My first income stream: Meowtel
I have a confession, I’m a cat lady - though you could probably tell this from my About Me page. I’ve always had a passion for animals, so much that I convinced my dad to volunteer with me at our local shelter when I was 13. I moved to New York in 2015 and began fostering immediately. Over 80 cats and kittens stayed with me and I’ve learned a lot - how to give medication to the trickiest kitties, how to socialize spicy kittens, and that Churus are addictive treats. I learned a lot more about caring for cats and wondered if I could monetize this passion.
I don’t remember how I stumbled across Meowtel, but I’m so happy I did. I’ve been cat sitting with the app Meowtel since July 2022. Like Rover or Wag, but with a focus on cats instead of dogs.
Meowtel’s mission is to “Meowtel is on a mission to help every cat and cat parent live their best life.”According to their website, the currently have 2,400+ cat sitters, 10,000+ reservations and a 99.7% 5 star ratings on Trustpilot. Meowtel currently operates in almost every state in the US.
What do I love about Meowtel?
I can set my own availability & pricing
The app is also transparent on the average pricing in your area to use as a guideline
Meowtel shares tips for success including purrfect updates to send to clients
Meowtel incentivizes repeat clients by decreasing their share of your earnings (examples below - I haven’t gotten past tier 2 yet!)
Tier 1 - $0-299.99 Earned with Client
You charge $32 for a 20 minute visit
Client books you for 5 visits
Your total earning is $32 * 5 = $160 - (30%*160) = $112 or $22.40 per visit
Tier 2 - $300-999.99 Earned with Client
You charge $32 for a 20 minute visit
Client books you for 5 visits
Your total earning is $32 * 5 = $160 - (25%*160) = $120 or $24 per visit
5 Tips for Success as a Sitter on Meowtel
You must love cats!
Your passion must shine for all things feline. The best cat sitters care about the pets almost as much as their actual humans
Tell your friends, family & share your profile
Spread the word and market yourself
Find a fellow Meowtel cat sitter who you can refer if you are away and vice-versa
I love having a fellow Meowtel sitter who I trust & can refer my clients to if I’m not available
Impeccable client communication
Think like the client! Respond quickly & send detailed reports on your visit Be sure to include great photos and videos.
I hope this goes without saying, but play by the rules…
Meowtel clearly states their rules of conduct. Don’t break them because you’ll likely get terminated or at least a warning.
My Goal for 2023
Cat sitting is a great stream of income, though it won’t make you rich overnight and is dependent on how often cat owners travel. I find the summer and winter holidays to be busiest in NYC.
I am a big believer of writing down goals for accountability, especially in purr-sonal finance. Sharing on this website adds a whole other layer to the accountability. My goal is to earn $5,000 pre-tax income from Meowtel this year as one of my multiple income streams.
Do you want to become a Meowtel sitter? You can start the application process here. In the sitter activation call mention my name, Lauren Rosalanko.
If you become a sitter and want to refer your friends, you will earn a $50 bonus after a referred friend successfully completes their first Meowtel reservation as a sitter
P.S. This is not sponsored by Meowtel and all opinions are my own. I have had a great experience with Meowtel as a company and like the standards and values they hold.
Follow me @pointsforchange on Instagram & TikTok for more posts and content coming soon.
Disclaimer: I am not a financial advisor. My suggestions are simply suggestions and not financial advice. You should always consider your personal financial situation and what works best for you prior to making financial decisions because personal finance is… well… personal.