Cat Sitting Services in Chicago
In-home cat sitting and overnight care, so your cat stays relaxed in their own territory
Book a free Meet & GreetChicago's trusted in-home cat sitters
Cats are creatures of habit, and they are happiest in their own space. With Sparky Steps cat sitting, your cat stays right where they feel safe: their home, their routine, their favorite sunny windowsill. Since 2016, our licensed, insured, background-checked team has cared for Chicago's cats with a calmer alternative to boarding, from quick daily drop-ins to overnight stays and medication support. We also offer dog walking and dog sitting across the city.
Why in-home cat sitting
Cats are territorial by nature, and a boarding facility means new smells, new noises, and a lot of stress. In-home cat sitting removes all of that. We come to your home, where your cat's routine, scents, and comfort stay exactly the same, and we follow a documented care process so every visit is reliable and consistent. You get photos and notes after each visit, and we coordinate with your vet if anything ever looks off. From condos to high-rises, we handle secure key access and building procedures so the whole thing is effortless for you.
- Your cat stays home, calm and on their normal routine
- The same trusted sitters, fully insured and background-checked
- Photos and notes after every single visit
- Vet coordination and clear emergency protocols
- Secure key handling for condos and high-rises
- A dedicated local team, not a gig platform
What every cat sitting visit includes
Every drop-in keeps your cat fed, clean, engaged, and looked after. A standard visit includes:
Scheduled feeding, fresh water, and a fully cleaned, sanitized litter box every visit.
Interactive play, enrichment, and gentle company tailored to your cat's personality.
We bring in the mail, rotate lights and blinds, and keep an eye on your home while you travel.
Specialized cat care
Some cats need a little extra. Our sitters are trained and ready for:
For cats who want company through the night, a sitter stays over for reassurance and health watch.
Oral and topical medication, senior monitoring, prescription diets, and post-surgery recovery care.
Age-appropriate feeding, play-based development, litter habit reinforcement, and extra supervision.
Cat sitting pricing
Simple, transparent per-visit pricing for weekday visits from 9 AM to 5 PM. Pick the visit length that fits your cat's routine.
Add-ons are per visit. Off-hours are before 9 AM or after 5 PM. Overnight cat sitting and medication care are quoted to fit your cat, so just ask.
Prices shown are a starting estimate. We finalize your exact rate after we connect to discuss your cat's needs at a free Meet & Greet.
Our passion for Chicago pets
We are dedicated Chicago pet care pros who put safety, love, professionalism, and timeliness first. Sparky Steps was founded in 2016 with a dual mission: to spend our days caring for your pets, and to inspire our community to volunteer and adopt local shelter animals.
We are named after our founder's rescue dog, Sparky, to honor his legacy. He brought so much joy into our lives that we built our careers around animal welfare. Cats hold the same place in our hearts, and we care for every one of them with the patience and attention they deserve. Cheers bud, we miss you. ❤️
Free Meet & Greet: let's make sure we're a perfect fit
Choosing who comes into your home and cares for your cat is a big decision, so we offer a 100% free Meet & Greet. It is a chance for your cat to size us up, and for us to learn their routine, hiding spots, feeding schedule, and any medical needs. Your cat is paired with the same trusted sitters and familiar backups, so they always see a face they know and your care never skips a beat.
Book your free Meet & GreetIn-home cat sitting across Chicago
We care for cats all over the city, with deep roots on the North Side. Explore pet care in your neighborhood:
Cat sitting FAQs
How much does cat sitting cost in Chicago?
Visits are priced by length: $17 for 10 minutes, $22 for 15, $27 for 30, $32 for 45, and $37 for 60 minutes, on weekdays between 9 AM and 5 PM. Add-ons may apply for extra pets, weekend, off-hour, or same-day visits, and holidays.
What is the best alternative to boarding for cats?
In-home cat sitting is the preferred alternative because your cat stays in their own territory, which keeps stress low and their routine intact. We come to your home for visits, and overnight if you book it.
Do you offer medication and special care?
Yes. We administer oral and topical medication, monitor senior cats, handle prescription diets, and provide post-surgery recovery care, all following your vet's instructions.
How often do sitters visit?
Visit frequency is fully up to you and your cat's needs, from a single daily drop-in to multiple visits a day or overnight care. We will help you choose the right cadence.
Are your cat sitters insured and background-checked?
Yes. Every sitter is fully insured and background-checked, and we are a dedicated local pet care company rather than a gig marketplace.
Which parts of Chicago do you serve?
We serve cats across the city, with deep roots on the North Side including Albany Park, Uptown, Edgewater, Andersonville, and Ravenswood. Reach out and we will confirm coverage for your building.
Chicago is secretly a cat town
Chicago loves to call itself a dog town, but scratch the surface and it is every bit a cat city, and somebody has to handle the rats. Chicago has topped Orkin's list of America's rattiest cities for years, and one of the most effective (and most adorable) lines of defense is a feral cat. Through the Cats at Work program run by Uptown's own Tree House Humane Society, spayed and vaccinated outdoor cats are placed two or three at a time at homes and businesses around the city, where their presence sends rats packing within weeks, with no poison required. The client list even includes North Side breweries reviving the ancient tradition of the brewery cat.
Tree House has anchored the city's cat scene since 1971, growing from a small Uptown rescue into one of the largest cageless, no-kill cat shelters in the country, with more than 25,000 cats rehomed. Factor in Cook County's trap-neuter-return program and the thousands of community cats it supports, and the truth is clear: this city quietly runs on cats, even if the dogs get the headlines. 🐾
Michael's first cat: Delilah
Sparky Steps is named for our founder Michael's rescue dog, but his love of animals started earlier, with a cat named Delilah. She was his first, and the one who taught him what it means to share your home, and your whole routine, with a creature who has opinions of her own. The patience, attention, and respect we bring to every cat we look after traces straight back to her.
"Delilah was a good cat, always wanted pets and to relax with you while we watched tv, liked to play, and really an indoor cat. Although one day, an outdoor cat, we named him Kevin, began to meow all the time at her from outside. My cat would constantly meow back at him through the window. One day, she snuck out and left our house to be with him. We suddenly had an outdoor cat with a mate. They were happy together, inseparable, really. But Delilah always returned for food and friendly greetings to check in on us. I missed having her around, but I was glad to see she found a life partner. She was a good cat."
Michael Jaurigue, founder of Sparky Steps
