Ever wonder what it really takes to build a pet business from scratch — and keep it standing when everything falls apart? This week, Matthew sits down with Jessica Abernathy, founder of Chicagoland Cat Sitters and Professional Pet Sitters, for an honest, funny, and genuinely inspiring conversation about the lessons she's learned after decades in the industry.

From naming her first business after a dog named Kramer to surviving a five-year lawsuit with her devices confiscated and a deposition the next morning Jessica has truly been through it all. And she's still here, still growing, and still thinking big picture.

In this episode:
🐾 How Jessica discovered that cat owners don't trust dog businesses — and launched a whole separate brand to meet them where they were
⚖️ The make-or-break moment that almost ended everything (and the mindset shift that pulled her through)
🤝 Why partnering with veterinarians is the single best marketing move in the pet industry
🧠 Her one interview question that instantly tells her if someone can follow directions
📋 How to stop being stuck in the day-to-day so you can actually grow your business

Timestamps
00:00 — Intro & catching up
02:33 — Telling your story: how Jessica's first brand evolved
05:00 — The cat-only business idea that changed everything
06:45 — The lawsuit, the confiscated devices, and hitting rock bottom
09:26 — How she turned her mindset around and powered through
13:48 — Building culture: the non-negotiables when hiring
17:00 — The one-word interview question (steal this immediately)
19:06 — #1 marketing tactic: partnering with veterinarians
21:34 — The lost art of gratitude in client relationships
23:19 — Big picture vs. day-to-day: how to actually grow
26:03 — Rapid fire: favorite movie, artist & dog breed

Quotes from this episode

"I just realized in that deposition that I was not going to let this woman defeat me. I changed my mindset — I wasn't going to let these one people ruin my business."
— Jessica Abernathy

"If you stay in the day to day, you'll never get out of it. Your job is big picture."
— Jessica Abernathy

"You can train anybody except how to be positive."
— Matthew