Long term cat sitting

fhicat · May 31, 2014

Has anyone ever done it?

I have to leave the country for upwards of 5 months in the future. I'm wondering what to do with my cat. Hiring a cat sitter would seem prohibitively expensive. My roommate isn't willing. I don't know if I can bribe a friend to come over twice a day for 5 months -- how much would I pay them anyway?

Don't really want to bring him with me since there's strict laws on animal importation. Plus a 14-day mandatory quarantine. And he's skittish and indoor, and he might run out the always-open sliding doors. And I feed him raw, and I can't easily get supplies where I'm going.

mani · May 31, 2014

Is the quarantine at both ends or just coming back to the States?

What a shame your roommate isn't willing. I'm guessing it's because he wants to come and go as he pleases. Is there any aspect of Jed's care he'd be willing to take on? Like just one feed a day?

At least Jed will have someone he knows around, and be in his own home... I would try to work with that if possible.

It costs a lot to get someone to come around. I've used a housesitter in the past.. offering accommodation for care of the cat. Would your roommate let someone take your place while you're away?

fhicat · Jun 1, 2014

Mani said:
Is the quarantine at both ends or just coming back to the States?

What a shame your roommate isn't willing. I'm guessing it's because he wants to come and go as he pleases. Is there any aspect of Jed's care he'd be willing to take on? Like just one feed a day?

At least Jed will have someone he knows around, and be in his own home... I would try to work with that if possible.

It costs a lot to get someone to come around. I've used a housesitter in the past.. offering accommodation for care of the cat. Would your roommate let someone take your place while you're away?

I didn't even look at "back to States", so I guess it's both ends.

I haven't *really*, seriously asked him, but he has said in the past that he doesn't want to feed Jed because he "doesn't want the cat to like me". Whatever that means.

And he's pretty much a part time roommate, so that won't work either.

House sitter, huh. That could actually work. In fact, you just gave me an idea. I could *probably* persuade my landlady (whose office is across the hall) to do the visits, once at 8am and once before she leaves at 5pm. I don't know if she can take on that responsibility during her official duties though.

mani · Jun 1, 2014

Good luck and keep us posted...

for the landlady idea.

fhicat · Jan 19, 2015

Came across this site: www.trustedhousesitters.com. Good reviews and they have been featured on a couple of news networks, so not likely a fishy site. Might have to resort to using one of these sitters -- apparently they love travelling to house sit, and some of them don't charge anything at all.

The only thing now is the guilt gnawing at me that my cat would think that I had abandoned him.

furmonster mom · Jan 21, 2015

Maybe you can get a house sitter who might be willing to set up skype sessions with kitty?

meliskrum · Apr 1, 2016

FhiCat said:
Came across this site: www.trustedhousesitters.com. Good reviews and they have been featured on a couple of news networks, so not likely a fishy site. Might have to resort to using one of these sitters -- apparently they love travelling to house sit, and some of them don't charge anything at all.

The only thing now is the guilt gnawing at me that my cat would think that I had abandoned him.

I know this is an old thread, but I'm wondering how this worked out for you?

cocobutterfly · Apr 1, 2016

MelisKrum said:
I know this is an old thread, but I'm curious how this turned out for you? Did you use trusedsitters.com?

I'm very curious too. I could use a pointer or two as I can't leave my cat for even 5 hours without worrying to death.

jennyr · Apr 2, 2016

I have used house sitters from that site, and found them to be very good. ~You can see people's profiles, their experience with animals and get to know them by email and phone before they come. They have reviews too, so you get an idea of their atttudes and capabilities.
One of the couples who came have now been three times, and have become friends.

meliskrum · Apr 5, 2016

JennyR - But do you live in a palatial house, like some of the housesits I've seen on their site? I live in a modest apartment in Los Angeles, with my two kitties. Not exactly a vacation home.

sidneykitty · Apr 7, 2016

I have done cat sitting for 5 months and 4 months. Here's how it worked: I was also house sitting! This is the easiest way to deal with a long-term cat-sit I think. The cat gets to stay home where he or she is comfy and the person looking after kitty spends more than 15-30 minutes 2x a day with the cat a drop-in cat sitter would spend with them. That way, they get to know what is normal for your cat and will know if anything is wrong.

If you can get someone to sub-let your apartment or move in while you are away, have a trusted friend who loves your cat already who'd be willing to move in temporarily, honestly I'd go that route. I think its best for the kitty.

I sent regular photo and text updates to the owners and was also able to deal with houses crises while they were away (for example, plumbing issues!) and they reimburse me upon their return or get invoiced directly to them if its a regular company they deal with. They gave me all the food, medicines, litter, etc. that I could possibly need for that time. The only thing they didn't do a great job of was vet records and vet stuff, which is an aside, but I'd be happy to talk more about what you should do to take care of that.

Rather than go through a website, I might try to find someone trusted through word of mouth or through a friend or family member with a trusted, responsible record before going to a website. If you do use a website, I'd definitely interview them well beforehand and see how they act with your cat.

jennyr · Apr 7, 2016

MelisKrum said:
JennyR - But do you live in a palatial house, like some of the housesits I've seen on their site? I live in a modest apartment in Los Angeles, with my two kitties. Not exactly a vacation home.

No, my house isn't palatial at all, just a 2 bedroom cottage. But it is a beautiful touristic area that people want to visit. And many people want to visit cities too, especially places like LA. Or may be they have to, for work and don't want the impersonal atmosphere of managed apartments or hotels.

sidneykitty said:
I have done cat sitting for 5 months and 4 months. Here's how it worked: I was also house sitting! This is the easiest way to deal with a long-term cat-sit I think. The cat gets to stay home where he or she is comfy and the person looking after kitty spends more than 15-30 minutes 2x a day with the cat a drop-in cat sitter would spend with them. That way, they get to know what is normal for your cat and will know if anything is wrong.

If you can get someone to sub-let your apartment or move in while you are away, have a trusted friend who loves your cat already who'd be willing to move in temporarily, honestly I'd go that route. I think its best for the kitty.

I sent regular photo and text updates to the owners and was also able to deal with houses crises while they were away (for example, plumbing issues!) and they reimburse me upon their return or get invoiced directly to them if its a regular company they deal with. They gave me all the food, medicines, litter, etc. that I could possibly need for that time. The only thing they didn't do a great job of was vet records and vet stuff, which is an aside, but I'd be happy to talk more about what you should do to take care of that.

Rather than go through a website, I might try to find someone trusted through word of mouth or through a friend or family member with a trusted, responsible record before going to a website. If you do use a website, I'd definitely interview them well beforehand and see how they act with your cat.

This is obviously ideal, and I did it once when I lived in London, when the cousins of a good friend needed somewhere to stay while they finished their studies. I rented them my flat for a year, and they sent me regular reports, and I also could go back and stay there if I needed to make a brief visit.

meliskrum · Apr 7, 2016

Thanks for the feedback JennyR! I'll give it a shot. But first I've got to plan a trip!

Long term cat sitting

fhicat

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mani

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fhicat

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mani

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fhicat

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furmonster mom

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