I think it’s safe to say I am a cat person. The proof? I have two cats of my own, I grew up around cats (including my senior cat back in Poland, where I’m from, who is still going strong at over 20 years old!), and somehow every birthday card, gift and random gadget people give me has a cat on it. Apparently, my reputation precedes me. My two cats are particularly special to me. I took them in from a breeder where one had been malnourished and the other was very sick and was meant to be euthanised. The latter still requires ongoing treatment and medication and has been through several surgeries, so I’m very familiar with the extra care, patience and attention that some cats need. They are very much the masters of my household, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Over the years, I have also looked after cats for friends and neighbours, so I am comfortable adapting to different personalities – from the sociable ones who immediately demand attention to those who prefer to observe and judge from a safe distance. I had actually been looking for a way to volunteer with cats and have been visiting Chats Libres in Brussels. Unfortunately, their volunteering schedule requires a level of regular commitment that I can’t combine with my full-time job. That’s partly what brought me here: I would still love to spend some of my free time caring for cats and helping them feel a little less lonely when their humans are away. Because I work full-time, I can generally visit before work, around lunchtime and/or after work, depending on the location and your cat’s needs. A standard visit is around 30-40 minutes, which gives me enough time to arrive and say hello (or wait to be granted an audience), take care of feeding, refresh water, clean the litter box, and still have time for some petting, playing or simply keeping your cat company, depending on what they enjoy. I don’t want my visits to feel like a quick food-and-litter stop; spending a little time with your cat is an important part of the visit too. I am also comfortable giving medication when needed. I have experience doing this with my own cat, although it would depend on the medication and how cooperative (or strongly opinionated!) your cat is. Most importantly, I know how stressful it can be to leave a cat you love in someone else’s care. I will treat yours with the same patience, attention and affection I would want someone to give mine.