I am new to Trusted house sitters. I am 61 years and a committed Christian who attends our local Baptist church in beautiful Bourton on the Water. I have just got a black Maine Coon x British short hair kitten who is 8 weeks old. He is very loving and affectionate sleeps on my bed and sits on my lap once he is tired of play.also have a very handsome black velvet chinchilla who is 16 years old he was 1 when I rescued him through pets at home rehoming scheme. They are both wonderful friends and companions
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Hello @AbbieK. Thank you for joining our forum, a community of friendly pet sitters and owners. I’m glad you found us.
You’ll soon find the forum is more than just a place to discuss pet sitting. Here are just a few things you can do on the forum:
- Ask for recommendations on upcoming trips
- Give travel advice
- Share travel and pet photos and stories
- Connect with pet lovers and travelers, and arrange to meet in person
- Even share a giggle.
Our team is here to help, so please don’t hesitate to send a message if you have any questions. Our community members help each other have unique travel experiences while keeping pets happy at home. We’re glad you’re part of the community. BTW how did you find us?
All the best,
Karen E
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Hello @AbbieK and welcome to TrustedHousesitters and the community forum. We are not far from you, we are near Chipping Norton so we are practically neighbours! 
I absolutely adore Maine Coons, he sounds adorable. As you say yes they are definitely wonderful friends and companions.
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Oooh a chinchilla, how lovely! I didnt realise they lived so long.
@AbbieK I’ve never had the opportunity to get to know a chinchilla. What are they like? Do they have sharp teeth and claws?
No Simba has never bitten or scratched me in the fifteen years I have owned him nor have the other four chinchillas I have owned. They are very gentle relaxing companions
Oh, they sound lovely! How did you get your first chinchilla? Were all of your chinchillas and your Maine Coon x rescues?
Hi Karen
I got my first chinchilla Simba from Pets at home rehoming service. He and his brothers had been dumped. I was talked into it by my nieces who were about 12 and 15 at the time. I knew nothing about chinchillas but was given good advice and Simba thrived. He has never liked been picked up though.
Smokey and the Bandit came from a Polish family and Smokey turned out to be pregnant which was probably why they were so desperate for me to have her. Smokey had three babies Merlin who I kept and Cheefah and Pudding who went to a lovely girl called Jess who kept in touch with me right up until going to University. Smokey then had two more babies.who I managed to find good homes for. After this I had The Bandit neutered. He was never the same after that and died within a few months. Merlin lived until age 7 and Smokey was 15 or 16 when she got a chest infection and wouldn’t eat so had to be put to sleep but she was a very good age. Smokey was very gentle and liked to be stroked.
Simba is hale and hearty has never ever seen a vet and remains very fit and sprightly. He and zbilbo love each other and play together through the cage bars
Bilbo my Maine Coon x British short hair was purchased privately from a lovely breeder who had two more cats with kittens. A dachshund puppy called Dilly and a Pomeranian x. She is lovely and we are staying in touch. Bilbo has had his first vaccination and wormer and has his second on 1 September he will be neutered and microchipped when he is five months old. I have rescued two dogs Harley a Labrador/ Collie and Coco a Patterdale/Staffie. Coco had five homes as a puppy, cruel treatment, had been kicked and was vicious as a result. I had to muzzle her all the time but she was very loving with me and slept on my bed. Sadly she got a very aggressive cancer aged 9 and had to be put to sleep. Harley lived to 143/4. They were great great dogs. I bought Maltie my Shih Tzu / Maltese from a private breeder who I am still in contact with. Heartbreakingly I had to have Maltie rehomed due to mobility issues. He has gone to a lovely couple with another Shih Tzu and they adore each other. He is very happy and healthy which is the main thing but I miss him terribly.
So that is the history of my animal family. I have always been single and find animals a lot easier to live with than people!
God bless
Kind regards
Abbie
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What a stunning place to live. Welcome. I am.in Australia.
Deborah
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Yes Bourton on the water is truly beautiful but packed with tourists at this time of year
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Sharing something of your delightful village @AbbieK 
Bourton-on-the-Water is as picturesque as it sounds. This riverside village is flanked by long wide lush greens lined with Jacobean and Georgian facades made from honey coloured Cotswold stone. Five low, arched stone bridges built between 1654 and 1953 cross the River Windrush which flows through this charming village, nicknamed “The Venice of the Cotswolds” – it’s not difficult to see why.
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I live in Bourton on the Water and it is as lovely as described with so much to do and easy access to so many towns and just 50 minutes drive to Oxford.
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Welcome @AbbieK . I loved reading about all your different animals, especially the rescues. We live not far away from you in Cheltenham (although we are currently on a housesit in Surrey).
Hi. Many thanks for your lovely comments. It is good to hear from you. I hope you enjoyed your sitting.
I am away in September and will need care for my animal family can we connect by Direct Message and chat?
All the best and take care.
God bless Abbie, Bilbo, Simba and Merry
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