IN SAFE HANDS

All animal carers are reliable and dedicated professionals with a great love of pets. Most have either long term working experience with pets and/or professional education in animal care and behaviour. You and your pet will be assigned your own dedicated carer and you will have a meeting with them before start of care. In the meeting you can ask any questions you might have and your pet will have a chance to say hello to their new best friend. For more information about our carers see below. 

MEET THE TEAM

ANNA

Joined: March 2023

Based in: Stoke Newington, N16

Services: Offering Cat Sitting & Small Pet care in Hackney and surrounding areas

I moved to London in 2001, after completing my studies, and I've lived in Hackney since 2004.

I’ve always loved animals, particularly small furry ones, and am a lifelong cat owner, having grown up with 4 cats. I currently have one cat, Clive, who has been with me since she was a kitten (yes, she is female, despite the name - it’s a long story!). She's now 15 and is a grumpy old girl and very set in her ways. She has a favourite armchair and a special cat shaped cardboard box that my partner, Mark, made for her. She’s definitely No. 1 in our house.

 

A Furry World have been looking after Clive whenever we’ve gone away over the last 15 years, and despite her aloofness and strange quirks, I know she’s been well cared for by the great Furry World team. It’s always been very reassuring to know she was in such good hands while we’ve not been there.

 

After 21 years working as an analyst in the civil service, I'd had enough of being sat at a desk, staring at a screen all day, and I joined the Furry World team. It brings me great joy to have the opportunity to meet lots of different animals and to take care of them while their owners are away. I love getting to know each of them and their individual personalities and, of course, having lots of cuddles and playing games. What an amazing job!

 

When I'm not pet sitting, you can usually find me behind a sewing machine, or involved in some textile or yarn-related activities - I love upholstery, dressmaking, crochet, and am currently learning to weave. I also love to travel, and can recommend Croatia, Rhodes and Istanbul to anyone who likes to combine holidays with befriending cats

CHARLIE

Joined: November 2003

Based in: Isle of Dogs, Canary Wharf E14

Services: Offering Cat Sitting on the Isle of Dogs E14, Cat visiting in Canary Wharf and East London. She also offers Rabbit Boarding, Hamster Care, Guinea Pig Hotel in East London.

About Charlie: "Since the age of 6 I have owned a variety of pet's including - fish, guinea pigs, rabbit, canary birds, cat and dog and have also always been happy to help friends and family with looking after their pets over weekends and holidays, giving me a great appreciation of the responsibility involved with looking after other peoples pets.

After many years of toying with my dream of working with animals I finally resigned from my city job in 2002. Although having had many years experience of caring for my own and friends pets I still felt the need to gain experience in the pet care industry and therefore trained in a grooming shop for 7 months before going ahead and setting up on my own. A lot of hard work and long hours but it is all well worth it and I am very lucky to have an awesome support network of family, friends and colleagues all over the pet industry.

It is with this in mind and because I believe the pet sitting industry often leaves a lot to be desired in terms of professionalism, care and safety, I have decided to take up the career of pet carer. I want to help others feel happy and safe in the knowledge that their beloved pet is looked after with all the love and attention it deserves and my reward; I get to spend all my time with wonderful furry friends it just doesn't get any better than that!"

Joined: June 2019

Based in: Camden, NW1

Services: Offering Cat Sitting in Hampstead and surrounding areas

I currently work part time in interiors, providing management of a high street shop offering bespoke furniture, upholstery, curtains and blinds, fabrics and wallpaper service. It is a job that requires very good communication and organisational skills to run smoothly, using the telephone the computer and face to face. I have worked here for since 2017.


Between 2015 – 2017 I worked part time for the NHS on the 111 service providing telephone health care and advice, this required a lot of training, willingness to work weekends and holidays, good communication skills and the ability to stay calm in at times very stressful situations.


In 2006 I took time out from full time employment where I had been a Housing manager with young homeless people and a childline telephone counsellor to look after my young daughter. During this time I re trained as an upholsterer and spent a few years looking after elderly in laws in their home. I have some experience of being self employed both as an upholsterer and carer and am happy to continue on that basis. My love of animals I grew up in a home with them and regularly looked after neighbours cats, dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs etc .


As soon as I was able I had 2 cats of my own, both lived long healthy lives 21 and 19 years old, only requiring medication in their last few years both developing hyper thyroidism.


I have since made do with visits from neighbours cats who seem to love hanging out in the garden and popping in to say hello, have a sleep or a cuddle although i do miss having them around all the time I adore their independent nature and what seems to be intuitive sensitivity. I am so happy to have the chance to meet even more furry friends working with A Furry World.

JANE

Joined: January 2018

Based in: N1, Islington

Services: Offering Cat Sitting in Islington, N1 and Small Pet Visiting in N1, N5 and surrounding areas

When I was six a demanding diva of a Siamese cat arrived in our home. Gigi, a seal point female with the voice of a banshee was, in her own mind the most important being in the household and always on the wrong side of a door.

From then on a succession of cats, some better bred than others were a part of childhood and growing up.

Feeding, grooming, tick removal (I lived in tropical places), how to give medicine without being carved up, playing, laughing, grieving when as happens a cat or kitten died and then the funeral planning; unknowingly the cats and many other pets, taught us lessons about life and love.

When I came to work in London I decided not to have a cat of my own. Inevitably, because I missed having a small furry body around the house I ended up looking after friends' cats and being a holiday home for various small dogs.

I'm a complementary therapist, Iyengar yoga teacher and mindfulness practitioner. I retired from the NHS in 2017 but continue to work with private clients.

The gift of touch and energy matter as much for animals as for humans. I have a garden and talk to my plants and trees as well as the birds and neighbour cats, it's a grand thing to do.

PIA

Joined: July 2010

Based in: Islington Shoreditch, N1

Services: Offering Cat Sitting, Rabbit Boarding, Guinea Pig Boarding, Islington Dog Walking and House-Sitting in Islington N1 and surrounding areas

After many years of dreaming of living in London my partner and we packed our things and moved here February 2009 and absolutely love London. For 5 years and until we moved I worked in Milan in an Eating disorder rehab as a Dietitian.
 
I contacted A Furry World because I have always loved animals! I enjoy horseback riding but enjoyed caring for horses as least as much as the riding itself. I have also had a hamster and guinea pigs and looked after friends cats.
 
I’m delighted that now am I able to make it possible for someone to have a pet even if they work or travel a lot knowing that there is someone lovingly caring for it.
 
My other hobbies and interests are cooking (I even have a cook book for dogs!), dancing and traveling.
 
Raffo couldn’t be my partner if he didn’t love animals too! 

In his childhood, he spent every summer holiday (which are 3 months in Italy!) on a farm with animals and planned to become a farmer!
 
He also had rabbits as a kid and was very happy when we took up the critter boarding! He enjoys the company of our furry friends a lot and is always a little bit sad when they have to go back home pattern for the rest, who have all been rescued from one situation or another! So when my husband and I bought our first home together, I felt it wouldn’t be a real home without a cat and we adopted Cleo from the Cat Protection League (that’s her in the photo – she’s a bit camera-shy!). She now very kindly lets us share our home with her!

I’ve also developed great relationships with friends’ cats, dogs and rabbits and look after them when their owners are away. Working from home as a part-time, freelance desktop publisher means I have lots of free time and I look forward to making and caring for lots more furry friends.

Joined: November 2005

Based in: Stoke Newington, N16

Services: Offering Cat Sitting in Stoke Newington, Cat Visits in Islington N1 and Highbury N5, Dog Walking in Islington and surrounding areas

I came to London as a student many years ago and loved it so much, I stayed! Since then I’ve always lived in North London and have been living in Stoke Newington since 1993.

Cats have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember; the first, an abandoned kitten, setting a pattern for the rest, who have all been rescued from one situation or another! So when my husband and I bought our first home together, I felt it wouldn’t be a real home without a cat and we adopted Cleo from the Cat Protection League (that’s her in the photo – she’s a bit camera-shy!). She now very kindly lets us share our home with her!

I’ve also developed great relationships with friends’ cats, dogs and rabbits and look after them when their owners are away. Working from home as a part-time, freelance desktop publisher means I have lots of free time and I look forward to making and caring for lots more furry friends.

Joined: December 2016

Based in: Highbury Islington, N1

Services: Offering Cat Sitting, Small Pet Boarding,  in Islington N1, N5 and surrounding areas

Other pet related activities: Animal Hospital Pet Care Assistant
I have spent many years caring for many different kinds of animals over the years where I work, part time in an animal hospital.

As well as cats and dogs, I have cared for rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs, degus, rats, mice, chinchillas, budgies, parrots, tortoises, and iguanas, even chickens and various wild life.

I have medicated some animals, but mainly cleaned out and fed them all and given TLC.

I have house and cat-sat for a family I have worked for in the school holidays, and for one of my managers cats who stayed with me.

I have house-sat and dog sat for my friends when they were on holiday and dog sat for two of my friend’s dogs at my home while she was away too. As for my own family who live in the north, I have house and animal sat, they have three dogs and four cats. In addition to this, I have helped various friends and family out when they needed help to walk their dogs, or needed me to keep an eye on their home.

I really enjoy the experience of meeting different species of animals, I find them all so fascinating. Whatever the animal I am assigned to care for, I always give all the care, love and attention and time they need to make them at ease and secure in my company.