Pets don’t always act the same when their owners are away.
Even the sweetest, most predictable pets can turn into curious little “teenagers” the moment the house is quiet.
On a recent visit, one of our sitters walked in to find a cat actively getting sick. After some quick investigating, we realized the cat had chewed on a large Monstera plant. This was a plant the cat had ignored for every prior visit—until that day. We handled cleanup, monitored the pet closely, and even had to move a very large plant to prevent further issues.
In another home, a cat that had never touched its food bag suddenly ripped it open and helped itself after 10+ perfectly normal visits.
And just recently, we had a bird get tangled in the clear plastic fastener from a brand-new toy tag—something that could have ended much worse if it hadn’t been caught quickly.
None of these situations were due to neglect—just normal pet curiosity when routines change.
So I wanted to share a few simple ways you can prep your home before we arrive:
1. Plants 🌿
Many common plants are toxic to pets—even ones they’ve ignored for years.
Use tools like Google Lens if you’re unsure what you have, and move any questionable plants out of reach or into closed-off areas.
2. Food & Treats 🐾
If it’s accessible, there’s always a chance it becomes fair game.
Store food and treats in sealed containers in cabinets, or closed rooms.
3. Clean & Reset Pet Areas 🧼
Please start us off fresh so we can maintain a clean, healthy environment:
- Wash (aka scrub off that biofilm!) and refill bowls, fountains( take apart and replace filter!), and feeders (dump, wash/dry/reset and check batteries!)
- Scoop and reset litter boxes (wipe those walls and pieces of pee and leftover #2!)
- Tidy up spaces pets can be that we have to monitor- laundry, personal items, excess items on countertops- the more “stuff” the harder it is for us to do our job/maintain and see issues.
4. Toy Safety 🎾
Double-check toys for tags, strings, or packaging.
If it can wrap, tangle, or be swallowed—we want it removed before your pet has access.
These small steps truly make a big difference in keeping your pets safe and your home running smoothly while you’re away.
If you have an upcoming trip, we’d love to care for your pets, we are running on a “short staffed ” situation right now- so please book sooner then later to ensure coverage.
As always, thank you for trusting us with your pets and your home.
Happy Pets, Happy People
Amber V., Owner
Atta Boy! Animal Care
Serving 33801, 33803, 33811, 33812, 33813, 33815, 33830, 33860
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