I need sitters for my 2 lovely cats from mid July - early October on Kauai. Because I know it can be difficult to find a great fit, I searched for and thought I had found the perfect sitters last November. Sadly, my chosen sitters’ circumstances have changed and they have canceled.
I reposted my listing and tried to be very clear, but kind, with exactly what I’m looking for. However, despite being very clear in the listing, I was inundated with applications from single people, people who cannot do the entire sit and want to do only part of it, or otherwise unsuitable applicants. As a sitter myself, it is so hard for me to decline people, I know people get their hopes up and it can be so disappointing. On the other hand, I feel that if I post specifically in my listing that I’m looking for a couple, and then a single person applies, as lovely as they might be they have already disregarded what I requested so I’m not sure I could trust them to care for my cats at home. Is this unreasonable thinking on my part?
Also, applications have slowed down so I want to boost my dates but i’m finding that impossible to do. I have followed THS’s advice, and I have even asked AI, but none of the suggestions seem to work. I have a premium membership so I’m told I should have a boost option. Has anyone else had these troubles or have any suggestions on how to “boost” a listing?
Are other owners having difficulty with sitters canceling more often than they used to?
Will I still be able to find a loving cat centric conscientious couple to care for my sweet boys???
Just having a rough week. Suggestions welcome.
(I should probably mention one example for the reason I am looking for a couple, as I know single sitters sometimes are offended by this- it is during hurricane season, in the event of a hurricane it takes two people to do the heavy lifting to get the outside secured. Although this is not mentioned, explicitly in my listing, I always discuss it in depth with potential sitter’s prior to confirmation. There are other practical reasons why a couple is the best fit for my home and pets, but this is the one).
You really should mention in your listing the reason you want a couple, otherwise you’re wasting your and other people’s time. It seems a little disingenuous that you don’t state that it’s hurricane season imho
The turmoil around travel with air fares spiking and the future uncertain definitely has sitters and hosts reevaluating future travel plans. A number of members on this forum have had to cancel confirmed sits. So yes to your first question.
Also, yes to your second question. 2+ months in Kauai starting 4 months out on the calendar taking care of just cats is a desirable option for nomadic sitters. If you can’t find an experienced and highly regarded sitter, nobody will, all things being equal. Of course, if your digs are out Mānā Plains way or off grid at the end of Kalalua Trail, I take back the previous sentence.
If you delete your sit dates and then add them back to your profile, your dates will pop up as new and temporarily boost your profile. Good luck.
On second thought- I’m removing it. I don’t really think it’s necessary for each listing in Florida to declare it’s hurricane season for 6 months out of the year, or for every listing in the northwest to declare fire season on every listing either…
Could you now go to the next best thing. Get a solo sitter but arrange help incase preparation is needed. Maybe a friend, neighbor or even someone you need to hire who is on call. What are the odds this will have to be done? Is it a given each year?
Agree with others that calling out the desire for a couple is due to your concerns with hurricane season should be clear. The hurricane season part may be obvious but the fact that that is your concern/priority for why you are saying no to single sitters is not.
I also think given your location and the fact that this is an island, it’s limiting cause no one can really drive themselves to you, which means for a sit of this length, they’re going to pay quite a bit to rent a car. If your place is very walkable, I would call that out so people know what to expect but based on what is written, it appears a car is necessary which eliminates a lot of folks, as the cost of the sit for the length you need is quite high relatively speaking. Is it possible to provide a car or some other means of getting around given the length of stay?
Past that, you can either delete or pause your listing dates and when relisted, it should be at the top.
I’ve just read the details- I’m a bit puzzled, the sitters need a car but no car is provided, perhaps it’d be a good idea to offer some indication of car hire prices and availability in the area as again this might reduce any likelihood of sitters cancelling once they realise the costs involved in staying.
@DarkAloha
There’s a relatively small pool of sitters available for long sits, by adding further restrictions—such as only accepting couples, requiring a car without providing one, no children , and must have a iphone and stating a strict no-visitors policy—will narrow that pool even more. In our experience, most long sits tend to allow visitors, so these limitations may reduce overall interest from the most experienced sitters .
On top of that, rising flight costs and ongoing travel uncertainty are also factors that may affect the number of suitable applications that you are receiving .
While split sits aren’t always ideal, you might want to think about splitting the sit if that’s what potential applicants (that tick all the other boxes ) are able to commit to.
Split sits can work well if you have a trusted person who can help manage the handover between sitters.
It could be worth considering a back up plan - a paid local sitter who has a car. Either for the full sit or to do the dates that your THS sitters can’t do .The benefit of local sitters is that will have their own transportation and be familiar with what to do in the event of a hurricane.
It may not be necessary but the question is what harm can it cause?
You seem to think it will somehow reduce your chances of getting applications, since you have decided to delete it, but would all applicants be suitable and willing to deal with that?
If you always discuss it in depth with potential sitter’s prior to confirmation, wouldn’t it be more helpful to filter out unsuitable applicants.
Anyway, it’s clear you only want couples so you may want to include that in your headline.
You say that’s “what’s best” for your sit but that might still let room for solo applicants.
The reason to include it is because it’s the primary reason this host requires a couple vs a solo sitter. It will make it clearer to unsuitable applicants why this host will automatically reject solo applicants, and help dissuade them from taking up one of their slots & wasting everyone’s time.
IOW, it lets sitters know it’s not a negotiable or a whim — there are physical requirements of the sit that necessitate 2 people.
As others have mentioned, I also recommend that you split the sit if that helps you find someone. We did a sit split into three parts, but with two groups. The first sitter came for a week, us for 4 days, and then the first came back for another week. It turned out great.
As long as the second sitter can be there before the first leaves, I don’t think you’ll have any problems.
I completely agree with those who say you need to explain that you need a couple because it’s hurricane season. It will save wasting the time of anyone who doesn’t want to risk that sort of weather. We don’t get hurricanes in Europe. What is happening to your car that you can’t let sitters use it? Car hire cost in the US is extortionate.
Would electric bikes suffice in your area? Although, having been to Kauai, you’d definitely want a car to explore. However, you could also rent a car a few days here and there.
But it would help people understand specifically why you need 2 people and it might be worth changing ‘couple’ to ‘2 people’ anyway. It’s not the relationship that’s relevant, it’s the number of available hands by the sounds of it!
You should definitely put the reason for wanting a couple. Especially since it sounds like there are physical requirements, not just a preference for two people.
You are looking for a good match, so it’s important to be transparent. Many people coming from other places might not know when hurricane season is or what is involved in securing the home.
I recall seeing your sit when it was listed before. I stopped reading when I realized it required renting a car in Hawaii for almost three months. There are lots of great places to go that don’t involve that very large expense. You have an expensive sit - plane tickets for a couple to get there plus car rental for months. You might want to consider including the use of your car.
Cat sits are generally considered straightforward, and a single sitter is often perfectly capable of handling them. Without any explanation in your listing as to why a couple is required, it’s easy to see why single sitters are applying—sitters aren’t mind readers, so if the reason isn’t stated, they won’t know.
It also appears that you’ve had a single sitter in the past who you gave positive comments to and invited back for a repeat sit .
It doesn’t seem logical to assume that just because someone has applied as a single sitter, they can’t be trusted to take care of your two cats.
