On All Fours Cat Sitting

We have used On All Fours Cat Sitting many times over the past two years for our two cats. Our youngest cat is very comfortable with our routine and can become depressed when we are away and, as a result, has required veterinary care for feline idiopathic cystitis. Our geriatric cat has a daily medication regimen for a chronic condition.
We were very pleased with Leslie, Deborah, and Dawn’s compassion and attentiveness to our routine and understanding of our girls’ pre-​existing conditions. It was a pleasure to meet with them beforehand and know who was going to be coming in and out of our home. And, while we are away, we always appreciate receiving messages and photos of our girls to know that they are, in fact, well taken care of and in good health.
Our pets are our family so I have been very satisfied with the care they have received in our absence. Given that both of our cats have medical conditions, it is important to know that someone with more than a general understanding of feline behavior and conditions be available to alert us to any problems. On All Fours Cat Sitting was also recommended to us by our veterinarian, who is a member of the American Association of Feline Practitioners. So, in closing, if your looking for attentive, go with On All Fours Cat Sitting and you will not be disappointed in the care they provide.

I wish I could give a 0. Run. Run for the hills. This woman wants complete and utter control over your life and your animals. Do I have your attention? Let me explain.
On Wednesday evening, Leslie, the owner, came to my apartment with two girls who would be doing the cat sitting. She started by asking who would take ownership of the cats if something should happen to us aka if we should die. I was prepared for this question based on previous Unilocal reviews so I just mentally changed that to «in case of emergency.» She then started asking questions about their care — and full on judging the kind of food and litter we provide for our kittens. She then ended by saying she REQUIRES that we notify her when we return. No I’m sorry you are not my mother nor are you the owners of my cats. She was shocked that I found that to be intrusive. I completely challenged her that that would not be necessary. She told me well don’t you want me to care for them? I said yes I do but I am hiring you for one service and that is to provide a cat sitter on Saturday. Please note the two girls had visible second-​hand embarrassment. It was clear to me in reading the room they were used to this woman being absurd. I feel so bad for them. She told me I would get an email tomorrow and then she stormed out of my apartment.
I got an email this morning that she is refusing to work with me. Here is a direct quote from her email: «You did mention that if you are delayed, you would let us know. However, if something else were to happen (plane crash or for whatever reason you were not able to communicate a change in return), we would not know and the cats would go uncared for.» She then ended saying she can’t work with us because «she is extremely upset over this».
Let us take a moment to reflect on this shall we? First of all, she has a complete disregard for me dying in a plane crash. Isn’t that absurd? Second, she is the definition of hypocrisy. If she genuinely cared about the state of my cats she would not have left us high and dry. She is «so concerned» — bullshit. She just wants control.
I have no doubt she will respond to this saying «Well I have been in business since 1998» — Honestly — who cares. Because if you keep this up you won’t be growing your business.
Overall — INTRUSIVE, NOT RELIANT, AND RUDE!!!
I HUGE SHOUT OUT TO PAWS ON PINE FOR TAKING CARE OF MY KITTENS!!!

I did not used their service, because i was discouraged by the unpleasant experience i had with them (i think i got Leslie) on the phone. I just needed a simple service, someone stopping by every other day to check water and food, i’m not hiring a baby sitter nor an employee…
It turned out dealing with them is over-​complicated, you have to answer a questionnaire because they need «to draw a profile and assign the right person to sit your pet», they want you to designate persons to adopt your pet in case you die, and wont go any further if you dont provide them with names and phone numbers (among numerous other questions)… well after 20 min being investigated on the phone i just hung up, and went to the pet store next door, they accepted to come over every time i needed for $ 10 a visit and everything went super well, my 2 cats stayed home a couple weeks with food, water and litter renewed every other day, super simple, just as i wanted.

I cannot say enough good things about Leslie, Tina, Melinda and the rest of the great staff at On All Fours. I moved to NYC from Boston 4 years ago and spent allot of time away from home, and always had the peace of mind that my two cats were getting the best of care. Plus — we’re not talking about a few visits… but well over one hundred during this time frame. Attentive, caring and detailed service is what you can expect. I only wish their service extended into Brooklyn, where I’m moving this week. ;(Thank you so much!

My wife and I had been using On All Fours for a couple of years before we recently had our relationship with them end. The owner, Leslie, turned out to be a control freak who can’t bear being questioned in any way. While the ladies (Deborah and Dawn) who would typically look in on our cats were fantastic and loving to our pets, Leslie’s complete lack of knowledge about customer service has turned us off immensely.
On a recent trip out of town, we emailed Leslie instructing her that we only wanted dry food left out for our kitten, Hershey. Leslie immediately emailed us back and said: «Good Morning. Please let us know why you are not giving him any wet food?» Having noticed that she would often ask questions that are none of her business when we’d use her service, I had finally had enough of being questioned. So I asked why she needed to know that since we had our kitten on an eating plan while we were away that we saw fit. She replied with a long lecture about the perils of dry food and the nutrition content of dry versus wet and why dry food for young cats is bad and yada yada yada. Nevermind the fact that we do, in fact, give Hershey wet food when we’re home. It was a temporary choice to give him dry food only while we were away for a few days. But that’s besides the point. We had a requirement, explained it, and didn’t expect to be questioned/​lectured.
After her lecturing email, I wrote back and said: «We appreciate your service, but with all due respect, we do not need to be educated about the care of our pet. We would love if we can simply explain what we’d like done, have it done and pay you for it.»
Unaccepting of the fact that she was called on her inappropriate nosiness, Leslie replied with this message: «Sounds good. After this trip, since we are not a good fit, we should part ways. You sound extremely angry and I don’t want any part of that. Please leave $ 100 in cash for this trip — no checks please. Thank you. And yes, no hard feelings. However we are not cat sitting robots.»
We couldn’t believe it. This woman was actually cutting us off as customers because she was told that we didn’t want/​need to be questioned/​lectured. After the fact, we looked here on Unilocal and saw that we were far from the first people to experience issues like this with Leslie.
Leslie, since I know you are reading this, I’d like to clue you into something. You are not a vet. You provide cat-​sitting services. It doesn’t mean you have to be a robot to carry out your customers’ instructions. If you were sitting human children and were given instructions about their care by the parents, you wouldn’t question their instructions. Because it’s an animal, it doesn’t make it any different. If you want to provide care advice to pet owners, you need to get a vet degree and change careers. Or only provide your advice when asked for it by customers. But your unsolicited questions and lecturing are inappropriate when someone tells you they don’t want to hear it. And then to cut someone off from service because they pointed this out? Ridiculous. We have told four people about this incident since it happened and every one of those four people reacted with disbelief when we explained your actions. You’re not doing yourself and your business any favors, I assure you.
Folks, look elsewhere for pet-​sitting services. There are fantastic other services available, at least in Queens where we live (Forest Hills). Unless you WANT to deal with someone who has no idea what the definition of «customer service» is.
By the way, if anyone wants further info about this experience, feel free to contact me directly. I will be happy to privately forward you all of Leslie’s emails to us.

On All Fours has provided excellent service to me and my two kitties for nearly four years now and I always feel secure knowing that they are in good hands while I am traveling. I would absolutely recommend them to anyone who is looking for total peace of mind while they are away from their pets!

I don’t know HOW others can give 4 and 5 stars to this person, though I’m glad to see someone else dealt with Leslie, the Queen of Customer Service! I second what Michelle N. said: go elsewhere, for the sake of your beloved pet!

Stay away — rude and unprofessional and full of push-​back. Who wants negative tones from someone taking care of one’s furry ones? Leslie — consider customer service or try a new profession… Have had amazing experiences with other cat sitters in NYC who are caring, warm, enthusiastic etc. In brief: keep looking, don’t go here.

10 + STARS. ALWAYS AMAZING SERVICE.
Over the past three or four years I have used Leslie’s service about 10 times. These sitters are caring and professional and really truly care about your pet. Was away for 5 days last week during those awful snowstorms. Samantha did not let snow, sleets or ice stop her from caring for my MAXIE. I received emails from her daily, keeping me informed about my little man. I even received a picture of my MAXIE about to have his dinner.
Leslie did a great job choosing and training her staff. I don’t know what I would do without this service. I can go away and relax and have a great time knowing my cat is in the best of hands.

I thought I was just going to use Leslie and her cat sitting service once when I was going on vacation, but I had such a good experience that I’ve used On All Fours several times in the past two years.
It is so convenient to contact Leslie and arrange for a cat sitter to come — I’ve been able to have the same great cat sitter (Beth) come the past few times. One of my cats is pretty cranky and usually makes a mess around strangers, but I’ve always come home to a clean apartment due to Beth’s professionalism and know-​how in dealing with cats and «accidents.»
The rates are completely reasonable — so much so that I prefer to write a check to On All Fours rather than inconvenience any of my friends/​family to come watch my cats for a few days.
Absolutely recommend.

The second time I used their service, they did not send me any photos like they did the first time, and it was a bit difficult to get a hold of the sitter, when there was a snow storm in the area. I got a bit worried about them not being able to get to my house.
When I returned from my trip, they had left the bag of treats in the open, and the cats had dragged it and made attempts to chew through the bag. Otherwise, the cats and the apartment was left in a good condition.

When I moved to NYC almost 2 years ago, I had only 3 days to find a kitty sitter before my husband and I left for our honeymoon. Leslie and Sami (Samantha) came by for a thorough consultation with no more than 1 day’s notice. Little did I know, that visit was the start of a great relationship. Since then, Sami has been watching our 2 girls Maddie & Teddie about twice a month, every month. She is so sweet with them and I have absolutely no worries when I am gone. Both Leslie and Sami very clearly love what they do and if I can’t be home myself, there is really no one else I’d rather leave my girls with.
After each visit, Sami sends me a text with an update of how the girls are, what they did, and how much she’s enjoyed spending time with them. When I get home, there is always a handwritten note with an update of the entire ‘vacation’, clearly written with love. The other thing I love about this service is that Leslie encourages people to let her know when they are home, so just in case (God forbid) something happened, she’ll know if you didn’t make it home and if further arrangements/​visits need to be made for your cats. If you forget, she’ll follow up just to be safe, which I really appreciate because it is just another way that they show how much they care about their clients.
We are moving out of NYC this month and Sami’s last visit with our girls is coming up soon. I am actually really sad to leave for the sake of my cats because they love Sami and will definitely miss her. I really don’t know what I’ll do without On All Fours in our new city, and I wish I could take them with me! I don’t think I’ll ever find a service as easy, genuine, and reasonably priced as On All Fours and I highly recommend (5+ stars) to anyone looking for a kitty sitter. Thanks Leslie & Sami, we’ll miss you! xoxo

Leslie and her team do a really great job. I find leaving my cat alone rather an anxious experience, so having someone as trustworthy and thorough as Leslie to cat sit is a god send!

My husband and I don’t know what we would do without On All Fours! We have been clients of theirs for more than a year now, and we continue to be impressed by their professionalism, thoroughness and kindness. We always joke that our little tabby, Newman, is in better hands with them than us! :)
Leslie is wonderful to work with and we’ve also had the pleasure of meeting Aly and Isabelle. They even helped watch Newman while we were away for nearly three whole weeks last year. The constant email updates were very comforting — especially when we knew that Newman was his typical cuddly self.
Thank you, On All Fours!

I have been client of On All Fours for several years. It is so comforting to know they are caring for my cats while I’m out of town. Not just the usual feeding and changing the litter but actually spending time playing, giving medicine if needed, and communicating with me giving updates. They just don’t run in and run out.
Just recently one of my cats was not acting right and needed to go to the Vet while in their care. They remained calm, while I was a nervous wreck, got him into the carrier (which is no easy feat) and took him to the Vet. I can’t imagine anyone being more conscientious, professional and caring! P. S. …my kitty is fine.
When I return from a trip the apartment is clean, my cats are happy, and there is always a handwritten note. It gives me peace of mind to know that Leslie, Samantha and Theresa are caring for my kitties. This is not just a business to them, they are really cat lovers who are truly concerned and attentive. I would recommend them without any hesitation!

I recently hired On All Fours when I was out of town for four days. I was initially nervous as I never used a cat sitter before. But after calling some references (I only called 2 but the list was extremely long) and meeting Leslie and her team, I felt extremely comfortable with hiring them.
Leslie was prompt in responding to my initial email (which I sent around a very busy time for her during the holidays). We scheduled the initial interview for the first week in January. Leslie came with Theresa and Isabelle who were going to take care of Olive. The interview was great, lots of great questions and you could tell that all these ladies really LOVE cats.
My experience was great, I received daily check-​in texts which I really loved and a report card when I got home. I also got some helpful hints on food. After their visits, my cat, who had very little in interest playing, now loves to play and even sometimes asks to play
I’ve seen used the service one more time, short notice for an evening feeding when I was going to be home late. Leslie was able to accommodate the request and Theresa came again. So great to have continuity with the caregiver.
I can’t say enough great things about this service. I will definitely use them again, even if I’m not away. Do not hesitate hiring them

After doing a lot of research and reading all the positive reviews, contacted On All Fours via Contact Form & tried calling both of their phone numbers. Never got a response.
I don’t know if they were in their busy season or sth, but what’s the use of having a Contact Form and 2 phone numbers if you can’t get a hold of them…& I tried contacting them at least two weeks before my trip. It’s really unfortunate because I really liked their website and was looking forward to establishing a good relationship with them :(

We were a client of On All Fours for close to four years — only stopped because we moved out of state. Leslie, Tina, Sami, and Isabelle are a great team and the first cat sitters we’ve had where our cats were actually happy when we returned!
The On All Fours team has graciously cared for our two cats — one a very old and cranky diabetic that receives insulin injections twice a day, along with a battery of pills. We travel quite a bit, and On All Fours has always been there to step in when we are out. The team has handled many multiple medication routine changes with ease — and sorted through my often long and rambling emails about how to get the pills into the cat! When the cat was very sick during one trip, Tina and Sami made sure to give me a call at every visit to give me an update and their opinion on how he was doing. They knew our cats’ personalities and could easily tell when something was off. Even during normal times, the team was extremely responsive to texts and emails for updates while we were traveling.
Over the four years we worked with On All Fours, the team cared for our pets as if they were their own. We’re beginning the search for a new cat sitter in our new city, and know it will be a while before we find a team as dedicated and caring as this one. If you are looking for a great team to care for your pets when you can’t, look no further than On All Fours Cat Sitting.

I cannot give Leslie & her team (especially Samantha) enough stars. During the last year while I traveled occasionally but leaving behind one of my cats who has a heart disease, Leslie and Sam made me felt as relaxed as possible during my trip.
They first began with a consultation and they asked me really great questions that I have not even thought about. I was impressed by their thoroughness and the fact that they have no problem administering medicine.
During my trip, they send me photos and videos of my cats — which is a very awesome thing to see when I am away from home. When I get home, their hair are silky smooth and looks like they just came back from days of spa. They usually get pretty angry and pee on sofas while I travel, but not after I leave my cats to Leslie & team.
I have since moved from NY after using them several times and I really wish they are here!

At first I was impressed with Leslie’s seeming professionalism. She came to my house and asked a thorough series of questions about my cat’s habits. I told her that my cat was not very friendly and would bite on occasion, but that she was also declawed and had never hurt anyone. I figured that a professional cat sitter would be prepared for such eventualities as cats who bite. But this was not the case.
I hired Leslie for two visits while I was away, and after the first I got a text from her that she did not want to come back for the second. She explained that this was a «crucial time» for her business and the she could not afford to be bitten. All in all, my trip became more stressful as a result of using On All Fours. I’m sure Leslie would be very effective in sitting cats who are friendly and easy – but I would avoid the service if you have a difficult cat.
Update: Everything Leslie says in her comment below is true – I certainly don’t wish to be unfair. My cat is definitely difficult. I don’t expect anyone in the world to deal with my difficult cat except two groups of people: vets and cat sitters. Since the time of this review, I have actually used another cat sitter – warning her in advance that my cat may bite. She replied: «She’s not a panther. She’s a housecat. I have gloves. Problem solved.» And, indeed, there was no problem. Again, I think Leslie would make an excellent cat sitter for a mild cat.