Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeanine Fisher.
Hi Jeanine, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My true passion has always been cats, and that love goes back to the very beginning of my life. My parents had cats when I was born, including a Siamese cat named Kimba, who was technically my very first cat. She was part of my life until I was 12 years old, and my connection with cats has continued ever since. Growing up with Kimba helped shape the deep love, comfort, and appreciation I have always felt for cats.
That lifelong connection eventually grew into a professional career in animal care. I became a certified veterinary technician, earned my degree in Veterinary Technology from Harcum College, and went on to work at the University of Pennsylvania’s Ryan Veterinary Hospital. My veterinary background gave me extensive experience in animal health, behavior, and safety, and it continues to be an important part of the specialized care I provide to cats today.
As my business grew, I was eventually able to focus primarily on caring for cats—the animals I have always felt the strongest connection with. I provide personalized drop-in visits in clients’ homes, where I can keep cats comfortable in their own familiar environment while their families are away. My veterinary experience also allows me to confidently care for cats with medical needs, including administering medications and insulin when necessary.
Today, Carlisle Pet Sitters is a professional, insured and bonded business that I’m very proud of. But for me, it’s still about the individual cats and the relationships I’ve built with them and their families over the years. I feel incredibly fortunate that a love for cats that began with Kimba when I was a child, and was strengthened through my veterinary career, has grown into a full-time career that I genuinely enjoy every day.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely hasn’t always been a smooth road. One of the biggest challenges of running a small business is that you’re responsible for everything—from scheduling and communicating with clients to bookkeeping, marketing, taxes, and making sure every visit is completed reliably. When you’re self-employed, there isn’t anyone else to step in and handle those things for you.
Another challenge has been learning how to grow while still maintaining the personal service that my clients value. I’ve had to learn when to say no, set boundaries, and create policies that protect both my clients and myself. Finding reliable people I can trust to help with visits when I’m unavailable has also been important as the business has grown.
There have also been personal and unexpected challenges along the way, but each one has taught me something. I’ve learned to be adaptable, to keep improving how I run the business, and most importantly, to never lose sight of why I started it in the first place.
The hard work has been worth it. Building something of my own, earning the trust of so many clients, and knowing that I’m making a difference in the lives of their pets has been incredibly rewarding.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Carlisle Pet Sitters is a cat-sitting business focused on providing individualized, in-home care rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. I specialize in drop-in visits and take the time to understand each cat’s normal routine, personality, and comfort level. My goal is for every cat to feel secure and cared for while their family is away.
I’m known for being dependable, thorough, and especially attentive to the little things. Cats are very good at hiding when something is wrong, so I pay close attention to changes in their behavior, appetite, litter box habits, and overall demeanor. I also provide detailed updates and photos after visits so owners can feel connected to their cats and have peace of mind while they’re away.
One thing I’m particularly proud of is the trust I’ve built with my clients over the years. Many families have continued using my services for years, and some have trusted me with multiple generations of their cats. Being welcomed into someone’s home and trusted with a beloved family member is something I never take for granted.
What sets me apart is that I’m not simply someone who likes cats—I’ve built my entire career around understanding and caring for them. I’m comfortable with cats of all personalities, including shy, fearful, elderly, or more independent cats who may need extra patience. I don’t expect every cat to interact with me in the same way. I let them set the pace and work toward earning their trust.
I also believe that professional cat sitting is about much more than simply putting food in a bowl and cleaning a litter box. It’s about observation, companionship, maintaining routines, recognizing when something is out of the ordinary, and giving both the cat and their family confidence that they are in good hands.
Most of all, I’m proud that I’ve been able to turn something I genuinely love into a full-time career. There are certainly challenging days, but spending my days visiting cats and caring for them brings me a tremendous sense of peace and contentment. I feel very fortunate to have built a business where the work I do is meaningful to me and, hopefully, makes a meaningful difference to the cats and families I serve.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
The best way people can work with or support me is by trusting Carlisle Pet Sitters with their cats and sharing my business with other cat owners who may need reliable, professional care. Word-of-mouth referrals have always been incredibly valuable to my business, and I’m grateful whenever a current or past client recommends me to a friend, family member, coworker, or neighbor.
I’m also always open to connecting with other local professionals and businesses whose services complement what I do. Building relationships within the local community—particularly with veterinary professionals, groomers, trainers, rescue organizations, and other pet-related businesses—can create opportunities to refer clients to one another and provide better resources for cat owners.
People can also support my business simply by following Carlisle Pet Sitters on social media, engaging with my posts, sharing them, or leaving a review after working with me. Those small actions can make a big difference for a small, locally owned business.
Ultimately, supporting me means supporting a small business that is dedicated specifically to cats. Every referral, recommendation, review, and connection helps me continue doing something I truly love while allowing me to provide dependable care to more cats and peace of mind to their families.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://CarlislePetSitters.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carlislepetsitters?igsi=MThtb2w4OWE4ZG45aQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/18JBpowM3w/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@carlislepetsitters1490?si=ZYjP3A9yrZze6hQJ
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@catsofcarlisle?_r=1&_t=ZP-99LGzrB74jG
