Our lovely catsitter

[Gemini]

We have two sets of catsitters, with our local friends C and P willing to step in if the others are busy (and they are free, as with no regular commitments they go away a lot!)

The one I am writing about is the lady who has just sat for us, and did it in October when we went to Canada. She has done several cat/house sits for us over the last 6 or 7 years.
She is 78, but young in mind and in fairly good shape physically.
She is dotty, and infuriates me by not always listening, and talking over me!
However she loves the cats the cats love her and she is to me a Godsend. Cats, house and garden are in excellent care with her. it is all so clean when we come home even her bedding and towels are washed (I constantly tell her not to bother to do this!)
We are so lucky to have her. She loves the change of coming to our house which is in a busier area than where she lives. She has friends and a goddaughter nearby and sees them whilst she is here. She has several friends who she pet sits for. We were originally recommended her by friends whose dog she used to look after.
With elderly cats, we would not be able to go away if we didn't have a trusted person to stay in our home and look after them.
We treasure her even more this year as our alternative sitters are not doing it for the foreseeable future. Two ladies, the older one who is 70 (and slim and fit) had a stroke last year. She is recovering, but not up to travel and catsitting yet.
We should all appreciate people in our lives, and I truly appreciate her.

[Sunshine]

Absolutely invaluable to have someone you can completely trust to love and care for our precious pets. Sometimes we may overlook their importance until they are unavailable for whatever reason. Let’s celebrate all pet sitters. 🎂🎁🎉
Many years ago when I had a little Cavalier King Charles spaniel, Daisy used to look after him when we were away on holidays. He always loved going there. It would have been nice if he missed me, just a little bit - but he didn’t! He was having too much fun, and Daisy allowed him to sleep on her bed. Say no more!

[Daisy]

Haha, Sunshine, if I remember rightly Buster used to stake his claim to my pillow and how could I say 'no' to those pleading big eyes. I'm sure he did miss you, and I bet he loved going back to you to eat at his own pace instead of having to gobble his food up before our greedy Lab got to it!

Gem - petsitters like yours are worth their weight in gold. We generally take Eva with us, but my friend, M, will come and look after her, but can't walk her so we can't leave her with M for more than a couple of days. DS2 will also have her to stay at their house and, of course, she has a wonderful time with Cooper. DS2 says it's easier having both of them than having Cooper on his own! We've never left her with anybody for as long as a week, though.

[Plantaholic]

Along with Gs1, wife an baby E we have their lovely tabby cat of theirs also until they move. He is very nervous and has taken to sneaking in to my place and getting on my bed. I don't usually have pets on beds but he is so nervous leaving his home, I am try to make friends with him. He is letting me stroke him now. I am going to be looking after the cats when all the family are away so I want to make friends with him before they go. Any tips welcome.

[Oma]

Pet sitting is wonderful , it means you get all the enjoyment but like Grandchildren you can hand them back and not have the vet bills to pay

Gem I bet she gets a lot of enjoyment from it and a change of scenery must be like a little holiday to her

[Nanto2girls]

Gem, its lovely to have someone like your catsitter.
You know you can trust her. i'm sure the kitties love her as well.

[Grauntie Mag]

I am in a similar position to you Gem. My old dear is now 21 and after the hoo ha she caused earlier this year I will not go way unless we have someone staying in the house. DD1 has a young lady who works for her and is happy to stay in her house when she is away, so I will ask her to stay here later in the year when we go to Suffolk. I have found out my puss goes visiting! The lady who lives next door but one said she often invites herself in to her house. Cheeky cat.