MeowCheck

07/03/2025

In my 3 years of checking your homes and your cats, the #1 source of unexpected water running in an empty home has been the toilet. Don't worry, I've watched enough Mr Bean to know better than to get into the tank and try to fix it. I just reach back and turn the water off so that your bill doesn't suffer.

06/18/2025

Hi MeowCheck friends!

This has been a hard year. I’m tired of hard years. I’ve worked hard to make things better for my clients over the years.

You’re probably thinking, “here we go again… is he announcing something negative?”

Nope! Actually I’m announcing that MeowCheck will be slowly integrated (seamlessly) into a wider reaching client base. I have not settled on a name yet, but there will be a whole new business name for this venture.

MeowCheck started as a service when the Cattery downsized in the fall of 2022 (originally it had no official name until early 2023). I had to create new procedures and policies in order to make the service what it is today.

Some of you likely already use a home check service. There is one that stands out more than others in central Alberta, and they’ve done a lot to build up a good reputation over the years. But with 42,000+ households in Red Deer, they can’t possibly be everywhere at the same time. I don’t think I’ll be hurting their client list!

MeowCheck already doubles as a home check service, but I will be talking to insurance companies to come up with better information for my clients, that way they can make the right decisions for using this home check service. I presently have two MeowCheck clients who don’t even have cats, so I’m already performing this service.

So what makes a home check service worthwhile? Here are some of my experiences over the past nearly three years: I have discovered a fridge that had lost power (breaker went off), I have turned off countless toilet water supplies after discovering they were cycling water. Note that I didn’t try to fix the problem by fiddling with the internal toilet hardware - I am not a plumber. I have locked many unlocked exterior doors. I have locked SO MANY unlocked windows! And I have watered many plants. I have turned on/off many interior and exterior lights to simulate someone being home without it looking like it’s on a timer. There are also the countless packages I have picked up off the front porch, the flyers poking out of mailboxes or hanging off door handles. You don’t want people thinking no one is home. And oh yes, I’ve checked the mail. Some of you get a lot of mail. And who has rolled the bins to the curb for trash day? Yup, I have done that.

Every client is different, and so every client will have their own specific routines and requests. It’s nothing new to me.

My ask is that you help me lift up this new venture as I try to keep up with this crazy, changing world.

A new page and eventual website will pop up within a month or so, so stay tuned.

06/09/2025

Hey cat friends, and their non-cat friends,

Don't forget, you don't need a cat in order to book a Meowcheck! I do check on homes that do not have pets. Maybe your plants need watering on a certain schedule. You certainly do need someone checking on your home if you're away for more than the agreed number as per your homeowners or renters insurance (could be 48-72 hours between visits, or more if need be).

Maybe you/they live in a neighbourhood that sees higher crime rates, or perhaps you're concerned about extreme weather causing damage that may go unchecked. Or, you just want someone checking your mail and ensuring your fridge is running, and your water isn't!

www.cacattery.com/meowcheck

06/04/2025

Hi cat friends,

I've been slacking with the social media stuff.

Bookings have been a little down from previous years. As I work to secure something part time to help keep me going, I'm still going to be your unofficial travel agent for Canadian destination ideas.

I've mentioned Liard Hot Springs before, which is family friendly but a heck of a drive. Let's talk about a trip that isn't too far out of the way.

I'm talking about Ainsworth Hot Springs. I have been there, twice. So I know what I'm getting you into here!

Ainsworth Hot Springs is about an 8.5 hour drive from Red Deer to the Kootenays region of BC. In fact it's nestled right along Kootenay Lake.

I'll give you a short story about my second visit, because it's kinda amusing. Right out of high school, a friend of mine and I hopped in my car and headed to the Okanagan, followed by Lake Louise. On our way back I said, "Hey... let's do a one night stay in Ainsworth." So we did. We camped in the same campground that I remember going to with my parents, as a kid. It was kind of surreal returning there as a late-teen, untethered from family. The first thing I did when I got through the change rooms and into the resort pool area was head directly to the hot springs hot pool. It's not like some hot pools. A horseshoe-shaped cave has been carved out where the spring water comes in, so you can actually walk waist-deep through a lit up cave. For those who want to relax but take it a bit more easy, there's a main pool with the same water, but it's cooled down and you can stretch out a bit. But the pool we wanted to jump into was the absurdly cold pool that was right beside the hot springs pool. I believe we saw a floating thermometer in there (but maybe it was just a sign beside the pool), which read +4C. This water was coming straight off the mountain and into this small "hot tub" sized pool. We eased our way in, and the way two stupid teenagers would do, decided to one-up each other by seeing who would tap out first. I think there comes a point where your body just kind of goes numb. An Aussie walked past us, observing what we were doing, stopped, and said, "You guys are nuts." And walked away.

There are a few great things to do here. You have the hot springs, but there's also camping, lake activities, and the Cody Caves (link in the comments section). So you really can make a weekend out of this trip.

Now get out there and explore this country!

Pools May 15, 2024 Hot springs pools Hotel: Open 5 days a week Wednesday – Sunday Hotel guests have access to the pools from 8 am – 930pm and until 10am on day of check out check hotel availability Pools: Open to the public, first come first served Wednesday – Sunday | 10 am – 7:30 pm (last ...

04/24/2025

Hi cat friends,

As your unofficial tourism guide (remember, I am not a travel agent), I think we should think about the parts of Canada we often forget about. I'm guilty of this one!

I'll keep this short and let the attached link do the talking.

Quebec City. One of the oldest cities in Canada, and certainly one with historical significance. Everyone that I know who has been there had great things to say about it.

You don't need a passport to fly within Canada! Just government issued photo ID, or two pieces of government non-photo ID. And that's only if you're flying. You can travel by car/motorbike, bus, rail, boat (in a few cases).

Don't let the chaos of 2025 ruin your getaway plans! And remember to factor in who will be caring for your cats!

Tips, suggestions and the best kept secrets ... Explore the best site to inspire yourself or to plan a trip to Québec City, Canada.

04/03/2025

Hi Cat friends,

Unofficial Canadian travel advisor here. Have you heard of Manitoba? I know I have.

Riding Mountain National Park is not a place I've ever actually heard of, but after visiting their website, I had to share this.

If you're the woodsy type and like getting away from it all, it probably doesn't get much better than this! They list this destination as anywhere from a day-visit, to a week or more, opening things up to whatever you're up for in terms of exploration!

Explore this website and tell me what you think. I would love to visit this place.

This Riding Mountain National Park of Canada page provides links to natural wonders and cultural treasures, visitor information, campground reservations, and related locations and links.

03/31/2025

Alright, let's do a business pivot. Sort of...

I have spent years trying to find a local travel agent that would network with the Cattery, seeing as we share a client base. But I have consistently failed to get through to any of them (there may be one from last month, but I'm still waiting on their response).

So I guess I'm a travel agent now. Sort of. No, not a certified travel agent, and you can't book through me. But there's nothing stopping me from posting destinations that my clients might find interesting!

Now, I can't speak of Caribbean resorts, or Mexico, or Europe, but I've traveled much of Canada. Given the massive disruption in travel due to geopolitical earthquakes around the world right now, allow me to be your Canadian Destination Guy. Sort of.

First off, a hot spring I haven't been to (yet) but would love to visit soon.

Want to go on a road trip that'll create memories lasting a lifetime? May I present to you, the little talked about but absolutely beautiful, Liard Hot Springs.

Relaxation seeps into your body as you ease into the second largest hot spring in Canada. Liard River Hot Springs provides relief to Alaskan bound travellers...

03/17/2025

I have a scenario for you.

You’re going away for a week or two, and you have cats. Someone will need to come check on them. They’ll need to do the litter boxes, and feed them, water them, hang out with them. Who do you turn to? A neighbour? Friend? Relative?

If I counted on fingers how many times I’ve heard the same story, where those were the choices and they let them down, I’d need more than two hands.

Common things like no-shows, or they show up for just long enough to top up water and food, MAYBE hit the litter box, and then leave, or not doing the litter box at all, leaving a large mess when the person got home. Let alone do anything else to ensure the home is secure!

With MeowCheck, not only are your cats getting the attention they need, but I’m also ensuring your home is safe and secure both for them and for your peace of mind. And this is what I do - it’s not a side gig or some sort of inconvenience for me. I’m happy to do it.

Lastly, ask yourself: does the person checking on your cats have pet first aid? I do. Most people do not!

*mic drop*

03/05/2025

Hi Cat friends,

Well, I guess we need to brace for what I will only describe as March 2020 style concerns regarding travel and our pocketbooks.

I just read earlier today that the Velvet Olive (downtown Red Deer) will be a thing of the past as summer rolls around, and that had me thinking about my own situation.

This month is, quite frankly, a disaster for boarding bookings. And MeowCheck's schedule is "ok" but I'm also aware that this month is never a guarantee for travelers.

Of those who booked with the Cattery and MeowCheck, I haven't seen anyone cancel their trips - yet. But hopefully for those of you who still want to travel, you're making the best choices and can still use the Cattery. For those who want to spend less on travel but still get away, I recommend finding a travel agent who really knows the best places in Canada! I happen to know a couple of them. I know if I could pick up and go, I'd want to explore Liard Hot Springs. It's on my bucket list.

Anyway, please keep telling your cat friends about MeowCheck. With nearly 200 different homes visited, your cat will be visited by someone with more cat experience than probably anyone else you know!

(stock photo of cat in the mountains by Shutterstock - so that there's no copyright hassle)

02/14/2025

Fact: some cats simply don't do well in a kennel environment, no matter now much personal space they get. And Central Alberta Cattery is unparalleled in personal feline space!

That's why MeowCheck is here. No travel stress for your cats, and no uncertain environments. Their own .

01/28/2025

What if you have a room with a door that, if that door closed, a cat could be trapped in or out of an area while you're away?

Here's my solution to keep a door from closing shut:

12/28/2024

Hey cat friends!

One thing that helps small businesses grow is word of mouth. But sometimes a person seeks out the service and comes across the Google reviews on their own.

Google reviews matter! Make sure you lift up small businesses in Alberta by giving them a review!

*note* if you were extremely unhappy with the service, it's better to contact me directly. I appreciate constructive criticism and in the past, I have made adjustments to the business accordingly! Maybe my adjustments result in you giving a more positive review later on.