Meet Natatia Cady | Pet Sitter

We had the good fortune of connecting with Natatia Cady and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Natatia, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
It’s been a winding journey getting here — I suppose I should start with where I came from. Before pet care, I was in food service. There were things I loved about food and management, but there were also things I ignored and abuses I avoided confronting. My body, however, did not. While I was overworking I was battling alcoholism, losing my hair, bleeding when I shouldn’t and not bleeding when I should. I was stressed and my body was trying to tell me it did not want to keep this cycle up. When I went to see someone for it, they didn’t send me home with medication, but instead with homework to find a career path that would work better for me. At that point I had figured that career was food management… but with the overwork and constant exposure to alcohol, I was killing myself —thinking back, both were glaring attempts to mask my then undiagnosed ADHD.

So, short story long, I had to make some big life changes.

I went to college with the intention to pursue a career in animation, and during that time I had started pet sitting more and more frequently as a side hustle. One thing led to another and I found that for once, my metal health and my job didn’t have to be mutually exclusive. So, six years later, here we are! In 2024, I was formally diagnosed with ADHD & anxiety and in a lot of ways, things about my life and the frequency I buzz at have really started to click in ways that they hadn’t before. Even prior to the formal diagnosis, I had started making adjustments to my lifestyle and career path that brought a focus on my mental health and happiness into said path. The fact that I get to work for myself is definitely better for my neurodivergent tendencies, but realistically it was more of a byproduct of the former and less of an initial thought; It was less of a vivid intention and more of a subconscious drive. I wanted to carve a space in the world where I could thrive being myself, while also normalizing a different kind of ‘grind” for other folks like me who are living in a world buzzing on a different frequency then we do, while also saying “hey, I get it!”

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Familiar Pet Care is a overnight and drop-in pet care service. I provide one-on-one care for my clients out of the familiarity of their homes as opposed to watching multiple families together. “Familiar” is intended to have a bit of double meaning in the sense that I want to provide a personalized, “familiar” approach, striving to build trust and form lasting bonds with each animal I work alongside, and the magical context often used with “familiar” was not lost on me when I chose the name! The animals I work with are not just pets, they are magical little bundles of joy. They share soulful connections with their people that transcend even past death, which is what the rainbow in my logo is for; it symbolizes all of the familiar I’ve had the joy of working with, who have already passed that rainbow bridge; including my first dog, Lucy, who passed in February of 2023.

I started watching dogs on the side through college and later decided I wanted to make it my career path. I love animation, sure, but what made pet care stick for me was when I realized how much I related to the animals I was working with. We were all trying to cruise through existence on someone else’s terms, riddled with anxiety, attempting to prepare for the next surprise life planned to throw at us (which is sometimes a random woman in your house for a week), and that helped me develop my own approach to working with animals. There was something so fulfilling about watching those relationships with each animal grow and if I’m honest those bubs got me through 2020!

What got me to where I am business wise is absolutely love of the animals. I’m quirky and so are your cats and dogs! I strive to work with those quirks and love them through, while watching to draw the line if a behavior or external factor could be harmful to them arises. There have definitely been times challenges that pop-up. Heck, in December I arrived to our first drop-in to find the pups had gotten into a holiday gift box that apparently had been stashed up on the counter- that was a trip to the ER during my busiest week. Never underestimate the abilities of a curious critter! After finishing at the ER I had to call all of my clients for that day, let them know what was going on and that I would be running later than the scheduled time block (I run my drop-in’s on a block system), for the next three days to account for diagnostics the pups were going to need (one of the photo’s I added was of us waiting for their final check-up). I work with some great people and they were all very understanding! Though we did have some pups a bit angry they got dinner late. I made it up to them with some (pet approved) gifts of their own.

All that is to say, consistency and transparency are crucial with this job. Being honest when things go wrong & communicating through the process, knowing my (pet)clients and their direct needs, while being sure to properly communicate with all pet parents I am currently working for when situations transpire-whether they reach emergency levels or not-is exactly how you develop the trust to work with someone so intimately for long periods of time, and dare I say how those working relationships become familial.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Alright Justine, this one is for you. We’re starting the day early at Brew Hound Coffee Co. in Parker before driving to the mountains (I’m always getting something new). There are a few spots I would love to show you between Woodland Park and Conifer, from there we’ll make our way towards Evergreen to stop by Suz Cookie Jar Rescue for whatever goodness she is crafting (the pecan bar is my favorite)!! Now that we’ve had our dessert, we can head down to Idaho Springs for Mac Nation (New Mexico with bacon, please!) and then we will finish the day at that Red Rocks show I keep telling you to come visit me for.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My community! Whether it be my best friend’s, my family, or the clients who pushed for me to believe in myself and take the leap to get my name out there, I love and appreciate them all & I would not be here without them.

Thank you. <3

Website: https://Familiarpetcare.net

Instagram: https://Instagram.com/Familiarpetcareco

Facebook: Facebook.com/familiarpetcareco

Image Credits
Natatia Cady