Bernardo

Being a pet sitter would be an excellent opportunity to care for animals. I find that communicating and developing a relationship with pet animals is a very enriching experience. Personally, I have always been interested in how we relate to animals, I have always lived with pets, from flatmates, my own or while fostering cats and dogs. I have lived with cats most of my life and cared for friends' dogs, ferrets, hedgehogs, etc. My interest in animals is also reflected in my academic path. I studied veterinary medicine, working particularly with wild and exotic animals. I did an internship in an exotic animal clinic, worked at a wild animal recovery centre and conducted research on a national park in Greece. This means that I am quite knowledgeable in animal welfare and behaviour.

Additionally, I conducted anthropological research on cat adoptions in a Dutch animal shelter, in which I have also focused on how cats communicate. I am knowledgeable and sensitive about how cats interact with us, which is an advantage when pet-sitting your cat(s). Currently, I am doing fieldwork at Utrecht University with wildlife pathologists in a collaboration with the Centre for Sustainable Animal Stewardship.

WITH CATS, I think how I interact with my cat, Zufi, may give you a sense of how I will care for yours. I invest a lot of time and energy in creating engaging play opportunities for Zufi. I believe that our cats' environment should provide sufficient opportunities to express their behaviours. I experiment with different toys and pay attention to how he communicates during playtime. At the same time, I am good at reading their needs for space and quiet time.

WITH WILD & EXOTIC ANIMALS, I have some experience caring for hedgehogs, parrots, snakes, ferrets and rabbits, both/either as a friend's pet or in a clinical setting. For example, with hedgehogs, I have experience cleaning the cage, feeding mealworms, giving a bath and playing (he was a very social hedgehog who would sleep on a wool sling). Meanwhile, with parrots, I lived and cared for a grey parrot by feeding her, playing with swing and brainteasers with treats, etc. Do not hesitate to contact me for further information about other wild or exotic animals.

AS A PET SITTER, I have a strong sense of responsibility and take the agreement with the client/pet owners seriously. As a pet owner myself, I can understand that leaving your pet with someone else requires a big amount of trust, hence I am open to answering any questions during our meet&greet. Furthermore, I am open to sending updates with photos and videos to help you feel reassured of your pet's well-being.

SERVICES: I provide cat sitting and pet sitting for exotic and wild animals. With a cat, this can involve playing, grooming, feeding and cleaning litterboxes. Your pet's well-being is my priority, and I will respect the agreement established.

DISCLAIMER: Despite my medical background, I do not provide medical advice or recommendations on how to solve behavioural issues. I think for your pet's well-being and for ethical reasons, these matters should be dealt with by your local veterinarian or a specialist.