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Frequently Asked Questions
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How do you register as a new client?Create a new account in our online client portal by clicking the registration link for San Francisco Bay, CA or Portland Metro, OR. This portal is where you can explain care details, see and pay your bills, and schedule your sits. Fill in all the relevant profile information for both the My Info and My Pets sections under the Petcare tab. Request a free New Client Initial Consultation and your sits on the My Schedule tab. That's it! We will reach out right away to schedule a time to meet you and your kitty at your home ahead of your trip. At that time, we will go through the profile details in your account to make sure we have all the specific instructions we need. If you would like to reach out to one of our offices, visit our SF Bay Service Area Details or PDX Metro Service Area Details page to message us directly or send an email. Please provide a little information about yourself and the days you require sits and we will respond the same day.
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What can I do from my account?In short? Everything! You can: Read your Pet Care Journals View upcoming scheduled services Request future services Update all your information so we have the most up-to-date info available View your invoice and pay with credit card or ACH bank transfer Add a picture of your pet Send us a message Change your password Review the help page if you have any questions on how to manage your account
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Am I able to add or change information in my account?Not only is it paw-sible; we recommend it every 6 months or any time something changes! The most important sections to review are Home Access in My Info and pet medication instructions in My Pets. You are able to manage your profile details from your account anytime. Simply log in using your email address and password, navigate to the area where you need to make changes or additions and update as needed. Be sure to save before leaving each page. If you need to update your email address, please send us a message to let us know. Because it is used to access your account, it is the only item we would have to update for you.
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What is your service area?We service many neighborhoods in San Francisco and the East Bay (including Oakland, Berkeley, Alameda, Emeryville, and Rockridge/Piedmont). We also service several Portland Metro area neighborhoods. Please view our service area pages for specific details: SF Bay Area, CA Portland Metro, OR
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I need a pet sitter last minute - are you open?Yes, it is likely we are! We keep times open, so we are available for last minute New Client Initial Consults and cat sitting services. However, please be aware that last-minute bookings (any sit scheduled within 48 hours of the beginning of the requested service window) will include a $10 surcharge and we charge for the Initial Consult ($25 because we often have to rearrange schedules to accomodate). However, we will get moving to find you a great sitter-even last minute!
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When do you visit?We visit our furry friends based on the time window of your choosing between the hours of 6am and 9pm, seven days a week! Available time blocks include: Early Morning* Morning Afternoon/Evening Late Evening* Anytime Overnight *Note: There is a $10 surcharge for these shorter, guaranteed service windows. Visit the details page of your chosen service area for specific hours: SF Bay Area, CA Portland Metro, OR
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What do you do during a cat sit?We will feed your kitty, change the water daily and scoop litter with every sit, along with additional other small chores you may need (take out trash, rotate the lights, pick up mail, etc.) For a 30-minute sit, this takes ~10 minutes or less, unless medication needs to be administered. Then we focus on making your cat feel special for the remaining time left in the sit. We will play with them, brush them, pet them, have lap/chest time- anything to make them happy. For overnights, we will stay for at least 8 hours. Overnights include evening and morning feedings, litter, and play time.
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Do you send pictures?Yes! After every sit, you will receive an email with a link to a Pet Care Journal that will include photos taken by your sitter during their visit. Pet Care Journals also include a checklist and a written update. It is through these journals that your sitter will relay your cat's latest antics and cutest moments, as well as reach out to you with any care questions.
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Do you have staff?Yes! We have an incredible team of sitters that cover our San Francisco Bay Area and Portland Metro service areas. You can learn more about them by visiting the SF Team and PDX Team (coming soon) pages. These paw-some individuals have years of experience volunteering at shelters, owning cats themselves, and even working with other cat sitting companies. All of our sitters are employees of Precious Fur Cat Sitting and have been background checked, bonded, insured and trained.
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Do you offer overnight visits?Currently, we do not. Instead, we'd suggest booking an Early Morning visit (6-9 am) and a Late Evening visit (6-9pm) to serve breakfast and dinner and give tuck ins. Additional services can also be scheduled for the same day to provide even more time for snuggles and play! Just let us know and we'll be happy to make recommendations that meet your needs.
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What medical services do you provide?We can administer pills, inhalers, transdermal ointment and liquid oral medication for an additional fee per visit. We can add medication to food at no extra cost. We do not offer diabetic injections or sub-q fluids, but upon request, will gladly provide you with contact information for a few local vet techs we trust that may be available to help.
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Do you have insurance?We are insured and bonded through Pet Sitters Associates and are a member of Pet Sitters International (PSI), a professional pet sitters organization.
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What are your business hours?We visit our clients 7 days a week, 365 days a year from 6 AM to 9PM! However our standard office hours are Monday-Sunday 9 AM to 6 PM. Area managers are ready to help! SF Bay Area: sfmanager@preciousfur.com Portland Metro: pdxmanager@preciousfur.com
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Do you have a referral program?We do! There is no greater compliment than when our valued clients refer us to friends and family. To show our appreciation, we have a Re-FUR-All Program: Give a Sit, Get a Sit. Simply have your friends enter your name when creating a new account or mention it during their New Client Initial Consult, and you both get credit for a free 30 minute sit! Visit our Re-FUR-All Program page for full details.
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Do you recommend any local vet services?Yes! We can recommend businesses that have been personally used by Precious Fur staff and clients. Just ask!
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Do you offer grooming services?Our sitters will gladly brush your furry pal, if that is something they enjoy! However, we do not provide extensive grooming or nail trim services.
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Do you have a flea policy?We do not require that clients provide proof of medical flea control; however, should fleas be found by a sitter, all remaining services will be changed to Economy sits to reduce sitters' exposure to fleas. The cost difference will be credited to the client; however, a $25 Flea Fee will be added to each remaining service performed by Precious Fur to cover additional hazard pay for the sitter and a fresh hazmat suit for each visit.
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What is your policy on aggressive behavior?We know that cats can be the most loving companions for their humans, but that when stressful things happen - like being left alone - they may act in unexpected ways. Our sitters are trained to monitor the happiness and wellbeing of each kitty client and report any concerning behavior. We also know that (like people) cats may vibe more with some folks and less so with others. If a cat becomes aggressive or actively territorial with a sitter, we will always let the owner know and try another sitter to see if we can get the right fit. We may also recommend seeking counsel from your vet or a pet behaviorist to address separation anxiety. Because the health and well-being of both our kitty clients and our sitters is paramount, if we are unsuccessful after three tries, we may no longer be able to provide services cat sitting services. Should we get to this last resort, we will return keys free of charge and gladly provide a local vet tech reference for cat sitting services.
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What actions are you taking in response to COVID-19 ?The health and well-being of our clients, staff, and greater community are of the utmost importance to us. Each sitter choosing to take sits has been trained in our safety protocol and is provided with PPE on an on-going, as needed basis. We will continue to track our policies with those of local government. What this means to you is that, at this time, we will not require our sitters to wear masks during sits if they are fully vaccinated. However, if you prefer otherwise, please let us know by contacting us. We will update your profile and ensure our sitters abide by your wishes!
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How do I schedule services?Log in to your account using your email address and password and click on the blue +Request New button from the Dashboard. Or, you can navigate to the My Schedule tab and click on the blue +Request Service button or selecting the date you'd like services on the calendar shown and scheduling from there! You will receive an automated email confirming your services once your request has been processed and is scheduled in the system.
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How far in advance do I need to schedule?We are able to accommodate scheduling however far in advance as you can plan! We prefer you book early and cancel instead of booking last minute. There is no fee to cancel if you do so more than 24 hours prior to the beginning of your scheduled service window. At least 2 weeks in advance is ideal for scheduling, especially if you are a new client or if you are a current client who does not keep keys on file with us. We also recommend booking well in advance of holidays and Spring and Summer breaks, as demand tends to peak at those times.
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Do you offer overnight visits?Currently, we do not. Instead, we'd suggest booking an Early Morning visit (6-9 am) and a Late Evening visit (6-9pm) to serve breakfast and dinner and give tuck ins. Additional services can also be scheduled for the same day to provide even more time for snuggles and play! Just let us know and we'll be happy to make recommendations that meet your needs.
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Will it always be the same person who takes care of my cat?We take sitter consistency very seriously and make every effort to assign the fewest number of sitters possible for a single client's trip. However, there are situations when it is simply not possible to schedule one sitter. You are always able to see who is scheduled for each visit of your trip by looking at your schedule in your account.
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Can I request a specific sitter?Absolutely! Our sitters love learning how much you and your fur-babies love them. However, be aware that although you are welcome to request a specific sitter, there is no guarantee that their schedule will be able to accommodate your sit requests. We can, however, guarantee that you'll receive top-quality service with any Precious Fur sitter that visits your home. We make every effort to schedule regular sitters with clients.
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Can I have a sitter visit more than once per day?Yes! You can schedule 30- and/or 60-minute sits in multiple time windows within the same day. When sits are scheduled in both standard Morning and Afternoon/Evening windows, we will make efforts to space visits 6 or more hours apart. However, to guarantee greater separation in visits, we advise utilizing Early Morning or Late Evening windows.
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What options do I have regarding keys?There are 3 options: The simplest option is a keyless entry arrangement, meaning that the sitter will not need to bring keys to gain entry. We prefer to access your home for cat sits via keys stored in a lockbox attached to and/or hidden on your home, or via a concierge desk or coded door. Amazon has popular Master Lock lockboxes in a variety of styles. The next best option is to provide Precious Fur with two sets of entry keys (door and other, if necessary) to retain on file. This is most easily accomplished at your New Client Initial Consult. If you are unable to provide 2 sets, our staff can have a duplicate set made for you for a $25 fee. Schedule a $15 key pick-up service and a $15 key drop-off service with every sit. We will coordinate times with you to pick-up and/or drop-off your keys.
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What happens to my keys when you keep them on file?When we receive your keys, they are tagged with a random system code, unrelated to your name or address. They are then stored in our secure key file at our area office. This is our preferred method of key management because it means that we are able to visit just as soon as you schedule. There are no additional fees or meeting times to coordinate. We know that clients can sometimes require a visit unexpectedly and even when planned, trip prep can become hectic. Leaving keys on file makes things much simpler all around.
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Why do I need to provide 2 sets of keys?Short answer: We care about safety. Your assigned sitter will have a set of keys on their person, but in the event of an emergency, we want to be sure we are able complete our visit. We don't hold the sets of keys together; one will be with the sitter and the other is locked in our secure key file at the area office. If you are unable to provide 2 sets, our staff can have a duplicate set made for you for a $25 fee.
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Do you charge extra for more cats?We do not. Our sit rates are the same whether you have 1 or 4 or more! However, the time your sitter will spend taking care of basic needs may increase if you have more cats, leaving less time for additional pets, loves, and playtime. If you have more cats, you may want to consider scheduling a longer visit or more than one in a day.
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When are payments due?We request that invoices be paid no later than the first day of the sit, if possible. If you have a unique circumstance and need to pay at a different time, please reach out in advance of your departure.
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How do you accept payment?We accept credit cards and ACH bank transfers for payment through your account.
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How can I tip my sitter?In your profile, there is an opportunity to automatically add a specific dollar amount or percentage to each service you book as a tip to your sitter under "Client" --> "My Info". Once set, the tip will be automatically added to the invoice for all services you request and will be paid at the time you pay your invoice. You will also be able to add a tip at the time of payment separately if not automatically figured for you. If you'd rather, you can leave cash in your home clearly designated as a tip for your sitter. Or, if you'd like to wait to tip until you get home, you can make a tip-only payment online. Simply log into your account, select "make a payment" under the billing menu, go into the invoice on which you'd like to tip and click "Pay Tip". 100% of tips go to the sitters!
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What is your cancellation policy?Service cancellations made more than 24 hours before the sit window begins will not incur a charge. If the invoice for these has already been paid, the funds will remain on your account as a credit for future use. Refunds are available upon request. Service cancellations made less than 24 hours before the sit window begins will be charged, as sitters have already planned their days around the sit. Thank you for understanding!
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Do you charge extra on holidays?There is an additional $10 surcharge for every service scheduled on a holiday in order to pay our sitters an appropriate holiday wage. These holidays include: MLK Jr. Day Weekend (Sat-M), President's Day Weekend (Sat-M), Memorial Day Weekend (Sat-M), Independence Day & Shadow Day, Labor Day Weekend (Sat-M), Thanksgiving Holiday (11/22-26/2023), Christmas Holiday (12/23-27/2023), and New Year's Eve and Day.
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