Woodcote cat rescue owner steps into the world of pet sitting

The owner of a cat rescue has taken a step into the world of pet sitting.

Emily Jennings, of Little Paws Woodcote, has had a love for cats since childhood.

She said: “I’ve always grown up with cats. We had Chloe and Monty — and Monty was very much my cat.”

He would sleep under the covers in her bed with his head on the pillow when she was about the age of seven.

Ms Jennings said: “Monty was the start of it all. Always through school, if I had to do public speaking things, it would always be about cats.

“I was always that crazy cat person because I knew what my passion was and that was cats.

“I didn’t quite realise how big the passion was until I was given the opportunity to open up the rescue from someone who donated the enclosures and then it’s all just gone from there.

Since opening in October 2024, Little Paws has rescued more than 170 cats.

One rescue Ms Jennings was most struck with was the “incredibly special” cat Tabitha and it “absolutely broke” her heart when she had to be put to sleep due to health issues, following a prolapse.

Ms Jennings also spoke of the need for stricter measures to be brought in to deal with the “crisis” of rescues becoming “overwhelmed” due to cats not having been spayed and becoming pregnant.

In following her passion for animal welfare, alongside the rescue, she has now opened a pet services business, Whiskers of Woodcote, which offers a range of services, including pet sitting.

Ms Jennings said: “If they just want someone to pop in while they’re out at work, if they are going away or they’ve got an event or they need to pop away for the weekend, then I pop in and spend time and socialise, clean, feed, etcetera.

She has been running her animal rescue business for around 15 months and said she understand the different personalities of cats. “I’ve kind of got an understanding of all different temperaments and personalities of cats,” Ms Jennings said.

“I can help with socialising and if their owners have any worries about new people or they want to help them build up their confidence or need some help and knowledge in how they can help their cat be more relaxed, I can offer all of that as well.

“I have already pet sat for a few timid cats and they’ve ended up coming around to me.”

Ms Jennings is also insured for pet-taxiing and can transport animals around, including to vet appointments and groomer’s appointments.

She also does dog walking and has strollers and buggies for puppies and older dogs.

Ms Jennings said: “If they need to go out, they just don’t have the energy or the capacity to be able to actually walk, they can still enjoy some outside time.

“It’s pretty much anything that someone would need for their pet. It has taken off really, really well and I’ve had a lot of support.

“Through February, I had a booking every single day and that was my first month.”

To date, the Little Paws — Woodcote Facebook page has amassed more than 3,000 followers and this has supported in spreading the word about her latest venture,” Ms Jennings explained. She said: “I’m constantly getting messages off people supporting and just saying how much they love what I do, what can they do to help, whether it’s financially, whether it’s fostering or donations.

“I ask clients, how did you hear about me? They’ll say it’s either from following Little Paws or from people who do and have recommended me.”

Ms Jennings said the number of people who have become involved in supporting her work over the years is one of the positives of what she does.

“It’s probably the number of people who have got involved and it just shows what a community we do have around us, and the people looking out for the cats.

“The people who want to help, they might not be able to take them in or have space, but they are also financially helping, or they will have an Amazon Wishlist.

“If ever I put something up saying, I’m running low on this, the next day or the next three days, I come home and I’ve got, I don’t know, 10 to 15 boxes outside my front door each day of donations. People are absolutely incredible.”