Five years ago, Susie and Larry Ormbrek had no idea they would now be running a cat boarding business out of their house, but these days there’s no pussyfooting around their success.
The Kitty B&B in Kenmore is a nearly full-service boarding operation, with room for a handful of cats, many of whom are return guests who take one to two week vacations while their owners are away.
“It’s a fun business, there’s nothing bad about it,” Susie Ormbrek said.
She was standing in front of one of the spacious cat ‘suites’, located in one of two rooms in their house.
There are a few suites which accommodate one cat each and run for $20 a day, and one larger enclosure which can hold up to two cats from the same family for $30 a day. Each “suite” comes equipped with toys and beds and many have ledges.
The suites are constructed largely from open wire mesh and wooden beams, allowing the cats full view of their surroundings.
Each day the cats are let out into the room individually to play with Susie Ormbrek and various toys.
The cats are also groomed daily, given owner-approved treats and fed in accordance with their owners instructions. Owners are also sent regular email updates on their furry family members.
“I want it to be fun and small and personable,” Susie Ormbrek said.
While The Kitty B&B does administer basic medicines the owners provide, they do not administer medicine for serious conditions. The Ormbreks do have a veterinarian in Woodinville on call.
The couple also owns and runs the Sign Up, Sign Company in Bothell and a home-based dog clothing business.
Susie Ombrek said all their businesses developed on their own.
“Every one of our businesses were accidental,” she said.
Their sign company was started 27 years ago when Susie and Larry were neighbors and found there was a demand for signs in the area.
Their dog clothing business came about after they noticed their dogs were cold outside.
Even The Kitty B&B started as a dog kennel before turning its focus to cats.
But for the Ormbreks, the most important thing is the comfort and care of their house guests.
“They’re really being loved and spoiled,” she said.
