In-Home Cat Care for Seniors in Ogden: Gerry's Story
Gerry is in her 80s and loves her cats. Here's how one weekly visit from our Ogden cat care team helps her live at home and keep caring for them herself.
By Robert Strickland· Founder, Away Home & Pet Care
Cat CareFrom The Scratch Post
From
The Scratch Post
Re
Cat Care
Date
November 5, 2026
Length
4 min read
The gist, in three sentences.
Senior pet owners often want to keep caring for their own cats, and a short weekly visit can take over the physical parts of cat care so they can.
For Gerry, an Ogden client in her 80s, our care team deep cleans the litter area, portions food into small easy-open containers, gives medications, and brushes the cats once a week.
Away Home & Pet Care builds each visit around the person and the pet, which has kept Gerry and her cats together at home for more than six years.
The first call came fast. Gerry had surgery coming, a stay in rehab after it, and cats at home who would need someone right away. No time for a long search. She needed a team that could start now and treat her cats like they mattered.
We couldn't wait to step up. That was more than six years ago, and Gerry has been part of our Ogden cat care family ever since. Her story is one of our favorites, because it shows what in-home cat care for seniors can look like when the visit is built around the person.
How It Started: A Surgery and a Call for Help
Recovery is hard enough without worrying about who is feeding the cats. While Gerry was in rehab, our care team handled all of the cat care at home, along with plenty of company, so her cats were never on their own for long.
Gerry is in her 80s now. Over the years she has needed a few more surgeries and rehab stays, and each time she calls, we pick up right where we left off. Her cats know the routine, and so do we.
Squeaker Warms Up
Over the years Gerry has shared her home with several cats, including Smudge and Squeaker. Squeaker needed a little more time than the rest.
Squeaker was shy at first and kept a polite distance. That didn't last long. A few calm visits and a little patience later, Squeaker was leaning into chin scratches like an old friend.
Squeaker, once shy, now first in line for chin scratches
A Weekly Visit Built Around Gerry
Here's the part most people don't realize. We customize our services to the person, and Gerry's plan is one we are especially proud of.
Her cats are her daily companions, and she wants to keep caring for them herself. A few parts of cat care have gotten harder with age, though. Big bags of cat food are tough to open. Scooping a litter box means bending and lifting. Brushing and medications take steady hands.
So once a week, our care team stops by and takes care of the heavy lifting:
A deep clean of the whole litter box area
Food portioned into small containers Gerry can open easily on her own
Medications given on schedule
A good brushing for each cat
Between visits, Gerry feeds her cats and enjoys them on her own terms. We handle the parts that would wear her out.
Key takeaway A short weekly visit can let a senior keep caring for their own cats by taking over the physical tasks that get harder with age.
Smudge gets a weekly brushing
Bringing Squeaker Upstairs
Over the years, Squeaker developed hip pain and started preferring to stay downstairs. Gerry can't manage the stairs. That meant the two of them were living on different floors of the same house.
So we added one more thing to the visit. We bring Squeaker upstairs so the two of them can spend time together. It takes a couple of minutes, and it might be the most important thing we do all week.
People Also Ask
Can a pet sitter help an elderly owner care for their cat?+
Yes. A pet sitter can take over the physical tasks, like litter box cleaning, portioning food, brushing, and giving medications, while the owner keeps the daily companionship and routine they love.
Do you only offer cat sitting when the owner is away?+
Not at all. Visits can work around an owner who is home, such as a weekly visit for litter, food prep, brushing, and medications. When an owner goes into the hospital or a rehab stay, we can step in with fuller cat sitting until they are back home.
Can you give my cat medications?+
Yes. Our care team gives oral medications, topical treatments, and subcutaneous fluids, and follows vet-prescribed care instructions. Every dose is documented in the visit report.
My cat is shy. Will that be a problem?+
No. We let your cat set the pace, with no forced interaction. If a cat hides, we make sure they are safe, eating, and using the litter box, and we note it in the visit report. Most shy cats warm up faster than their owners expect.
How will I know how each visit went?+
You get a photo update and a detailed visit report through the Time to Pet app after every visit, so you know how your cat ate, how they acted, and anything worth noting.
Is there a meet and greet before you start?+
Yes, always. We never send anyone to your home without an introduction first. The meet and greet is free and gives your cat a chance to meet us on their own turf.
How Away Home & Pet Care Helps Ogden Seniors and Their Cats
Helping seniors live independently, with a little extra help for their cats, is something we are proud to do. For 18 years, Away Home & Pet Care has provided in-home cat care across Ogden, North Ogden, South Ogden, and the surrounding area. Our team members are background-checked, insured, and bonded W-2 employees, and you get a report after every visit through Time to Pet.
If someone you love could use a hand with their cats, take a look at our pricing and let's build a plan around them.
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About Away Home & Pet Care
Professional in-home pet care in Ogden, UT
SINCE2007
Licensed, bonded, and insured, with a small team of W-2 employees Robert trained personally. A consistent care team, photo updates after every visit, and service across Ogden, North Ogden, South Ogden, and Riverdale.
