PurryMe - Cat-Sitting Simplified
Type: B2C Mobile App | Sector: Pet Services / Marketplace
Role: Product Manager
Keywords: MVP, User Research, Marketplace App, Onboarding, Messaging, Payments
Product Overview
PurryMe is a mobile platform designed to connect cat owners with trusted local sitters. It allows users to browse sitter profiles, book care sessions, receive real-time updates, and securely pay. All in one place.
The product was designed to eliminate stress for traveling cat owners and provide a seamless sitting experience from booking to check-out.
Customer Challenges
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Uncertainty & Trust
• Cat owners struggle to find sitters they can trust with their pet’s safety and wellbeing, especially for last-minute or multi-day trips.
• Most existing platforms prioritize dogs or generic pet sitting, making it harder to find cat-specific services.
• There’s limited transparency around a sitter’s experience with cats, availability, or customer feedback, making selection a guessing game.
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Lack of Real-Time Communication
Owners experience anxiety due to limited communication during the sitting period. There’s no status updates, missed check-ins, or unclear handoffs.
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Manual, Fragmented Processes
From discovery to booking and payment, the user journey is often scattered across multiple apps, messages, or offline interactions.
User Journey Map
Onboarding
Users download the app and are guided through a simple onboarding process where they create profiles for themselves and their cats. The goal is to minimize friction—pre-filled suggestions and skip-ahead options help keep the flow quick and intuitive.
Sitter Discovery
Once onboarded, users begin searching for a sitter. They can filter by location, availability, and experience. The app shows sitter profiles that include bios, ratings, availability calendars, and user reviews to build trust. Smart sorting helps reduce overwhelm and push the most relevant matches.
Booking
After finding a sitter, users proceed to book a session based on the sitter’s availability. To reduce back-and-forth, users can either send a structured booking request or instantly reserve based on available time slots. Booking confirmation includes a breakdown of services and pricing.
Communication & Check-Ins
During the sitting period, the user receives real-time updates via in-app messaging. Sitters send photos, feeding logs, and behavior notes. Push notifications help keep the owner informed without needing to manually check in.
Completion & Review
Once the sitting session ends, users receive a prompt to confirm completion and leave a review. This not only closes the feedback loop but also helps inform future users and maintain sitter quality across the platform.
Rebooking
If the experience was positive, the user can easily rebook the same sitter. Their preferences and chat history are saved, streamlining future bookings and fostering trust between owners and sitters.
Emily – Busy Professional
Age: 34
Occupation: Consultant, often travels for work
Pain Points: Needs last-minute bookings, prefers reliable reviews, worries about cat being lonely
Goals: Wants sitters she can reuse and communicate with on-the-go
User Personas
Margaret – Elderly Cat Owner
Age: 68
Occupation: Retired
Pain Points: Physically unable to care for cat during recovery or travel
Goals: Needs reliable assistance with basic care, values kindness and communication
Brian & Nicole – First-Time Cat Parents
Age: Late 20s
Occupation: Tech & Marketing professionals
Pain Points: Overwhelmed by too many options, unsure what to look for
Goals: Wants an easy, trustworthy platform to try pet sitting for the first time
Jake – Digital Nomad
Age: 31
Occupation: Remote worker
Pain Points: Frequently in new cities, unfamiliar with local sitters
Goals: Wants a consistent platform across regions and confidence in sitter quality
User Stories
🧾 User Story 1 – Sitter Discovery
As a cat owner, I want to find a verified, nearby cat sitter with reviews, so I can feel confident leaving my cat while I’m away.
Acceptance Criteria:
User can search sitters filtered by location, availability, experience level
Each sitter profile displays reviews, star rating, and bio
App supports availability calendars or toggle-based booking preferences
💳 User Story 3 – Payment Flow
As a user, I want a secure, simple payment experience so I can pay my sitter directly through the app.
Acceptance Criteria:
App supports multiple payment methods (credit card, PayPal)
Full cost breakdown is visible before confirming booking
Transaction receipt is generated and viewable in booking history
💬 User Story 2 – Real-Time Updates
As a user, I want to receive regular updates and photos during the sitting period, so I know my cat is safe and cared for.
Acceptance Criteria:
Direct message or in-app chat with the sitter is available
Sitters can upload images, feeding logs, and notes
Push notifications alert the owner to new updates or missed messages
🐾 User Story 4 – Profile Personalization
As a user, I want to create a profile that includes details about my cat’s preferences.
Acceptance Criteria:
Users can input key details about their cat
Sitters can view these notes once a booking is confirmed.
Users can save and reuse these details for future bookings without re-entering them.
Potential Risks & Mitigations
Low Sitter Availability
There may be limited sitter options, especially during holidays or in less populated areas. To address this, the app can offer a waitlist feature, suggest flexible date ranges, or notify users when a preferred sitter becomes available.
Unverified or Inexperienced Sitters
Trust is critical. If a sitter performs poorly or lacks experience, it could damage the platform’s credibility. To mitigate this, sitter onboarding should include ID verification, experience tags, and a transparent review system. A rating threshold could be enforced to remain active on the platform.
Missed Check-ins or Communication Delays
Owners may get anxious if updates are delayed or not sent. To reduce this risk, the app can include automated check-in reminders for sitters and push notifications for owners. Scheduled update templates can prompt sitters to send consistent messages throughout the sitting session.
Payment Disputes or Refund Requests
Disagreements over sitter performance or unclear pricing could lead to customer dissatisfaction. A secure in-app payment system with transparent pricing, service breakdowns, and platform-held deposits can help. Including a cancellation and refund policy in the booking flow will set expectations early.
Data Privacy & Security
Handling user profiles, location data, and payment information introduces privacy concerns. Mitigation includes using encrypted communications, secure payment gateways, and limiting data visibility until after booking is confirmed. A clear privacy policy and optional anonymized profiles can build user trust.