About Us
Professional pet care with a whole lot of love, and a big focus on making sure every pet feels safe, comfortable and cared for.
How it all started
Paws N Whiskers Pet Care was created by Kirsten Cummins in 2024, while she was studying her Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing.
Kirsten wanted to gain more hands-on experience with animals outside of a clinical setting, so she began offering pet care services to local families.
What started as a way to build practical experience quickly became something much bigger. Kirsten discovered how much she loved getting to know pets in their own homes, building relationships with their owners and providing care that was tailored to each individual animal.
Since then, Paws N Whiskers has continued to grow into a professional pet care business serving pets and their families across Melbourne's west.
Meet Kirsten
Paws N Whiskers is owned and operated by Kirsten, a qualified Veterinary Nurse with a genuine passion for animal wellbeing.
With a background in veterinary nursing, Kirsten brings veterinary knowledge and hands-on animal care experience into her work as a pet carer. She understands that looking after someone's pet is a big responsibility, and that every animal has their own personality, routines, quirks and individual needs.
Whether it's a nervous dog who needs a little extra time, a cat who prefers to do things on their own terms, a pet requiring medication, or an animal who simply loves a good cuddle, Kirsten takes the time to get to know them and care for them as an individual.
Fear Free Certified
An additional commitment to reducing fear, anxiety and stress in pets.
Putting emotional wellbeing first
Kirsten is Fear Free Certified, reflecting her commitment to providing care that considers not only a pet's physical needs, but also their emotional wellbeing.
Fear Free focuses on recognising and reducing fear, anxiety and stress in animals. This means taking the time to understand a pet's body language, working at their pace and using low-stress handling techniques wherever possible.
In practice, this can mean giving a nervous pet more time to settle, using treats and enrichment to create positive experiences, changing the way something is approached, or simply recognising when a pet needs a break.
While many people love animals and have experience caring for them, Fear Free Certification provides additional education specifically focused on the emotional wellbeing of pets. It's something Kirsten is proud to bring into the way Paws N Whiskers operates.
🐶 Individualised care
No two pets are the same. Care is tailored to each pet's personality, routine, needs and comfort level.
❤️ Compassion first
Pets deserve patience, understanding and kindness. We take the time to build trust rather than rushing the process.
🎓 Always learning
Kirsten is committed to ongoing education and professional development so Paws N Whiskers can continue to grow and offer knowledgeable, high-quality care.
Always learning, always growing
Kirsten continues to look for opportunities to expand her knowledge and skills through ongoing education and professional development.
As Paws N Whiskers grows, so will the services we can offer. The goal is to continue building on our existing knowledge while exploring new areas of animal care, behaviour and wellbeing.
Most importantly, we want to make sure that every new service is backed by proper education, practical knowledge and a genuine commitment to the welfare of the animals we care for.
Because your pets aren't just pets. They're family. 🐾❤️