Where house and cat sitting took me in 2019
My first house and cat sit for 2019 was at the end of my December–January winter trip to the United States. I spent just over a week in Santa Fe, New Mexico, looking after a feral cat called Kitty Rumi.
Comparing the house sitting websites
There’s a lot of house sitting websites out there. And like anything, some of these sites are great. Then there’s the not so great ones. Membership fees vary and so, too, does the usability of each site. But if you’ve been toying with the idea of signing up to one of—or several—house sitting websites, here are some things that might make the decision easier.
Living with two Birmans in Launceston
I was fortunate enough to secure a house and cat sit in Launceston thanks to Aussie House Sitters. I hadn’t considered Launceston as a holiday destination before, but I’m glad I finally made my way to the north of Tasmania.
Hoteling it in Hobart
I wanted to visit Hobart (again) before making my way to Launceston for my first interstate house and cat sit. So I booked a room at the same place I’d stayed about five years ago. The Alabama Hotel.
Cat sitting closer to home
House and cat sitting in your city/town is probably a great way to start out. You’ll get some ‘experience’ and hopefully a five-star review. But it wasn’t until May 2019, after completing 11 sits in the United States, that I accepted an invitation for an overnight sit in Brisbane.
What’s next: Two years on from my first house and cat sit
With no new cat sitting content to share right now, I’ve decided to reflect on my house sitting journey so far. I’ll touch on where I’m off to in the next few weeks and where I hope to make it to in 2020.
Birmingham, Alabama: The last cat sit on the trip
Birmingham was definitely a change of pace. There isn’t a Starbucks on every corner. Not even a 7/11. Not one. In the entire city of Birmingham. But they did just open a cat cafe here.
Two Abyssinian cats for company just outside Seattle
This was my third house and cat sit in the Seattle area within the past 12 months. Only this time I was staying in Lake Forest Park. Not technically Seattle. Lake Forest Park’s about 20 kilometres north of downtown Seattle, but it’s still Seattle to me.
The real Slim Shady is a cat in Austin, Texas
I was told Austin is Nashville’s big sister. And I can see the similarities. There’s plenty of live music venues. Both cities have a big food scene. Everyone’s really friendly. But Austin’s a lot more humid. The temperature’s already in the mid-20s when you wake up. And it’s still about 30°C when you go to bed.
Looking after two senior kitties in Nashville
This Nashville house and cat sit was the first one I applied for when putting my month and a half-long trip together. And it wasn’t until recently I’d even thought about visiting Nashville. But I’m glad I decided to.