{"id":9431,"date":"2021-05-10T09:11:12","date_gmt":"2021-05-10T08:11:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/?p=9431"},"modified":"2021-05-18T09:36:27","modified_gmt":"2021-05-18T08:36:27","slug":"from-financial-whiz-to-chief-chin-rubber-my-journey-to-a-successful-cat-sitting-business-owner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/from-financial-whiz-to-chief-chin-rubber-my-journey-to-a-successful-cat-sitting-business-owner\/","title":{"rendered":"From financial whiz to chief chin rubber &#8211; my journey to a successful cat sitting business owner"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_88 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #101010;color:#101010\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #101010;color:#101010\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/from-financial-whiz-to-chief-chin-rubber-my-journey-to-a-successful-cat-sitting-business-owner\/#%e2%80%9ci-havent-had-a-holiday-in-years%e2%80%9d\" >\u201cI haven\u2019t had a holiday in years\u201d<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/from-financial-whiz-to-chief-chin-rubber-my-journey-to-a-successful-cat-sitting-business-owner\/#there-must-be-someone-who-could-have-looked-after-him\" >There must be someone who could have looked after him?!<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/from-financial-whiz-to-chief-chin-rubber-my-journey-to-a-successful-cat-sitting-business-owner\/#could-you-not-have-asked-a-neighbour\" >Could you not have asked a neighbour?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/from-financial-whiz-to-chief-chin-rubber-my-journey-to-a-successful-cat-sitting-business-owner\/#time-for-a-change\" >Time for a change<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/from-financial-whiz-to-chief-chin-rubber-my-journey-to-a-successful-cat-sitting-business-owner\/#life-today\" >Life today<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 3<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span><p>I know that many of us have had holidays &#8211; all sorts of plans, really &#8211; cancelled, rearranged, or amended this year. Let\u2019s be honest, while we know there are bigger issues abound, feeling like we are missing out on our summer holiday, our winter ski trip, or a trip to see family can be really tough.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"i-havent-had-a-holiday-in-years\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"%e2%80%9ci-havent-had-a-holiday-in-years%e2%80%9d\"><\/span>\u201cI haven\u2019t had a holiday in years\u201d<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>That was me &#8211; six years ago before I started The Cat Butler. At the time, I was working in The City as a financial manager. It was a busy role, with many early mornings and late nights. You might think this role was the reason why I hadn\u2019t been able to enjoy some time away\u2026 but you\u2019d be wrong.<\/p>\n<p>The real reason why I hadn\u2019t been on holiday for so many years was Ziggy. Ziggy was my cat &#8211; an absolutely gorgeous Birman who I simply adored. Like many cats, Ziggy thrived on routine. He was the ultimate creature of habit, and he liked everything just so &#8211; he was never shy about telling me when things had fallen short of his exacting standards!<\/p>\n<p>Much as I would have loved to jet off somewhere for a week in the sun or to head back \u2018home\u2019 to see the family in South Africa, I just couldn\u2019t bear the thought of leaving Ziggy. I\u2019ll be honest here, I never understood it when people told me that they couldn\u2019t &#8211; wouldn\u2019t &#8211; go away because of their pets. Once I became a cat owner, though, I totally got it.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"there-must-be-someone-who-could-have-looked-after-him\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"there-must-be-someone-who-could-have-looked-after-him\"><\/span>There must be someone who could have looked after him?!<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>There were some amazing catteries around me &#8211; five-star reviews, facilities that rivalled some of the resorts I\u2019d been dreaming of going to\u2026 So, what was the problem? Well, I knew that Ziggy hated being away from home.<\/p>\n<p>If I were to put him in a cattery, I\u2019d first have to get him in the car. And that would mean that the dreaded cat carrier would have to come out. Even if I succeeded and managed to do this, I knew that the car journey itself would be stressful &#8211; for both of us!<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-9433\" title=\"cat flap 3 705x0 is\" src=\"https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/cat_flap_3.705x0-is.jpg\" alt=\"cat flap 3 705x0 is\" width=\"705\" height=\"469\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/cat_flap_3.705x0-is.jpg 705w, https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/cat_flap_3.705x0-is-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/cat_flap_3.705x0-is-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/cat_flap_3.705x0-is-600x399.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/cat_flap_3.705x0-is-696x463.jpg 696w, https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/cat_flap_3.705x0-is-631x420.jpg 631w, https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/cat_flap_3.705x0-is-20x13.jpg 20w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 705px) 100vw, 705px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Then, even once I got him there, I\u2019d be leaving him in an environment that he didn\u2019t know. Amazing as the staff there may have been, I knew Ziggy would be traumatised if I took him away from the familiar sites and smells of his own home. And, when he discovered that there were other cats there as well &#8211; cats he didn\u2019t know\u2026 I just couldn\u2019t do it to him!<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"could-you-not-have-asked-a-neighbour\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"could-you-not-have-asked-a-neighbour\"><\/span>Could you not have asked a neighbour?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Yes, I could have, but as well as feeling that this was a lot to ask of someone who didn\u2019t have cats themselves or really understand them like I &#8211; a cat owner &#8211; did, I wasn\u2019t confident that this would give Ziggy the consistency, or the level of interaction, care, and love that he needed to be happy.<\/p>\n<p>So, that was that. I just didn\u2019t go on holidays.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"time-for-a-change\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"time-for-a-change\"><\/span>Time for a change<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>In the mid-2010s, I made the decision to leave my career in finance. The time was right for me to make a change, and there\u2019d been an idea building in my head for some time\u2026<\/p>\n<p>I knew there were other cats out there &#8211; besides Ziggy &#8211; who wouldn\u2019t fare well in a cattery. And I was sure there would be many other owners who didn\u2019t feel comfortable leaving their cat in the care of a neighbour while they were away.<\/p>\n<p>What if, I thought, there was somebody who could go into a customer\u2019s home and look after their cat when they were on holiday. Somebody who was insured, who had been DBS checked, who was trained to give medication, and so on. Somebody who wouldn\u2019t just go in, feed the cat, and leave; but somebody who would take the time to get to know them and deliver them with the care they deserve.<\/p>\n<p>And wouldn\u2019t it be great, I thought if that person could look after the customer\u2019s home as well? Bringing in the post, taking out the bins, closing the blinds, and so on.<\/p>\n<p>Well, you\u2019ve probably guessed it, but this idea is how The Cat Butler started &#8211; and I\u2019ve never looked back!<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"life-today\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"life-today\"><\/span>Life today<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>These days, I spend my time <a href=\"https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/investing-in-a-cat-sitting-business-why-should-you-choose-the-cat-butler\/\">working with cats<\/a> &#8211; visiting them in their homes, and waiting on them hand and foot while their humans are out of town. I rub their chins, give them cuddles, play with them\u2026 it\u2019s hard to remember what my days of number crunching were like!<\/p>\n<p>And do I now go away on holidays? Well, now I have a team of Cat Butlers around me, and I know my Billy is in safe hands, I sure do!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I know that many of us have had holidays &#8211; all sorts of plans, really &#8211; cancelled, rearranged, or amended this year. Let\u2019s be honest, while we know there are bigger issues abound, feeling like we are missing out on our summer holiday, our winter ski trip, or a trip to see family can be [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":9432,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1472,21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9431","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-the-cat-butler","category-pet-franchises"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/cuddles1.1000x350.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9431","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9431"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9431\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9432"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9431"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9431"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.franchiselocal.co.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9431"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}