Hi everyone! I’m Juli, originally from Argentina and now living in Spain. I just joined the platform full of excitement — I really miss having pets around, and I was hoping to start traveling while working remotely.
But honestly, I felt pretty disappointed… Before becoming a member, I saw tons of active listings. Now that I’ve signed up (and paid for the whole year), many of those sit opportunities are either closed or no longer visible.
Has this happened to anyone else? Is it still worth it? My idea is to travel around Spain and nearby countries at first, but I’m not seeing as many listings as I expected
I was really looking forward to caring for a sweet cat in Barcelona this August — it looked like the perfect one-week sit (especially since I miss my own kitty back in Buenos Aires ).
Sending good vibes and hoping to hear something encouraging! haha
(Edited to remove self promotion in line with the forum guidelines
Sadly sits in Spain get snapped up very quickly. Only five applications are allowed for each listing and then it switches to ‘reviewing’. This was introduced a couple of years ago and there was a great deal of complaints about it at the time by sitters but it made no difference.
So, you have to be very quick with getting an application in.
Hi @Rapojuli - before you joined you could probably see lots of opportunities for sits in Spain/Barcelona. You saw listings that didn’t have current dates and also those reviewing applications (neither of which you can apply for).
There has been much discussion about how misleading this is but nothing has changed.
You are in Spain already so that is in your favour. If you set up a saved search for Barcelona you will be alerted to any new dates. Homeowners will have the luxury of choosing more experienced sitters but you may pick up a sit that is very short notice. Good Luck
You have to be very, very quick to apply. In Barcelona, cat sits probably go within 15 minutes.
You’ll also need a few reviews or at least references, cause the competition is strong. Try to focus on less popular areas first to build up your profile first, cause surprise surprise, you won’t be the only one looking for an easy sit in Barcelona
We’ve been petsitting full-time for nearly 5 years now, so it’s definitely possible, but you need to put time and effort in.
Good luck!
Yes, of course — I figured there must be lots of people looking for the same sits, but I thought that if the platform was showing them to me, at least I’d have the chance to apply. Then of course, it would be up to the pet parents to choose.
What I meant is that it feels misleading to pay for a full year and be shown listings that aren’t actually available.
Thanks for the advice about focusing on less crowded areas first — I’ll definitely do that!
If you’re still within a 14 day period of joining you are within your rights to cancel your membership and ask for a refund under consumer rights law.
Sadly Spain doesn’t have loads of listings, the UK and America seem to have the most. There are some but as others have said they get applied for very quickly so you have to be quite fast with finding them and then applying.
Welcome to the forum and TrustedHouseSitters @Rapojuli .
Did you know that you can set up a saved search for “cat sits in Barcelona “ ; then you will get notified when new listings appear ?
In your favour , as you already are living in Spain, you may be able to pick up a last minute sit , which will be more difficult for sitters from another country who need to book a flight .
Cat sits are a favourite of many sitters and therefore get snapped up quickly . If you are willing to consider taking care of other pets too, you may get more opportunities.
Welcome @Rapojuli! Like any new platform, THS takes time to master. When I first joined, I’d get excited about sits, think it over—then they’d be gone. Over time, I learned how to use the system to my advantage.
The Saved Search feature is essential. For example, I wanted a sit in Utah this August, so I created a saved search for that region, all of August, one week or longer, and pets like Cats, Fish, and Birds (include all relevant animals or you’ll miss mixed-pet listings). Be sure to turn alerts on—push notifications via the app work best, since email is often too slow.
For weeks, nothing fit. Some alerts had deal-breakers—messy homes, poor reviews, etc. But eventually, the perfect sit popped up, and I hit Apply immediately. You have to be among the first five applicants, so don’t hesitate!
With patience and planning, I’ve booked great sits in all the places I wanted—Spain listings especially go fast. Being already in-country helps a lot with host confidence, so you’re off to a strong start.
One flaw: Saved Searches will alert you to sits you cannot apply for, since you already have confirmed sits on those dates. This drives me insane. It should be an easy fix for THS to exclude alerts for sits that overlap with a sitter’s confirmed dates - maybe @Jenny will pass that feedback over to product folks!
If you decide to stay, it is an advantage to know a little bit about the community, both hosts and sitters, both to be notified of sits, chosen as a match partner and have a good sit.
Many sitters would look for big touristdestinations like Barcelona. Many like or need to plan ahead. Nomads prefer longer sits.
If you have a saved search for a sit you will be notified when the host publish new dates. It is easier to get sits that are not in major destinations, that are short notice, that are short (for instance 1-3 nights), as many are not looking for such sits. Use this in your favor. Get a few sits so you have some reviews. When you have 3-4-5 THS reviews you will be so much more competitive when your preferred sits are published. A host will probably prefer a sitter with reviews over one without.
I have a saved search for Barcelona, and there are quite a few of them in my opinion. But they fill up fast so you will not see a list of them at any given time. I haven’t applied for any of those so far, as the dates etc. didn’t align with my schedule. But there are several.
Click the heart on ANY listing that you get notified for in your search location, even when dates don’t suit you, this creates a favourites list.
You’ll get early notifications for any on your favourites list anytime the HOs add a new listing.
Be Strategic in terms of checking your list daily at a certain time.
Create an amazing profile and invite feedback on how to make it stand out.
Apply for local short sits or sits in England maybe to get 5* reviews. Some HOs won’t consider you without 5* reviews. Getting that 1st review is all important.
Of course it’s not easy- HOs want the best sitters, you’re competing with others for the best sits.
Best Wishes
I agree with everything Bonny says. Do keep in mind that if you apply for sits in England as mentioned in #6, you have to be legally authorized to work in England. Since Brexit, being legal in Spain does not equate to being legal in England.
Hi @Rapojuli - just out of interest I did a search on sits in Spain.
Looking as a non paid up member I see 256 but when I log in the number is 27. Quite a difference!
If you see a listing as ‘reviewing’ you cannot apply.
Have you had any more thoughts about your membership or applications?
Happy to help if you have any questions.
Spainish sits, especially in popular locations like Barcelona, tend to come up last minute. Sometimes as close as 2 days before It starts. And they get snapped up in minutes. Still, I have at least 3 or 4 in popular cities every coming through every day on my alerts. You just need to have a great application and profile be super quick and flexible. Also be mindful that many apartments here dont have AC and its stiflingly hot atm. We are in Valencia in a lovely apartment but absolutely melting.
Hi! Yes, I did that — I unsubscribed.
I’ll try again at the end of the year when I have more availability, or I’ll look for a platform that’s clearer and with more opportunities closer to where I currently live.
Thank you all so much for your advice and encouragement. I had set up the saved searches, but for now I preferred to unsubscribe.
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