For each home we work in a team of 2-3 sitters to ensure coverage in emergencies and to keep things as familiar as possible for both cats and clients. Each individual brings their own touch when caring for your cats and we've found the variety helps to break up the monotony of kitty alone time.

Meet our Caregivers

Gretel Ulyshen

(she/they)

City Kitty Founder and primary caregiver

As the daughter of a veterinarian, my passion for felines was given freedom to flourish in a home brimming with animals. I grew up with canines, birds, rodents, fish, arachnids, crustaceans, and even a calf or two, but I was always most in sync with the cats.

I started this business because I experienced so much anxiety prior to a trip away from my own cats that I recognized the need to provide a stress-free alternative for other cat guardians in the city. Cats are habitual and territorial, so I try to disrupt their environment as little as possible so that you are sure to return to happy and pampered cats. We could never replace you or your routine, but we can provide a loving home-based vacation for your kitty.

I was so fortunate to get excellent hands-on feline care experience working with an exceptional cat veterinarian for years in the fast-paced clinic of a local cat shelter. As a result, I’m highly skilled at monitoring feline health, administering medications, subcutaneous fluids, and injections — even with anxious and fearful kitties. My experience doing rescue work is what allows me to navigate and support behavioral and physical challenges for my beloved client kitties.

When I’m not caring for City Kitty friends, I am actively involved in helping homeless, free roaming cats through TNVR (Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate, Return-of feral and under-socialized community cats). I try to educate and enable others to keep doing TNVR and community cat colony management. I also manage a fostering collective we affectionately call Cat’s Inn and Suites as a special project with Cuddly Do Right. Since we began in late 2021, we have helped over 140 cats!

You can also learn more about TNVR and solutions for our human driven feline overpopulation problem by visiting Alley Cat Allies.

I sincerely cannot wait to meet your cat!

City Kitty Caregivers

Chloe

(she/hers)
Chloe has been doing in home pet care for more than a decade now, so we’re so glad to have this pro on the City Kitty team.
Carol

(she/hers)
Carol has been a professional cat caregiver for many years and we are beyond thrilled to have her on our team. When not caring for City Kitties, Carol is likely to be found rescuing a street pigeon or helping care for cats at Cat’s Inn and Suites.
Great Lakes Pigeon Rescue
Elly

(she/they)
Elly loves caring for City Kitties because she gets to meet a wide variety of cats, get to know all their quirks, snuggle them (if they like it), and take fun pictures!
Shelby

(they/she)
Shelby works the front desk at Boulevard Veterinary Clinic. She loves City Kitty cat friends (and their cat minded parents!) for the deep bonds they find in visits together. Shelby is a certified Fear Free, and certified Cat Friendly Verterinary professional.
Lillian

(she/they)
Lillian is a Chicago native who has worked in veterinary medicine for over 6 years and is in the process of obtaining veterinary technician certification. She is newer to City Kitty but has a lifetime of pet sitting and nannying experience. All cats are her favorite, but she finds extra joy in befriending the hard-to-win-over kitties.
Angela

Angela was new to the City Kitty team last year but she has many years of experience volunteering with cats at a local shelter. She especially loves spending time with cats overcoming illnesses before they get ready to be adopted into their forever homes! Angela is a friend to all cats and loves their unique purrsonalities!
Lyndee

Lyndee has been with City Kitty almost since the very beginning! She loves caring for client's cats and giving them peace of mind while they're away. She loves meeting different kitty personalities, learning their quirks, and getting cute photos for their parents to enjoy. She is a veterinary technician at a cat's only clinic and is skilled at all medical treatments your kitty might need! She is also fear free certified and cat friendly certified and has a soft spot for shy kitties. She has worked in cat rescue for over a decade and continues to volunteer her time.
Kimberly

Kimberly has worked in animal rescue her whole life following in the footsteps of her mother. She currently serves on the board of PAWS Chicago where she is a longtime volunteer cat and dog handling expert, she also does volunteer work supporting other shelters, veterans’ organizations, Big Brother Big Sister, Chicago Cares and many other grassroot organizations. Kimberly lives in Wrigleyville with her 6 cats. She also enjoys photography, glass blowing, sailing, volleyball, and rock/crystal showcasing.
All About Cats | PAWS Chicago
Eve

Eve is a passionate animal lover with a special fondness for cats. Her earliest memory as a child is falling asleep each night with her ginger cat perched on her back. Eve loves celebrating feline individuality through activities and games that challenge and entertain them. She takes great pleasure in stimulating their minds and encouraging playful exploration.
Shira

Shira is proud to be a sitter with City Kitty and brings wholehearted care to every cat visit. She has been a cat care provider for ten years.
Brian

Brian has been involved with Red Door Animal Shelter in Chicago since 2004. He and his wife adopted their first cat from Red Door in 2008 and in the interim have lived with 4 cats. Brian has always had a fondness for felines, and it has been a pleasure to meet and care for City Kitty cats and provide peace of mind when our clients are away!
Red Door
Jessica

Jessica is the daughter of two veterinarians, so she has spent her entire life around animals, but cats have always held a special place. Jessica has a calm, quiet demeanor that invites even the shyest kitties to join the party. When she’s not meeting the cat neighbors of Chicago, she is doula-ing, gardening, reading, and working on her PhD in Art History at Northwestern.
Neysa

Neysa loves cats! She has two cats of her own ages five and six. Their names are Lo (like Jupiter’s moon) and Vasili Fett (a character from The Strain).
Neysa likes to walk places and take her time to get things right.
Janet

Janet is retired Chicago Police Sergeant and is very involved in feline rescue, both as a foster and one of the precious few who do TVNR. (Trap Neuter Vaccinate and Return of feral community cats). Janet also has her own cat care service that focuses on clients in Hyde Park and the south loop. You can learn more about her service by going to her Facebook page.
Bronzeville Star Cat Sitters | Facebook
Judith

Judith has been with City Kitty for 6 years. She has a heart of gold and is a devoted friend to each and every cat she meets!
Gina

In addition to running her own in-home cat care business and helping out City Kitty during busy times, she’s a Reiki master for pets and people. Learn more about her Reiki work here.
Denise

(she/hers)
Denise is our amazing remote administrator. Sadly she lives too far away to help with in home cat care , but she loves hiking and has two precious kitties of her own.