what many people may think, cats can’t be left alone for days at a time. If you’re planning on going out of town, Wet Noses Pet Sitting can help with cat visits. From short visits to overnights, we can custom tailor a schedule for you and your cats needs.

If there’s any other important tips for choosing a cat that’s right for you that we missed, let us know in the comments.

When Should you Book your Pet Sitter?

August 13, 2022/0 Comments/in Cat Care, Common Questions, Dog Care/by Liana Waddy

When it comes to booking a pet sitter, booking early is always better. At Wet Noses Pet Sitting, we try to accommodate all visit requests but sometimes our sitters are already fully booked. Until our sitters figure out how to be in two places at once, we recommend booking your pet sitter when you book your trip.

Why should I book my pet sitter early?

Booking your pet sitter early ensures we are able to match you with a pet sitter for the dates and times requested. The closer to your dates the less likely we’ll be able to fit you in our schedule.

This is especially true for major holidays.

Fourth of July
Thanksgiving
Christmas
New Years

We take care of pets 365 days a year but some major holidays are busier than others. Booking early to secure your spot for these major holidays is important. Overnights tend to fill up the fastest as they are the most in demand. We are limited on how many overnights we can offer based on the number of sitters we have.

What happens if my trip changes?

Reach out! We have a generous cancellation policy in place and we can adjust your pet sitters schedule as needed.

What if I need a last-minute pet sitter?

We understand emergencies come up that you cannot prepare to be out of town for. If our pet sitters are available we may be able to fit you into our schedule. If we are fully booked, we recommend calling your second or third choice for a professional pet sitter.

When a pet sitter coming to your home isn’t an option, boarding facilities should be considered. Many offer spacious rooms (and condos for cats), outdoor activities, and plenty of play time. Some vets also offer boarding but vets typically do not offer all the extra amenities a dedicated boarding facility offers. You may also have to pay a higher rate for booking on such short notice.

Wet Noses Pet Sitting is based out of Fort Collins, Colorado. We have a small list of places in the area were you can board your animals:

When all else fails, if you cannot find a professional pet sitter and boarding facilities are full try asking friends, family, or even your neighbor. You should never leave your pet unattended for an extended period of time.

Why do I even need a professional pet sitter?

Having a pet sitter come to your home helps reduce your pets stress while you’re away. This is because your pets are in a familiar environment. With familiar smells, sounds, and sights.

All of our pet sitters are bonded and insured. That means – if an accident happens you’re covered!

You won’t have to worry about last-minute cancellations. Friends and family can be unreliable. By hiring a professional pet sitter you’re guaranteed coverage even if something comes up on our end.

Having somebody come to your home while you’re away can help keep your home safe. Empty houses are targets for robberies. Regular activity shows that the house isn’t empty and that somebody will notice if something is off.

Conclusion

Booking your pet sitter early ensures we’re able to fit you into our schedule. If we cannot, we recommend calling your second and third choice of professional pet sitters. Having somebody come to your home is ideal as it keeps pets in a familiar environment, no last-minute cancellations, and adds an extra level of safety to your home while you’re away. If this is not possible, we recommend checking out boarding facilities in your area or contacting friends or family as your pet should never be left unattended for an extended period of time.

Related Blogs

What To Do If Your Pet Goes Missing in Windsor

July 23, 2022/0 Comments/in Cat Care, Dog Care, Local Information, Pet Health and Safety, Windsor/by Liana Waddy

Loosing a pet can be extremely scary, especially if you do not know where to start looking. There is a lot of information out there on how to find a missing pet, but I wanted to write something specific to Windsor, so you can just go down the checklist and get it done.

1. The Basics

For the first few minutes after a pet goes missing, you want to start with the basics.

Do a patrol of the area to see if you find any evidence of Tilly
Talk to the neighbors, especially anyone working outside, to see if they noticed Tilly going by
If Tilly is a dog, swing by her favorite places to walk or any place for playdates to see if she went there
Read up on How to Catch a Loose Dog for some tips if you do see her running free

2. Who to Contact First

You have done the basic search and turned up nothing. This is typically 15-30 minutes after you have realized Tilly is missing. Now it is time to reach out for help.

Larimer Humane Society – call to speak to animal control over the phone and give them a heads up that you just lost your pet. To submit a lost report you have to go into the shelter. The Windsor police state this is where they will take all lost dogs. “Windsor Police Department does not govern lost and found cats.”
- (970) 226-3647
- 3501 E 71st Street, Loveland, CO 80538

If Tilly has a microchip, contact the company to let them know she is missing and how to reach you, just in case your information is not up to date.
Contact any veterinarians, groomers, and pet supply stores in your immediate area (around a mile from where she went missing), in case someone picks her up and brings her in.

3. Social Media Time!

The internet is your best friend when it comes to finding a pet. Your friends and complete strangers are going to be happy to help you search the interwebs for any news of Tilly.

Post on all of your personal social media networks. Include a recent picture, where and when she went missing and any directions you want people to follow, such as how to contact you, not to chase Tilly, Tilly is afraid of men, etc. Specifically ask people to share the post. If you know any people in the animal world, such as your normal dog walker or groomer, ask them to share since they have such a large reach.
Post on these pages. There are many pages specifically dedicated to helping reunite missing pets with their people. Post on as many as you can, but start with Facebook. That is where we have had the most luck in recent years.
- Lost and Found Pets of Northern Colorado – a Facebook group that is very active and easy to post in.
- Lost & Found Pets of Windsor Colorado – another Facebook group. Less active but still a valuable place to get extra eyes.
- Nextdoor – This is a newish system for people to coordinate with their neighborhoods on various subjects. When you post it can be seen by those directly in your area.
- Post on Fort Collins Craigslist in the Community -> Pets section as well as Community -> Lost+Found. There is no charge to do so. Windsor doesn’t have it’s own section on Craigslist so you’ll want to post on the closest one – which is Fort Collins.
- PetFBI – You have to fill out their online form, which gives you a flyer you can use and their website has a ton of helpful tips. Once you fill out the form, they will post it in their Facebook group.
- PawBoost – You can pay for upgraded service, but they list your pet for free on Facebook and in their database.
- LostMyDoggie – They post on Facebook but they also alert local shelters and rescues.
- LostMyKitty – Same as LostMyDoggie, but for cats!
- PetKey – A smaller page, but everything helps!
- Northern Colorado Pet Lovers – A group ran by Wet Noses Pet Sitting. It’s a small group but another set of eyes always helps!
Head out and continue looking for Tilly. Make sure you are able to answer the phone if someone calls! Ask your neighbors to check their garages, sheds, and yards to make sure she is not hiding there.

4. What is the Next Step?

If you are approaching evening, there are a few steps you can take, especially if Tilly is shy and still might be in the area.

Double-check with any neighbors coming home to make sure they did not see her earlier in the day.
Consider leaving your door open so Tilly can come in at night if she was lost from your home.
If Tilly is a cat, place her litter box outside where she can smell it.

5. The Next Day

You have done all of the fast, easy options and Tilly has not been found. Now is time to dig in and spread the word that Tilly is missing.

File a lost pet report with Larimer Humane Society, if you have not already done so. Animals can travel surprisingly long ways and folks sometimes pick them up and take them to their local shelter, which may not be in Weld or Larimer County.
Post a lost pet ad in the Coloradoan and small local papers. It may seem outdated, but they are still read regularly.
Contact local breed rescues that relate to Tilly. For instance, if she is a Golden Retriever, contact the local Golden rescue. There are too many for me to list here, and they change regularly, so search online for one. You can also contact All Breed Rescue Network at (888) 440-6467. They keep a running list of breed rescues in the Colorado area. Sometimes breed rescues will be able to offer more suggestions or help specific to your breed.
Print off flyers from one of the sources you used yesterday. Post flyers in veterinary hospitals, groomers, trainers, pet supply stores, the dog park, and anywhere animal-related. Many local businesses also have community boards. Start with businesses near you and increase the distance the longer Tilly is missing. Posting flyers on mailboxes and phone poles is illegal, although many people do it.
Continue to update posts online. People will be wondering if you found Tilly and you want to keep them searching. Ask for help again and for people to keep sharing your posts.
Talk to people in the neighborhood where Tilly went missing. Offer a reward for any information leading to finding her.
If you hear of people spotting her, go to that area and search. Shy animals can be very hard to catch, especially during active times of the day when there are a lot of people around. If you believe she might be in the area, go out during quiet times in the evening or morning when she is more likely to appear. You can also look at renting a humane trap if you are sure she is there but cannot catch her.

6. DO NOT Give Up Hope

The longer you search the more discouraged you become. Keep looking! Here are a few searches I have helped with over the years for people I know:

A small, very shy dog went missing. We tracked her to a neighborhood where kids had spotted her (we paid them to keep an eye out for her). After a few days, we were not able to find her until a kid came forward. A woman in the neighborhood had picked her up and had given her to a family member in Colorado Springs. Once confronted we were able to get her back.
A dog ran out of his front door. The neighbors a few houses down saw him, but not not the people at the end of the block. He vanished! They continued searching and found him late that night being walked by a nice couple who lived down the street. They had been leaving earlier when they saw him run by, so they put him in the garage and then left for a few hours. They had just returned home.
A woman’s dog had been missing for months. She sent out flyers to shelters across the country and he showed up here, in Fort Collins. Turned out a trucker had picked her up and driven her across 3 states before dropping her off at the local shelter!

We regularly hear stories of animals being reunited years after going missing due to their microchips. Keep that information up-to-date and continue your search!

7. Once you Find Your Pet

Congratulations! I am so excited for you and you must feel so relieved!

Take the moment and enjoy it. Do not scold Tilly, she is just happy to see you!
Plan a trip to the vet if your pet was gone for a while or appears to be injured.
Go back and take down those flyers, lost pet reports and postings online so that everyone knows you found your fur kid.
Return the favor and share information about missing pets for other people!

If you have a resource that is not listed, Please Let Us Know so we can get it added!

What To Do If Your Pet Goes Missing in Longmont

July 16, 2022/0 Comments/in Cat Care, Dog Care, Local Information, Longmont, Pet Health and Safety/by Liana Waddy

Loosing a pet can be extremely scary, especially if you do not know where to start looking. There is a lot of information out there on how to find a missing pet, but I wanted to write something specific to Longmont, so you can just go down the checklist and get it done.