Mackenzie “Kitty” Job, doggy daycare owner and local councilwoman, shakes up Jefferson City

While in the front office of Kitty’s Critter Care, owner Mackenzie “Kitty” Job simultaneously welcomes incoming customers, answers questions from her staff of six, and engages in the pet and employee interview process; those who know Kitty recognize this multitasking as a usual occurrence. In fact, her knack for balancing business endeavors, personal passions, and community involvement show she manages her many roles as a local business owner, councilwoman, environmental advocate, friend, and wife.

Kitty is the first person to admit that her success at Kitty’s Critter Care has come with tough obstacles and a steep learning curve.

“It was all very grassroots,” she says. “There was no capital in this at the beginning… but I thought, ‘If you can’t beat fear, do it scared.’”

Kitty started her business in 2015 when she was a wide-eyed and fierce 22-year-old, initially offering boarding and in-home dog sitting. At the time, she watched between seven to 10 dogs in her home at once.

“I don’t know exactly the rate at which it has grown, but until we moved into our first building, my gross income was around $22,000,” Kitty says. “I had side jobs and roommates. Yes, there were roommates who lived in the Critter Hotel.”

Nevertheless, Kitty’s vision of working for herself, setting her own schedule, and creating a space where she could bring her ideas to life propelled her forward. In 2019, she moved to a larger space on Big Horn Drive to accommodate more dogs and improve her work-life balance. Later, in 2023, she relocated to her current building off Southwest Boulevard to further expand her services.

Kitty’s top priority has always been safety, regardless of the business’s size. Throughout the day, she regularly glances at the monitors to check in with the animals and staff.

“I have always prioritized the safety of the dogs and the staff over profit,” Kitty says. “We could grow a lot faster if we just took any dog and didn’t gauge their temperament or assess their personality.”

Alongside the numerous monitors of different dog playrooms, Kitty utilizes spreadsheets and daily clipboards to track dog quirks and safety measures among the staff. This kind of organizational pattern in addition to staff communication is crucial — especially now that Kitty’s Critter Care watches 200–250 dogs a week. Kitty credits all of her employees for giving her peace of mind throughout the day.

“I have a lot less to worry about because I know that my strong staff has got things under control,” she says. “It takes a special type of individual to be able to do this job. During their interview, we asked them a lot of targeted questions to see how they would handle various situations.”

Certainly, Kitty employs staff members who care for the animals and the business. One of her staff members, Maddie Neeley, has worked for Kitty since 2020.

“Watching the business grow has been amazing,” Maddie explains. “When I first started, we were at 20 dogs a day, and now we have 60 dogs a day. I love this job because everyone is very close-knit, and we can always ask questions and communicate about the job and certain dog behaviors.”

Kitty is supportive of her staff, encouraging them to pursue their own passions just as she has. Employee Liz Payne, who has been with the company since 2019, assists with managing social media for Kitty’s Critter Care and is working on starting her own photography business.

In addition to caring for dogs, Kitty partners with Jamie Woods from The Barking Garage to offer grooming salon services. Jamie rents space from Kitty and operates independently within the building.

Kitty credits her staff and her loyal customers, some of whom have been with her since the beginning, for helping the business be successful.

“Our main goal is always to add value for the customer,” Kitty says. “You know, there have been times when my customers have helped me through a lot — not only in the business but as a community member.”

Whether it’s running her doggy daycare, volunteering with Lincoln University’s Specialty Corps programs, advocating for native plants, or assisting with the Missouri River Relief non-profit, Kitty cares and advocates for both two-legged humans and four-legged friends in Jefferson City and beyond.

“If you want to change your life and your immediate surroundings, local government is the way to do it,” Kitty explains. “I want women to feel empowered and have an attitude of, to quote Rosie the Riveter, ‘Yes, we can.’”