Some animals carry more with them than others.  The elderly dog whose joints ache by evening.  The anxious rescue who has only just learned that humans can be trusted.  The blind dog whose world is held together entirely by familiar smells, sounds, and routine.  The senior cat who has lived in the same home for fifteen years and finds even small changes unsettling.

For these animals, being placed in kennels or left with someone who doesn't truly understand their needs isn't just uncomfortable - it can undo weeks or months of careful progress.  The anxiety returns.  The routine breaks.  The trust, built so slowly, wavers.

Rowan's House exists for exactly these animals.   Specialist in-home care means your pet stays in their own space, with their own routines intact, cared for by someone with the training and temperament to genuinely meet them where they are.

Specialist dog sitting

Where walking is appropriate and part of the agreed care plan, all dogs are walked on lead.  The pace, duration, and route are always guided by your dog's individual needs - not a fixed schedule.   For some dogs, that means a slow, sniff-led amble around the garden.   For others, it means something longer.   I follow their lead.

For dogs who would benefit from additional gentle support during your absence - Animal Reiki, a calming herbal approach, or simply the particular kind of presence that an energy practitioner brings - this can be incorporated into their care by arrangement.

Particularly suited to:

          •  Elderly or senior dogs

          •  Anxious, reactive, or sensitive dogs

          •  Blind or visually impaired dogs

          •  Dogs requiring medication or routine health monitoring    

          •  Dogs recovering from illness or surgery

          •  Rescue dogs who need a calm, consistent presence

          •  Dogs who thrive in quiet, low-stimulation environments

Some of the dogs I have cared for most successfully were the ones their owners weren't sure anyone else could manage.

In-home cat sitting 

Cats don't adapt to change the way dogs often can.  Their home isn't just where they live - it's where they feel safe, where they know every smell and every sound, where their world makes sense.   For many cats, especially those who are elderly, anxious, or indoor-only, being uprooted - even temporarily - causes genuine distress.

In-home sitting removes that stress entirely.  Your cat stays in their own space, with their own routines, with someone who takes the time to understand them rather than simply manage them.

Beyond the practical care - feeding, litter, medication, companionship - I bring a holistic awareness to every visit.   I notice the small things: a cat eating slightly less than usual, hiding more than normal, whose energy seems a little flat.   These early signs matter, and having someone trained to observe them carefully can make a real difference - particularly for cats with complex or long-term health needs.

For cats who would benefit from gentle additional support during your absence, Animal Reiki or a calming herbal approach can be discussed and incorporated into their care.

Particularly suited to:

          •  Indoor cats and multi-cat households

          •  Elderly or senior cats

          •  Cats requiring medication or special diets

          •  Nervous, anxious, or sensitive cats

          •  Cats recovering from illness or surgery

          •  Cats who simply don't do well with strangers or change.

Multi-pet and mixed households

A home with multiple animals is a small, complex ecosystem.  Each pet has their own routine, their own personality, their own relationship with the others - and their own way of coping when something changes.  When you go away, maintaining the balance of that ecosystem isn't just a practical challenge.  It's an emotional one.

Rowan's House provides experienced overnight in-home care for multi-pet and mixed households, including homes with both cats and dogs.   Every animal is cared for as an individual - their feeding times, medications, mobility needs, and preferred levels of interaction all respected - while the calm of the household as a whole is carefully maintained.

Extra care is taken with the dynamics between animals during your absence.   The cat who usually retreats when the dog is overexcited.   The older dog who needs quiet while the younger one needs stimulation.  

These things matter, and managing them well requires more than good intentions - it requires genuine experience with animal behaviour and inter-species communication.

Particularly suited to:

          •  Households with both cats and dogs

          •  Multi-cat or multi-dog homes

          •  Households where animals have different or competing needs

          •  Elderly or senior pets alongside younger animals

          •  Pets requiring medication or health monitoring

          •  Anxious or sensitive animals who rely on routine and familiarity

Rowan's House works with a small number of clients at a time.   This is a deliberate choice - not a limitation.  It means every household receives genuinely unhurried attention, and no animal's needs are rushed or compromised because somewhere else also needs managing.   For households with complex dynamics, this matters enormously.

What I bring to every sit

Alongside practical, day-to-day care, I bring a background in canine behaviour, animal herbalism, holistic health, and Animal Reiki to every sit.   This means I am not simply watching for the obvious - I am noticing the subtle shifts in mood, energy, and behaviour that can indicate an animal is struggling, and I know how to respond.   I am also trained in both canine and feline first aid for emergencies.

This depth of knowledge is the difference between standard pet care and specialist care.   It means that even while you are away, your animal is being observed by someone who understands what they are seeing - and who can act on it calmly and appropriately.

THE MEET AND GREET

An essential first step - and there's no pressure to book afterwards.

Before any sit, a meet and greet is an essential part of how Rowan's House works.  It gives your animals the chance to meet me in their own space and on their own terms - so that when I arrive to care for them, I'm not a stranger.

The meet and greet allows us to:

          •  Confirm that Rowan's House is the right fit for your pets and your home

          •  Allow your animals to meet me in their familiar environment, at their own pace

          •  Talk through routines, medications, and any individual needs or concerns

          •  Discuss the dynamics of the household - particularly for multi-pet homes

          •  Ensure you feel completely at ease before any commitment is made

Meet and greet details:

Duration  1 hour - within Essex - Free of charge.  Within Kent, Norfolk, Suffolk & Sussex  £10  (payable in advance)

There is never any obligation to book following a meet and greet.  It is simply a conversation - about your animals, their needs, and whether I am the right person to care for them.  If it is not the right fit, I will say so honestly, and I expect the same from you.

Pricing and availability

Care is priced to reflect your pet's individual needs.   The standard overnight rate covers all routine care - feeding, simple medication management, companionship, lead walks where appropriate, and daily updates to you.  For animals with more complex requirements, please get in touch before booking so we can discuss what's right for your situation.   No question is too small.

Standard overnight sitting

Per night: £60  (overnight presence, all routine care included) up to 2 dogs/2 cats.  Additional dogs £5 per day, additional cats £3 per day.

Multi-pet households - By arrangement  (please enquire - complexity varies)

Holistic therapy add-on  By arrangement  (Reiki or herbal support incorporated into the sit)

Geographic coverage

In-home pet care is available across Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, Sussex, and Kent.  

For shorter bookings during this period, please enquire early.

If you're not sure whether your pet's needs fit this service, just ask.   Some of the animals I have cared for most successfully were the ones their owners weren't sure anyone else could manage.   There is never any obligation - just an honest conversation about what your pet needs, and whether Rowan's House is the right fit.