Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Brandi Kvetko Reinauer of Central Phoenix

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Brandi Kvetko Reinauer. Check out our conversation below.

Hi Brandi, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What do you think is misunderstood about your business? 
For my petsitting business, Bewatched by Brandi Kat, I think the quality of care that cats can require to stay healthy and happy is probably most misunderstood or actually just not realized by a lot of people. It’s a common to think that cats are “easy”….that they just need someone to throw down some food, change their water, scoop their litter once in awhile and they’re good to go. Yes, if everything goes right, a cat visit will go smoothly however, cats can also be such a mystery-both medically and behaviorally- and things can and will go south quickly if things go unnoticed or unchecked. People are always amazed at how much detail I put into preparing to watch their furry family member and what an astute and educated kitty sitter I actually am. I’ve been sitting for almost 20 years and have worked with shelter cats/kittens for 14 years so have built up quite a repertoire of knowledge of our feline friends!

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Brandi and I currently am the foster manager at AAWL, a full time kitty sitter (and owner of (Bewatched by Brandi Kat) and curator of a vintage feline focused pop up space called Go-Kat-Go. As you may have guessed, I am a feline aficionado and my life revolves around rescuing, rehabbing, caring for kitties and buying/selling vintage feline finds!

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who taught you the most about work?
My father, without even realizing it, taught me the value of hard work but also how important it is to do what you love. Even though a high school drop out from a poor family, business came naturally to him. He actually started, owned, and operated a very successful antiques store called Bo’s Funky Stuff for over 40 years. He never had a degree but he had a passion for history, Americana, and pop culture. I learned the best and most useful business practices from him and to this day remember how happy he always was in his store or out in the wild hunting for amazing antiques!

What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Back in 2008 the economy crashed and so did my old vintage store, Go-Kat-Go. Although I held on to the shop for a few years, it was hemorrhaging money and eventually caused me to lose not only the store but also my home at the time. Also during this time, however, I had started petsitting and procured a little part time job caring for cats at the Arizona Animal Welfare League. Little did I know these two events would lay the groundwork for my passion and dream cat career! I kept hard at work and learned all I could about the physical and behavioral care of cats and voila, fast forward to my current feline focused fantasy life which I never would have had without losing it all!

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Is the public version of you the real you?
Absolutely! As the guardian of 8 rescue cats and collector of specific vintage genres (mostly Halloween cats from the teens to the 1970s) I am constantly searching for learning opportunities to better Bewatched and hone my care of rescued, homeless cats while hunting for amazing antiques to grow my collection!

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. When do you feel most at peace?
I feel most at peace working with sick and/or shy rescue cats and kittens. Seeing them heal and then behaviorally blossom fills my heart like nothing else. Even when working with those that don’t survive, my heart is at peace knowing they passed knowing love.
I also feel enormous peace when caring for other’s beloved pets. I truly love and treat each and every client’s pet as one of my own and will stop at nothing to offer only the most competent care. I also love curating my vintage space! Even though it’s tiny, I get such joy being surrounded by precious preowned items and the energy they exude (as long as they’re not haunted lol!)

Thank you!