These Amsterdam cat sitters visit as many as ten addresses in a day: 'When I'm there, it's cool-auntie time'

Everyone knows about dog walking services, but who do cat owners use when they're on vacation? Cat sitters, for example. These three sometimes cycle to as many as ten Amsterdam addresses a day. "I send videos and photos to the owners so they know what's going on."

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"If people want to go away for six weeks, I say no: the cat's well-being is paramount."

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Luciana Mesinas Montero (48) has been working full-time as a cat sitter in Amsterdam East since 2018, under the name Multicatsking Cat-sitting Amsterdam.

Luciana moved from Peru to Amsterdam sixteen years ago for love. 'Where I come from, people see cats the way many people see pigeons: as nothing special.' It was her partner's cat that made her want to work with animals. 'But all the shelters only accepted Dutch speakers back then.' That's how she ended up at De Poezenboot. 'I was allowed to start there, and I was immediately hooked on the cats.'

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During the summer holidays, she averages ten cat sittings a day. 'Sometimes it's twelve or fourteen.' In the off-season, she charges €21 for a half-hour visit, but during the holidays, it's €22. Today is a busy day; she's visiting twelve homes. She's already made the first round by seven a.m. By the time she arrives at the home of Olivia (10) and Arturo (10), two British Shorthairs, she has already visited five other homes. She has been coming here for three years, always while the family is on holiday. This time, they are away for three weeks. 'That's really the maximum. If people want to go away for six weeks, I say no. The cat's well-being is paramount.'

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'Cats like things to stay the same,' she explains. That's why she wants to visit them in their homes herself and maintain a bond. 'When the family is there, it's family time. When I'm there, it's cool-auntie time.' After each visit, she writes a report and sends photos and videos to the owners. 'That way, they can also see how the cat is doing.'

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From Monday to Sunday, Luciana is busy with the cats. After visiting Arturo and Olivia, she takes a break. 'Then I have a nice lunch with someone — perhaps with other cat sitters.' Then she continues to the six remaining homes. 'I usually finish at around ten in the evening.' She finds the long days demanding. 'You need a lot of energy to keep going from early morning until late every day. And you have to take good care of yourself.' During the visits, she rarely sees other people. 'It's nice to talk to each other and share experiences, though.' That's precisely why she started a community with several other cat sitters: Cat Sitters of Amsterdam. "It started just in Amsterdam, but now we have sitters from all over the country."

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"You'd like to take on as many addresses as possible, but that's no better for the cats or yourself."

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Marieke Duindam (55) and her team at Ik Pas Op Jouw Kat have been visiting cats in West for eighteen years.

Marieke starts her days early, leaving her home in Amsterdam-West at half past eight. Zizou, a 19-year-old male cat, is her second address today. She has been visiting him for eleven years. Zizou's family are on holiday for twelve days, so someone from Marieke's team of five comes by every day to keep Zizou company. Today, it is Marieke herself. 'I used to do it every other day sometimes. But cats get attached to their carer anyway. Daily visits are better for them.' For 15 euros a day, the cats get food, medical care, and above all, half an hour of attention.

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Marieke always checks on the cats, too: how is the litter box, are they eating well, and how are they behaving. She cleans the litter tray and gives medicine to cats who need it. It is extra busy during school holidays, but Marieke takes on fewer addresses than before. 'In 2019, before the pandemic, we sometimes had as many as forty cat visits a day. That was too much. Now, and I only do a maximum of five cats a day, only in West. That gives me and the cats more peace of mind."

Marieke has also been visiting Mus and Saartje, at the second address, for eleven years. Mus is a huge Maine Coon — a slow giant who can easily be tempted with food. Saartje, on the other hand, races endlessly through the living room but can be easily distracted by a piece of string with a feather on it. 'They often enjoy the simplest things the most.'

 

On days like these, she visits three homes in the morning. Then she takes the train to Castricum to visit her mother and afterwards, she goes to the Bakkum campsite with a friend. 'You have to take care of yourself a bit too,' she says. 'You'd like to take on as many homes as possible, but that doesn't make things any better for you or the cats.' Unexpected things happen too: she once had to deal with a flea infestation on the spot, for example. 'I dealt with that, and that's all part of the job.' She also offers cat therapy. 'I once helped a cat that had lost its kitten. The owner took it away immediately, after which the cat violently attacked them. Eventually, I managed to restore trust.'

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Before becoming a cat sitter, she worked for the city. 'But I realised I wanted to connect more with people.' So she started a speed dating platform to facilitate these connections. 'I liked the cats better. I still see the cats regularly, but I never saw the people from the speed dating evenings again.' To maintain human contact, she is also active in the Cat Sitters of Amsterdam group. 'It's nice to know you're not alone.'

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'Sometimes I sleep at the cat's, and I'm there from late at night until the early hours of the morning.'

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Maria Eirini (49) has been caring for cats for seven years, two of which have been in the Centre under the name Mind the Cat.

Maria is also part of the cat sitters group. Originally from Greece, she has been a full-time cat sitter since 2018. Before that, she worked as a cook. 'That gave her routine, but also boredom,' she says. Now, no two days are the same. Although I do sometimes miss having normal working hours.' She works from early morning until late at night, seven days a week.

 

'In Greece, I grew up with lots of stray cats. I never thought I'd be able to work with them.' Volunteering at De Poezenboot and DOA dierenasiel made her realise that it was possible. Initially, she cycled all over the city to do her cat-sitting jobs, but for the past two years, she has had her own business and has limited her work to the city centre, close to home. 'Ideally, I'd like to keep it to eight homes a day.'

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Today, she's visiting eight homes, including Tonno (11) and Cipolla (4) from Italy. 'Sometimes it goes up to fourteen. Then I take a few hours for myself in the afternoon. I might cool off on a hot day like today or have coffee with friends, because I'm often fully booked in the evenings and at weekends."

 

She visits each address for at least half an hour, at least once a day. 'I won't accept anything less. I check what they've eaten and inspect the litter tray, as well as making sure they have their medication and wash their bowls. Sometimes I stay longer if the cats need me to. It's all a matter of intuition.' Night visits are also part of her job. 'Then I sleep at the cat's and stay from late at night until early morning. I often visit during my lunch break too, so the cat gets plenty of attention.'

 

Maria charges €20 for a visit. As well as caring for the cats, she keeps an eye on the house. 'I once had clients who left the balcony doors open. Luckily, I noticed this before anything could happen.' Maria considers hygiene and social contact important for the cats. 'Indoor cats especially need that. Having a garden makes things easier, but that's rare in Amsterdam. Daily visits are essential.'

She always provides owners with updates, preferably with photos or videos. "The more visual information I can provide, the more peaceful their holiday will be." There have been the occasional disagreement. 'I've taken courses about cats and want to share that knowledge, but not everyone is open to it.' She finds it difficult to argue. 'I try to remember that I can also set my boundaries. That feels good.' Cat Sitters of Amsterdam helps her in situations like this. 'They understand what you're going through, and that sense of teamwork makes the work feel less lonely. It's nice to find like-minded people.'

 

Translated from the [article] by Lotte van der Blom. Published in Het Parool, August 18, 2025. Photos by Koosje Koolbergen.​