Why and how Lemmika is here
Lemmika exists because we lived the problem we’re solving. When we moved to Estonia in 2022 with our cats, we discovered what every immigrant pet parent knows: the anxiety of leaving your pet isn’t about finding any boarding—it’s about finding care you can actually trust. We couldn’t. So we built it.
What started as home-based care for other immigrant families taught us that the real challenge isn’t loving animals—it’s knowing what they need and proving it. That’s why Lemmika works differently: small capacity by design, 24/7 transparency through security systems and regular updates, and professional protocols delivered with personal care.
We’re not trying to be the biggest pet hotel in Tallinn. We’re solving the problem we lived with: knowing your pet is okay when you are away. Because that guilt, that worry—you shouldn’t have to feel it. And with the right care, you don’t have to.
Who are we, and how are we here
Retno Ika
Founder & CEO
The Master Caregiver
I’m in charge of everything at Lemmika, but my real job is caregiving. As a UX designer, I learned to spot the gap between what people need and what they’re getting. That’s how I approach pet care—design the experience first, then build the service around it.
Asep Bagja
Co-founder & COO
The Keeper of Happy Paws
I run operations: the facility, the finances, the systems that keep us running. My background in tech and accounting means I can build accountable service and protocols that work quietly, so our team can focus entirely on caregiving.
From Our Founder(s)
It started with the problem I live…
Hi, I’m Retno Ika, and this is my story of why I build Lemmika.
In October 2021, my husband, Asep Bagja, and I moved to Estonia without our cats. It was a hard decision we had to make, because we had to settle down first in Estonia—to find a home that allows us to have cats.
Then 5 months later, in February 2025, I picked them up from our home country to move to Estonia. No family here, and no friends yet. Just us, our cats, in a new country.
A few months later, in the Summer, we had our first chance to travel for a short holiday. I asked around, but no cat hotels available, no sitters I could find, couldn’t ask neighbours we barely knew.
Then, a colleague from my husband’s office offered to help. She had a cat too, so it seemed perfect.
Our cats spent three days under her sofa, didn’t come out, and only ate when no one was around.
We didn’t enjoy our trip. I felt guilty leaving them with a stranger. Worried they were bothering her cat. Uneasy asking a work colleague for help—for free, no less.
That feeling—that specific guilt mixed with gratitude and worry—is why Lemmika exists.
The Solution
I started offering care for other immigrant families’ pets. Because I knew exactly how it felt to have no one to call when sudden business trips come up, when you need a break, when you want to visit family back home—you need someone who gets it.
I kept it small from the start: maximum 2 dogs and 3 cats at a time in our home, plus up to 4 home visits per day. Most clients were immigrants like us, without support systems.
What I learned along the way
Loving animals isn’t enough to give proper care. Knowing what they need is what makes the difference.
Some people are willing to pay for peace of mind, but they need to trust us first. And trust requires proof, not promises.
That’s why we built Lemmika the way we did:
- Small capacity means individual attention.
- 24/7 surveillance system and regular updates means transparency as standard.
- Professional protocols AND personal touch to each pet.
We’re not trying to be the biggest pet hotel in Tallinn. We’re solving the problem we lived: knowing your pet is okay when you are away.
Because that guilt? That worry? You shouldn’t have to feel it.
And with the right care that is built on transparency, individual attention, and professional standards, you don’t have to.