We're thrilled to share that Venturous Counsel represented Meowtel in its acquisition by Rover Group, the world's largest online marketplace for pet care.

Meowtel was built on a simple but powerful insight: cats aren't small dogs, and cat parents deserve a platform that actually understands that. Founded in 2015 by Sonya Petcavich and Bruno Leveque, Meowtel grew into the #1 cat-sitting marketplace in the U.S. - connecting cat parents with a nationwide network of vetted, background-checked sitters who specialize in personalized, in-home feline care. By the time of the acquisition, the platform had scaled to over 4,000 active cat sitters serving more than 125,000 cats across 8,000+ cities, with a particular focus on cats with special needs.

Rover - backed by Blackstone following its $2.3 billion take-private in 2024 - acquired Meowtel to accelerate its investment in cat-centric care, a strategically important and fast-growing segment of the broader pet services market. Meowtel will continue to operate as an independent brand within Rover Group, with Sonya and Bruno remaining in their leadership roles.

This deal is a great example of the kind of work we love: helping a founder-led company find the right home, on their terms, with their mission intact. Congratulations to Sonya, Bruno, and the entire Meowtel team.