This was our first time using zeewoi and we were a little apprehensive, especially as we were going away for almost 5 weeks, but we really didn’t need to be. Mary and Kevin were fantastic from the start. They had excellent communication and put us at ease straight away. They looked after both our cats with lots of care and we came home to two very happy and content kitties. Mary and Kevin struck the balance just right whilst we were away by keeping us informed of how the cats were and sending pictures of what the cats were up to every couple of days. It was so lovely to know that the cats were enjoying themselves and being so well looked after whilst we were away. Mary and Kevin also looked after our house extremely well and we came back to a very clean and tidy home. We would definitely recommend Mary and Kevin to anyone needing a house sitter and would love for them to sit for us again if they were ever back in the area.
Toby and Chloe were amazing pet sitters. It wasn’t the easiest sit - a nervous dog and 3 cats with various ailments and medication to have, but they took it all in their stride and cared for them so well without any issues. Our nervous dog Zelda warmed to them in just 2 days which is a record for house sitters so far! I also really enjoyed getting to know them over dinner the night before I left, they’re very easygoing and positive people. They also left the house spotless for when I came back. I would love to have them sit for us again. You can rest assured your house and animals are in safe hands with this lovely pair!
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!
Our review is written by Steven (house owner, host + my father) + also by Kim (the daughter). Written by Kim: This was our first house sit since the passing of my mother in late Dec 2023. I was helping my father Steven (whose profile it is) manage all the emails + try + find a great house sitter + came along Gretchen’s profile! Not only is she a cool cat + someone you might want to get to know, I found myself quickly talking to her. I shortly found out her profile is just a glimpse of how interesting she is but talking to her was so much better! She is a world traveler with many experiences + stories to share. We quickly became conversationalists who could talk forever + probably will continue to do so! Thank you TH! She is easy to communicate with + continued the consistent communication all along our journey of having her as our *first* guest after my mom’s passing. It was clearly a time filled with anxiety + sensitivity so there were some sensitive topics to go over + Gretchen got it right away. A few of our rooms in the house were off-limits (as they housed my mom’s things) but we reassured her the house has ample space for her to enjoy + there are many lovely outdoor spaces to boot! When she arrived she felt she was in paradise + really relished in the outdoor beauty + the indoor coziness. We were happy to share it with someone who appreciated it so much! She also was very understanding with the fact that both my dad + I would both be involved as we both handled different parts of the stay. Me, writing + setting up the Welcome Guide + would go over the situation but then upon her arrival my dad would take over + answer any questions mostly during her sit. The good part of having 2 people is she had accessibility to us both, in the case she needed it + sometimes it came up! She juggled all the communication oh so well. My mom usually handled most of the logistics so this being our first time we were nervous something would come up we might not know but it didn’t! It was new territory for us + we wanted to make sure she had everything. Gretchen handled it all with such ease, seamlessly, really respecting our wishes/desires + taking all the information into her hands + making it seem easy on her end to do so. She was easy to coordinate schedules with! There was a gap in her 1st + 2nd sit but everything went seamlessly even when my flight had a day long delay. She was able to coordinate schedules with me arriving in between, then leaving, my dad arriving different days + us extending the trip too. It all worked out! We were all a good team! She absolutely loved our older cat, Benny + he fast + furiously fell in love with her oh so easily. When I saw him, he looked oh so loved + after saying hi to me went over to ‘her’ bed + slept there waiting for her to come back. She sent many pictures, videos + even cute creations + toys she made for our Benny + it was obvious the house + our Benny were her first priority. She even asked us if she could help prune our flowers/shrubs, something my mom used to do + honestly it was an honor to hear her ask that. She was welcome to set up her art studio + play away. She was very communicative when our house cleaner, landscape gardener + house manager showered up for different reasons. When I arrived back for a short stint before she came back the 2nd time our mail was so well organized it was an assembly line! She also offered to take down our xmas tree (as we were a bit behind in taking down our xmas decorations) + she was sensitive to the fact that we were adjusting to a new normal. Thank you so much Gretchen! You made our first sit in a long time so seamless + such a relief that we are ready now to host again. We only wish we could have more Gretchen’s! (She’s also a super talented artist!) Written by Steven: Overall, Gretchen has been an absolute treasure. She has fulfilled our goals for a house sitter perfectly - she took good care of the house, great care of our treasured pet, Mr. Benny + took care of the grounds such as watering a few plants + trees. She excelled in all the above + is welcome back anytime I will be out of town in the future.
We are thoroughly pleased with and impressed by Daniel's kind, generous, and careful care of our cat and our house. He is a committed and experienced sitter who completely understands his role and responsibilities and also how to gently win the confidence and affection of a pet. He is an excellent communicator, and he kept us regularly up to date on our cat's well being--sending us texts and photos at least once/week as we requested. Our cat who is a little afraid of new people, grew fond of him, and we have returned to a very calm, contented cat. We highly recommend Daniel, and we ourselves would be thrilled to engage him again when the need arises.
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!
Caroline is an amazing sitter ! We were far away, had never left our cat for such a long period of time and we felt really confident with her. She took great care of our cat Honey as well as she did for the house, pool and garden. She was even able to handle the end of the refection of the bathroom which was a last minute surprise… We felt Caroline was reliable and self sufficient. We had a great communication with her during our stay abroad. We even found many nice intentions when we came back from our vacations such as fresh fruits and bakeries for a nice and welcomed breakfast after a night in a plane ! We definitely recommend Caroline for your sittings and we will obviously call her back !
Tonya was great and filled in after our other sitter had to cancel. She was very self sufficient and navigated acclimating herself to everything since she arrived after we left. She gave thoughtful updates on my cat and I could tell she really enjoyed her, so that means the world to me! She left the place immaculate and we will certainly have Tonya back!
Cat and Paul were wonderful sitters - our cats were contented and calm when we returned. And the house was spotless. Plus Paul mowed our entire yard including the back meadow - what a surprise! We very much enjoyed visiting with them as well and getting to know them. Highly recommend :)
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, $60 per overnight watching in your home or $40 for a cat boarding, 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!