I am struggling with naming our top adjective to describe Michael and Jeanne. "Conscientious" will likely be it but then again, "personable," "reliable," "organised," and "animal-loving" are top contenders. If you are reading this review and contemplating inviting this couple to watch your pets, then look no further. We have had a number of excellent house sitters but this pair was next level in terms of the love they showed our cats, Maxx and Nala. When we came back, we could our animals already missed them. These cats, who have never slept with anyone other than us, were getting in bed with them each night -- and that meant climbing stairs! The day before our trip, Nala got an ear infection and had to be put on steroids for asthma. Michael and Jeanne did not sign up for that when the sit was booked but they took it in stride. In the last-minute rush, I relayed that Nala needed her oral steroids morning and night. Michael read the RX label, indicating one dose a day, and contacted the vet to clarify. So you can see why "conscientious" is right up there. They saved Nala from an overdose! We were gone three weeks and they sent us just the right amount of pictures and videos. They bought cat toys (I forgot to put ours out!) and actively engaged with them, including 20-minute massages for Maxx. I truly believed them when they said they fell in love with our fur babies. The house was spotless (which was not important to me but truly appreciated) but I smiled when all six water stations in our yard were filled. They took seriously my love for and the needs of the wildlife in our yard. Our plants were all in good condition as well. Sensing they were "next level" when I met them, I predicted they would want to leave a meal for us upon our return. I asked them not to but they found another way to bow out with class. They made a donation to a nonprofit I work with instead. This I learned from the lovely thank you note they left. I hope they will consider Charles and I friends because we certainly feel that way about them now. What special people. If you book them, treat them well because they are going to do that for you for sure.
Anna was an excellent sitter - she took great care to understand all of the intricacies of taking care of the house and cats, asked lots of questions, and arrived on time and ready for the sit. During the trip, she checked in with updates, and upon returning home, left the space tidy and clean. The cats were happy and healthy, and seemed to have had a great time during the sit. Thanks Anna!
Chris and Julia were our very first sitters and are the most perfect house/pet sitters anyone would ever want!!! Julia sent video/pictures of our fur babies everyday and we noticed early on that our animals were very relaxed and happy!! This made our trip so enjoyable and stress free knowing that our animals were safe and being spoiled and loved the whole time. They even trained our dog to sit while her leash was being attached and was able to pet and hold our cat that is somewhat nervous around strange people he doesn't know. When I got back from the trip, the house was very clean along with Julia/Chris had washed the bed sheets, bath towels, vacuumed, dusted etc., and even washed the pet bedding. They also left some SE Asia treats for us to try which so sweet of them. Definitely the perfect house sitters!!!
Becca was fantastic - we cannot say enough about how great she is as a pet and house sitter and as a human being! Becca committed to the sit 8 months in advance and was great with her responsiveness in communication during the long lead up to the sit. She arrived early and got the low downs on the animals and house stuff prior to us leaving. She woke up crazy early to help us get to the airport and picked us up when we returned, which made the traveling so much easier on our end. She left the house spot-less (and this is no exaggeration), with the linens cleaned, and a wonderful meal waiting for us upon our return. She is an absolute gem of a person with a great sense of humor and a kind and compassionate nature, and she really enjoys the animals in her care. Our dog and cat were very well cared for and totally at ease upon our return. If you are lucky enough to have Becca sit for you, you will be very pleased at how well she does the job!
Susan and Miranda are amazing! I've had the pleasure of working with many sitters and they are truly exceptional. They were great at keeping in touch, sent lots of updates, asked good questions, really bonded with the cats, clearly very experienced working with animals and understanding their needs, and generally lovely to deal with. They were really patient putting up with a whole bunch of deliveries and even assembled a spare bed! They also left the place spotless with clean sheets on the bed. I'm pretty sure the cats loved Susan and Miranda more than us by the end of their stay! I'd highly recommend them to anyone and would love to have them stay again any time.
Joi did a wonderful job caring for my two cats and two guinea pigs, as well as caring for my home! She is coming back in November for a long sit while I am out of the country and we all can’t wait. Joi had experience with rabbits and jumped right in with guinea pig care. She is so calm around them that they were sitting on her lap day one! She spent time preparing their vegetables and kept their enclosure and room clean, which requires daily effort. She even washed the floor mats in their room so it was fresh when I returned home. She went above and beyond sending me daily photos and videos so I could see that everyone was healthy and happy. It was apparent to me that she spent a lot of time with my pets, which is very important so they don’t become stressed and lonely when I am away. Joi also took excellent care of my two cats. They receive daily wet food with some medication and she ensured that they received it on time. My cats barely noticed when I returned because they got so much attention from Joi. She took excellent care of my front garden flowers and my tomato and herb hydroponic gardens. These take some daily attention and time in the summer, and I returned home to them looking great! Joi is a very caring, clean, and thoughtful sitter and I hope she comes back many more times!
Lindsey watched our cat and dog for a long weekend when we went out of town. She was a very communicative sitter sending frequent pictures and voice notes with updates. She did a great job of following their schedules and giving them attention. The animals seemed to be happy and relaxed when we returned home and I believe Lindsey enjoyed getting to discover all of the eateries our town has to offer. A win-win for everyone!
Karen was able to step in a sit for me on short notice after another sitter canceled. She was very thorough and communicative and I felt I had left my apartment and cats in good hands with her. I came home to a clean apartment and happy cats. I definitely recommend Karen as a sitter.
Karen was an extraordinary house and pet sitter who I hope to invite back again soon. You would be extremely fortunate to have her take care of your pets and home. From the very beginning she radiated calmness, knowledge, caring and curiosity. We had a great initial conversation where Karen answered questions I didn't even know I should be asking, and asked excellent questions so she could be prepared and understand the special needs for both my cat and home. She flew into my city the day before I was leaving and stayed at a nearby hostel so that we could meet in person and do a walk through of my home. They say pets have an intuitive nature about people, and I knew Karen would be a winner when my normally very shy/nervous cat came right up and let her pet him. Karen sent wonderful pictures and updates while I was gone and asked questions when she wasn't sure about something. When I returned home everything was spotless and my cat was content. Overall, I couldn't have asked for a better house sitter experience. Thank you Karen!
Steven was a great sitter for our black lab Souris and cat Pinot. They were well looked after and really liked Steven. Our house was in good order when we got back and Steven was kind enough to give us a lift to and from the airport. He was very flexible, arriving day early so we could show him around.
Is it better to board cats or leave at home?
Veterinarians advising to leave cats at home with a pet sitter who will stay overnight in your home, boarding is not recommended for cats as they are stressed in a new environment, you can find a sitter who will care for your cats and home for free at Zeewoi.
How much should you pay someone to watch your cat?
At least $20 per visit, per overnight watching in your home, otherwise you can find a free sitter at Zeewoi.
What do people do with their cats when they go on vacation?
Inviting a cat sitter to your home, boarding the cat with a local business, asking a friend, family or neighbour to feed and check the well-being. The most efficient way to leave your cat during your vacation is with Zeewoi cat sitters for free, in this way, you will save cat sitting costs and make vacation not only for you but also for your cat sitter!