The ease of using the app was a big plus for a first timer. The sitters they showed in my area were all great, very good bios. My sitter was wonderful. My cat is 19 yrs old and needs meds twice a day and she took care of everything. My daily communication with her was great, pictures & comments. Because of Meowtel and my pet sitter, I had a great, stress-free vacation.
Response from MeowtelSep 18, 2024
Meow there Sandy! Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear that you had a great experience with our app and your sitter. It’s fantastic that your sitter was able to provide the care your 19-year-old cat needed, along with regular updates. We’re glad we could help you enjoy a stress-free vacation! We look forward to caring for your kitty soon!
SM
Stefanie M.
The company is so much better than…
The company is so much better than Rover! I love the purr-sonalized content towards cat lovers! The app is very easy to use and very dedicated to kitties first!
Response from MeowtelSep 18, 2024
Hi there, Stefanie! Thank mew so much for the review! We are purrleased to be of service and look forward to caring for your kitties soon!
ER
Erik R.
Not so trustworthy - don't always show up and price gouge on every possible federal holiday
They price gouge on holidays, and they apply it to every definition of federal holidays, regardless of the actual holiday observance preferences of the sitters themselves, which is the logical use for holiday upcharges. For example, a sitter tried to upcharge me 100% for the entire week of October 11-17, for “Indigenous Peoples/Columbus Day”. 7 days of doubled price. When I actually used it for a holiday, I also didn't get a picture as requested the morning of the holiday, like I did every other visit, so I doubt they even showed up.
Ultimately if you don't care about price at all it's probably fine, just use cameras to make sure they do what they say (which I do now). If price is an issue beware, as they leverage holidays and variable upcharge rates between different clients to gouge their customers.
Response from MeowtelSep 11, 2024
Hi Erik,
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We appreciate the opportunity to clarify how holiday pricing works on our platform.
Sitters with Meowtel are independent contractors who set their own rates for services, including the option to apply a holiday surcharge as well as the percentage for that surcharge should they choose to implement one. This allows them to manage their schedules and availability, especially during high-demand times such as federal holidays. The surcharge can vary between sitters, and this information is always available in the pricing section of their profiles for transparency.
For reference, we define holiday pricing windows as 3 days before and 3 days after a federal holiday to accommodate the increased demand many sitters experience during these periods. Customers have the flexibility to choose sitters based on their pricing preferences, and we encourage you to review the sitters’ profiles in your area to find the best fit for your needs.
As for your concern about not receiving a photo on the morning of your holiday visit, we sincerely apologize for any inconvenience or concern this may have caused, as an update should be sent for every visit. Rest assured, we’re always here to help whenever any concerns arise, and we will investigate when complaints are brought to us.
If you feel a sitter may not have fulfilled your expectations, please reach out to us as soon as possible, and we will ask for documentation from both parties to ensure a fair resolution. You may learn more about our complaint escalation process here - https://meowtel.com/help-faq/customer/booking-modifications?question=134#134
We value your business, Erik, and appreciate the opportunity to assist you with any future bookings or concerns. Please don't hesitate to reach out if we may be of any further assistance.
RF
robin F.
When I booked a sitter
When I booked a sitter, the price quoted was 60% higher than the price on the sitter's profile. I have cancelled my request and would not use a business that does this. The 60% increase was the sitter's fee, not any other fees.
Response from MeowtelAug 30, 2024
Hi Robin, Thank you for your feedback, and we're truly sorry for any confusion. We understand how the difference in the expected versus actual rates could be concerning, and it’s important to us that our clients feel confident and clear about the services they are receiving.
To clarify, the rate you initially saw, $20, is for a 20-minute visit, which is the sitter's base price for the shortest visit option available. The session you selected was for 45 minutes, resulting in a different rate of $32. This adjustment reflects the longer visit duration you chose and the additional care your kitties would receive during the reservation.
We are committed to transparency and want to ensure that all pricing information is presented clearly and accurately. Please know that we are here to provide any further explanations or assist in any way we can. Your trust is incredibly important to us, and we hope to have the opportunity to serve you and your kitties in the future with the clarity and quality you expect and deserve.
Thank you again for bringing this to our attention, and we wish you all the best!
JD
Jessica D.
An exceptional service!
I've been using Meowtel for cat-sitting services for several years and have had nothing but great experiences with their sitters. They are specifically cat-friendly (from the sociable and playful to the "invisible" to all but their own human). Sitters always let you know when they've visited (as they're arriving, during, and/or after), let you know about feeding, water, and litter box status, any interactions - often with photo documentation - and sometimes even provide extra services like soothing cat music during their visits to shy (selective!) kitties. They really care and the ease of communication makes it a lot easier for the "helicopter" cat parent to be away for a any amount of time.
Response from MeowtelAug 20, 2024
Meow there Jessica! Thank you for your kind words and long-standing support of Meowtel! We're delighted to hear that our cat sitters have consistently exceeded your expectations and provided exceptional care for your kitties. We are purrleased to be of service and look forward to caring for your kitties soon!
PP
Phylis P.
Erica from Meowtel
Erica from Meowtel was fine getting along with my cats but she was completely negligent in their care! After going over detailed written instructions at the meet and greet one week prior, and leaving them to refer to, this is what she did… day one, assumed leftover sitting wet food meant they were fed, she admitted to fluffing it up and not giving them a fresh can. She also assumed that their water was replaced. It was not ,and she thought it was perfectly okay to leave it. I gave her my phone number and instructed her to text me with any questions, she didn’t. She offered to come and feed my cats whenever they were used to eating which was 8-8:30 am then again 5-6pm. She agreed to this.After her second day morning visit ,she informed me through text that she had an event at 5 and couldn’t be there that evening until around 7-8. I wasn’t happy about it but I was already gone and what choice did I have. (p.s. at our meet and greet just a week before there was no mention she had these plans.) If I had known I would have chosen a different sitter. That evening, when I didn’t get a notification that she arrived, I texted her to ask when she was going to be there! (it was already after 8)no response… 45 minutes later she texted me “not to be upset” . Too late…My cats had already gone 13 hours without food) She said she was at a party and it just ended. She was another 30 min away. She didn’t show up until 9:15! I called support at Meowtel(who were very supportive), and they arranged for a different sitter to take over. Once Erica was told that I no longer wanted her to care for my cats, she dropped everything, left dirty bowls in my sink and left . She didn’t stay more than 15 minutes. I was in Mexico celebrating my 35th wedding anniversary and I had to deal with this for 3 hours. It ruined our evening! I will never use her again. Nothing worse than not be able to leave your babies with peace of mind. Instead of apologizing she texted me that she hopes my cats and my home will be ok! WHATT? My home?Is this a threat? Beware of this irresponsible sitter! I chose her based on her previous reviews, which were stellar . This was the first time I was using her and this is what happened to us!
Response from MeowtelJun 6, 2024
Hi Phylis,
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us. We sincerely apologize for the challenges you encountered with your sitter, Erica, especially during such a significant occasion. It's crucial for us that you feel heard and fully supported, and we're delighted to hear that our support team was able to provide that reassurance.
We're also grateful that we could quickly find a solution by arranging another sitter for you as part of our commitment to upholding the Meowtel Promise. While we always strive for purrfection, we understand that situations may arise, and we are always prepared to address them promptly and effectively.
We also understand that this platform is generally used for feedback about our service as a whole, rather than individual sitters. If you feel it appropriate, we have a dedicated space for you to share your experience directly on Erica’s profile on the Meowtel website. This not only helps other cat parents make informed decisions but also ensures the feedback directly reflects the sitter’s performance you received.
Thank you once again for your feedback and for allowing us the opportunity to make things right. Should you wish to discuss this matter further, or need any more assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We truly value your business and are committed to providing you and your kitties with the highest loving care.
TA
Taj
Setting up my side gig as a kitty sitter…
Setting up my side gig as a kitty sitter with Meowtel was a breeze! They helped me understand every step of the way during the hiring process and set me up for the best chances possible to succeed!
Response from MeowtelMay 8, 2024
Hi Taj! Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience with Meowtel! We're thrilled to read it's been amazing. Thank you for helping us deliver the purrrfect hospitality every single day! We look forward to having you with us for a long time!
KD
Kristen D.
The best thing that’s happened to cat care
Finally a pet care company catering to just cat!! The hiring process makes sure each sitter is a true cat lover and caretaker. The costumer service is AMAZING and the sitters are great with communicating detailed updates and send pictures.
Response from MeowtelMay 8, 2024
Meow there, Kristen! Thank you for taking the time to share your purrific experience with us. We are purrleased to be of service and look forward to caring for your kitties soon!
