Hi @Wiltshirefolk and welcome to the forum, and to TrustedHousesitters. I’ll share three basic ‘Snowbird’ rules: 
- You know that real estate mantra, ‘location, location, location’? The equivalent for this lifestyle - for both owner and sitter - is ‘communication, communication, communication’.
- My personal preference (but not everyone agrees) is to enjoy a video call with the prospective sitters. Notice I said enjoy? Don’t panic. Instead, chat away and touch on all that’s important to you both. That will lead you to my next point …
- Don’t ignore your gut feelings, the red flags (search those key words with the magnifying glass and you’ll find related posts) - they are key. Don’t settle if you’re uncertain; your cats deserve better.
If you are THS members, add your listing to your forum profile so that other members can give you constructive feedback on your listing.